About Heather Barrett
Heather is a Brattleboro native who returned to the area to join the Vermont Woods Studios marketing team. She earned her BS in Mass Communication at Champlain College, where she gained a passion for public relations and marketing. Heather is a travel enthusiast, social media junkie, and a lover of all things outdoors.
Posts by Heather
Rising From The Debris
We built an addition to bridge the two existing buildings, creating an “L” shape showroom.
The last time we updated you on the progress of our showroom remodel, we were still in a demolition phase. In our post Digging Up The Future, we shared that a large hole had been excavated to make space for the new addition’s foundation. When we purchased Stonehurst, there were two buildings: the main house and the detached accessory building. In order to create our planned “L” shape showroom, we needed to build an addition to bridge the existing buildings.
It’s been an unusual winter with the grounds going back and forth between mud and frozen. Through snow, rain, and heavy winds our construction team managed to join the old with the new. The addition has been framed and roofed. It fits perfect, and we expect it to look like it has always been a part of the building. Some other exciting progress is that some floor boards have been reclaimed to become the ceiling surface in one of the rooms of the showroom.
In the next few weeks we will see windows and doors going in, siding being put up, and roofing. Once the building is weather-tight, the construction team will begin the interior work. After six weeks, we’re all excited about the progress and seeing it take shape!
Continue to follow our blog for construction updates on the Vermont Woods Studios Showroom, Stonehurst.
Help The Gamache Family Barn Cats
The other morning I received an email from Peggy with the subject line, “a cause near and dear to our hearts.” I suspected immediately that it had to do with animals. Everyone at Vermont Woods Studios has a soft spot for animals, but I think Loryn and I would win the award for biggest bleeding hearts in the office. Ever since we purchased Stonehurst, Loryn and I have actively been trying to persuade Peggy to let us have a few animals (cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, and I think we’ve thrown around the idea of having a horse or two). Although we haven’t quite convinced the whole team of this mini farm idea, Stonehurst will be a sustainable furniture showroom and nature center.
Once I stopped day dreaming about our Stonehurst farm, I opened the email and confirmed my suspicion that the cause had to do with animals. Peggy had sent me this call for help from the Stuck in Vermont Facebook page.
In addition to the call for help, Stuck in Vermont attached a video with the story behind the Gamache family and this cause. Here’s what I learned from the video: Junior and Joyce Gamache have a family-run organic dairy farm in St. Albans, Vermont. The Gamache family has a admirable passion for their animals (cows and cats alike), a passion for staying true to traditional farming, and a passion for their deep Vermont roots. This video made it an easy decision for us to donate to the Gamache barn cat fund; not only because we love cats, but because Vermonters help other Vermonters.
We hope that you’ll take a few minutes to watch the Stuck in Vermont episode about the Gamache family and their barn cats. The Franklin County Humane Society is going to help spay and neuter the Gamache barn cats, but they need to raise money to contribute to the costs. It costs $40 for each cat to get spayed/neutered, but you can contribute any amount via their inlu page. Donations will be accepted until Thursday, February 28th. You can also help spread the word by sharing the Stuck in Vermont’s Facebook post with your friends.
TV Stands Fit For A Champion
This is the time of year when the big box stores put all of their TVs and media consoles on sale in preparation for the big game: the Super Bowl. Now, I can’t argue that saving a few hundred dollars on a TV isn’t a good deal, because it is. However, buying that particle board TV stand is not a good deal. Because it is cheaply made in a factory, it is not durable enough to hold your beautiful new TV for years to come. In fact, it will probably only last long enough to use for your Super Bowl party. A solid wood media console is a better deal. It is more money upfront, but it will last for a lifetime of Super Bowl games.
All of our media consoles are carefully crafted in Vermont using sustainably harvested hardwoods. Our heirloom quality TV stands and media consoles are available in a variety of styles to perfectly match your home decor. Our minimalistic designs like the Cherry Moon Small TV-Media Console, Modern American TV-Media Stand, and our Modern Shaker Two Drawer Media Console are extremely popular right now. They are small enough to fit in any space, but have enough storage for your DVD player, TiVo, and cable box. Even if you decide to mount your new flatscreen TV on the wall, you will still need a space to hold the accessories.
Don’t worry about assembling a low-quality media console for the game. Use what you have for right now, and know that your dream TV stand is a few clicks away. Order now, sit back and enjoy the game. You won’t receive your new media console in time for the 2013 Super Bowl, because quality craftsmanship takes time. However, you will enjoy your heirloom quality, solid wood media console for a lifetime (guaranteed).
