This high end Vermont Shaker chest and nightstand are handmade with solid cherry wood, and cherry veneers that are used in the case sides and backs.

Yesterday I wrote about our solid cherry furniture so today I wanted to follow up with a post about the furniture we carry that incorporates cherry veneers. 

Sometimes customers come to us, initially averse to veneer but once they take a closer look they often change their minds.  I realize veneers have been given a negative connotation by companies that stick them on particle board to make cheap furniture. 

But did you know that premium quality, high end veneers are used by some of the world's most skilled furniture makers to add artistic flair and style to their work?

This is the case with the following six high end furniture collections:

Cherry Moon Furniture

Vermont Shaker Furniture

American Shaker Furniture

Copeland Sarah Shaker Furniture

Copeland Monterey Collection

Copeland Berkeley Collection

These furniture collections are made with all solid cherry wood except for the sides and backs