Order during our sale and save up to 20%* off real wood living room and home office furniture. We will ship your order for free, and it will be delivered right to your door; no hassles.
Start browsing our online gallery today. If you need any assistance while shopping, our fine furniture specialists are available through live chat, email, or phone. Visit our contact page for their information.
*Excludes Copeland Furniture
Vermont Winter Event
This Vermont winter event is the perfect opportunity to get outside to do something you love, or to try something new. There is a small fee to participate in the event, $10 (or $8 if you’re a member), but the Green Mountain Club’s 17th Annual Snowshoe Festival and Winter Party is to benefit their education programs.
The event consists of guided snowshoe hikes and nature walks around the 40 acres surrounding the Green Mountain Club’s headquarters in Waterbury, Vermont. The tours are tailored towards a variety of skill levels, so if you’re a beginner, don’t be afraid to join in on the fun! This is a great time to learn how to snowshoe and enjoy wintertime. The event will also have tours for intermediate and advanced snowshoers. These hikes will take place from 8:30am-3:00pm.
If staying at the Green Mountain Club’s headquarters is up your alley, here is the list of on-campus workshops:
- A Bird On Glove demonstration by VINS (with funding from Kettering Family Foundation)
- Dog Sledding with Anam Cara Siberians
- Winter Cooking and Camping with South Burlington’s Eastern Mountain Sports
- Kids’ activities through the Winooski Valley Park District
- Massages by Jeffery Williams, Certified Massage Therapist
- North Branch Nature Center’s Animal Tracking
- How to Dress in Layers and Having Fun with Kids with Outdoor Gear Exchange
- Face-painting with Joy from vermontfaceandbody.com
- Snowflake making, snacks, and more!
Beds, Beds, Beds
We have over 70 beds in our online gallery with countless option choices. This gives our customers the ability to customize their bed to fit their bedroom style. The heart of a bedroom is, of course, the bed. Learn about the variety of bed styles we offer in our online gallery.
Slat Beds
Slat beds have wide wood boards (slats) that are evenly spaced on the headboard and footboard. The straight slats make clean lines, creating a traditional style bed. Slat boards paired with subtle curves (as seen on the Patti Smith Wide-Slat Bed shown below) gives the bed an artistic flair.
Bennington High Footboard Bed (left) and Patti Smith Wide-Slat Bed (right) are two examples of the beds with slatted headboards or footboards in our online gallery.
Spindle Beds
Spindle beds can be identified by the thin pieces of wood evenly spaced on the headboard and footboard. Our online gallery features spindle beds that have footboards, and spindle beds without footboards. The spindles create a light, airy look to the bed. It is a great option for people who love the minimalistic look, but want a little bit of the arts and crafts style too. Spindle beds work both in contemporary and traditional homes.
The American Grand Mission Bed (left) and the Modern Shaker High Footboard Bed (right) are examples of spindle beds.
Platform Beds
Platform beds have a low profile because there is no need for a box spring. Stylistically, platform beds are extremely minimalistic. These modern beds have simple headboards, and most platform beds do not have footboards. These beds are perfect for a contemporary or modern home.
The Vergennes Platform Bed (left) and the Contemporary Craftsman Platform Bed (right) are examples of platform beds.
Sleigh Beds
Sleigh beds are named exactly for how they look- like a sleigh. They are identified by the elegant slanted headboard and footboard. Our online gallery has modern sleigh beds, like the Castleton Incline Sleigh Bed and the Copeland Sarah Sleigh Beds. More traditional sleigh bed styles in our gallery include the Vermont Shaker Sleigh Bed and the Classic Sleigh Bed. The difference between our modern and our traditional sleigh beds is that the traditional sleigh beds have more dramatic curves.
The Classic Sleigh Bed (left) and the Castleton Incline Sleigh Bed (right) are examples of sleigh beds.
Panel Beds
Panel beds are sturdily constructed, and feature a robust styled look. Our online gallery features two types of panel beds: flat panel and raised panel. The flat panel beds feature level wood panels on the headboard and footboard. Raised panel beds feature headboards and footboards with beveled panels, creating a more 3-dimensional look. These traditional style beds are perfect for those who enjoy solid headboards and footboards.
We feature two types of panel beds in our online gallery: flat panel and raised panel. The Cherry Moon Panel Bed (left) is an example of a flat panel bed, and the New England Shaker Bed (right) is an example of a raised panel bed.
Poster Beds
Poster beds are identified by their distinct tall columns, and in history have been associated with royalty or wealth. We have two different four-poster beds in our online gallery: Renfrew Pencil Post Bed and Vermont Shaker Four Poster Bed. The Renfrew features slender, fluted posts that can be connected by a fabric canopy. The Vermont Shaker features clean lines with a canopy frame. The frame, unlike the Renfrew, is connected at the top. Poster beds are perfect for Colonial homes.
The Vermont Shaker Four Poster Bed (left) and the Renfrew Pencil Post Bed (right) are examples of poster beds.
Storage Beds
Beds with storage offer convenient, inconspicuous storage. The under bed storage can save some floor space in your bedroom by eliminating a dresser or chest, or the extra storage can free up a portion of your jam-packed closet. We covered storage beds in more detail in a previous blog post.
The Copeland Moduluxe Storage Bed and the Copeland Monterey Storage Bed are two examples of beds with storage.
Sale
Our Bedroom Furniture Sale starts today. Choose from over 70 Vermont made beds in your choice of real Cherry, Walnut, Maple, or Oak woods. We have hundreds of solid wood bedroom furniture pieces in our online gallery, so you can mix and match the ones you like best to create the perfect bedroom set. Save 10% on one piece, 15% on two pieces, and 20% on three or more pieces of bedroom furniture.
You can securely, easily, and conveniently shop our online gallery 24 hours a day. If you need any assistance, our Vermont fine furniture specialists are available to help. You can contact them by phone (888-390-5571), by email, or by live chat. Our bedroom furniture sale ends on Thursday, January 31st at midnight.
*This sale excludes Copeland and Artisan furniture. However, Copeland Furniture carries a low price guarantee.
Winter Going On Summer
With unseasonably warm weather in Vermont for the past few days, I have found myself longing for summertime. On top of the weather having me think that summer is around the corner, I have also been fully immersed in Polywood Outdoor Furniture.
If you’re new to our blog or company, let me introduce you to Polywood. It is our only line of furniture that is not made of hardwood, and for good reason. Most of the outdoor furniture you see at other stores are made from teak, redwood, or cedar, because they can withstand some outdoor conditions. However, there is a better material that outdoor furniture can be made out of, and that’s recycled plastic lumber. It replicates the texture (minus the wood splinters) and beauty of real wood, but is more durable to withstand harsh weather conditions.
We normally don’t go around promoting wood alternative furniture (we are Vermont Woods Studios, afterall), but there really isn’t anything better than Polywood Outdoor Furniture. Not only can it withstand extreme weather conditions (including snow), but there is virtually no maintenance. With wood outdoor furniture, you need to reapply protective overcoats, stains, or paint, none of which you have to do to Polywood.
This week Vermont Woods Studios has been busy putting up the new 2013 Polywood pieces, sets, and collections. Polywood Outdoor Furniture Sets are brand new in 2013!
A new collection that we have added is the Polywood Coastal Outdoor Furniture. This exciting new collection is very different from our other collections of Polywood. Unique to this collection is the sling fabric chairs. The sling fabric conforms to your body with firm support. These chairs will be especially nice in the summertime, because the sling fabric allows the chairs to breathe, which means you won’t stick to them on a hot July day! The frames of the chairs are made in your choice of 7 Polywood recycled plastic lumber colors. The collection is comprised of four chairs and three outdoor furniture sets. There is the Coastal Folding Chair, Coastal Dining Chair, Coastal Counter Chair, and the Coastal Bar Chair. The new outdoor furniture sets include the Coastal 3-Piece Bar Set, Coastal 7-Piece Dining Set, and the Coastal 5-Piece Dining Set.
As you browse through our online gallery, all of our new Polywood furniture pieces will be marked by a red “NEW” sticker, like our new South Beach Ultimate Adirondack with Hideaway Ottoman and Euro SOLID Chaise.
What do you think? Will you be adding Polywood to your patio or deck this year?
Digging Up The Future
The Tyler Excavating crew hard at work!
The construction team has been at Stonehurst for just over a week, and despite sub-zero temperatures, they have made significant progress! The foundation site work has begun. A trench and a hole needed to be excavated before anything else could happen. The frozen ground was no match for our local excavating company, Tyler Excavating Inc, based in Vernon.
The hole needed to be excavated to make space for the new addition’s foundation. This new addition is the what will connect the two current structures, creating our L-shape showroom.
At the same time, a trench was created to bury the water lines to our new outdoor wood boiler. This will be our primary heating system for the building.
Next week the construction team will build the forms for the footings and foundation walls, and pour the concrete. The team is excited for the next week’s forecast of warmer weather.
Continue to follow our blog for construction updates on the Vermont Woods Studios Showroom, Stonehurst.
Cherry Shaker Furniture
Since the late 1700′s Shaker has been a popular furniture style. Originally, most pieces of Shaker furniture were either painted or stained to make the piece of furniture more attractive, and as a way to protect the wood. Today, painting shaker furniture is a rarity; however, the wood species remain the same. Cherry Shaker furniture is one of the most sought after designs in the furniture industry. Like the original Shaker furniture designs, we wouldn’t dream of importing exotic wood, like mahogany, for furniture. Vermont Woods Studios’ Shaker furniture is made from sustainably harvested American woods, with cherry being the most popular. Natural cherry wood is one of the most prized hardwoods in the United States, and is excellent wood for furniture. Many would no longer dream of painting such a distinct, fine wood. Instead, a clear finish is applied to the furniture offering optimal protection for the wood. A clear finish helps enhance the natural beauty of the cherry wood, instead of covering it up by paint.
If you’re looking to add a piece of cherry Shaker furniture to your home, now is the time. Right now we are having a Winter Shaker Style Furniture Sale. We offer over 200 pieces of Shaker influenced furniture, ranging from traditional styles to a more contemporary style. Save 10% on one piece, 15% on two pieces, or 20% on three or more pieces of Shaker style furniture. Each of our Shaker furniture pieces are backed by a lifetime guarantee and come with free shipping!
Shop for your new cherry Shaker furniture securely, easily, and conveniently from our online gallery. Our furniture specialists are also available to assist you through our Live Chat option (located in the top right corner of our online gallery), by phone (888-390-5571), or by email.
This sale ends on Thursday, January 17 at midnight.
*Sale excludes Copeland Furniture
The Walls Come Tumbling Down
Here are some before/after photos of the kitchen and the detached accessory building. Demolition is in full swing!
Last week we announced that all the necessary construction permits were approved, which gave us the green light to start the renovation! We have been eagerly waiting for the day we could finally get started.
The construction team arrived the day after Christmas, and dug right in. So, we’re going to count this as our Christmas present!
There are going to be a lot of major changes, so this starts with some demolition. The construction team is only five days in, but they have already made some major demolition progress. After our first significant snow fall of the season, you would think the last thing we would want to do is remove an exterior wall. But, this is exactly what we did on the accessory building that will soon be attached to the main house. The main house saw some drastic changes too. The old kitchen and bathroom have been gutted, making way for a customer welcome area and a new ADA bathroom.
But before we get too far into the structure remodel, we do have to dig some trenches for utility connections. This part isn’t as exciting, but it is necessary.
We will continue to update you on the progress of the Vermont Woods Studios showroom here on our blog. For those of you who are just learning about Stonehurst, you can catch up by clicking here. You can also some photos of Stonehurst before construction began on our Facebook.
ABC News Made in America – We’re in!
Made in America Makes Jobs
Stephen Spielberg called, and we’re off to Hollywood! Okay, that’s not true, but we were on the news! Not just any news station either, we were on ABC World News.
Have you been watching the ABC News made in America nightly segment? ABC News had a month long campaign with Diane Sawyer and David Muir urging people to pledge $64 towards Christmas gifts this season. The reason? To create American jobs–about 200,000 of them. Last night David Muir had the wrap up of their challenge and discussed some companies positively affected by the Made in America movement.
Last year the ABC News Made in America team came to Vernon, Vermont to visit Vermont Woods Studios and discuss our very own Made in America Holiday Shopping Challenge. Our first shot at fame went on air few days before Christmas in 2011. After a year of growth, ABC News circled back to Vermont Woods Studios once again. This year we hired five new people, proving that buying American made creates jobs. Our town, our company, and our new hires were all mentioned on last night’s segment. Thank you ABC World News for including us in your segment!
Diane & David- if you are reading this, you have an open invitation to come and visit our new, expanded furniture showroom this spring!
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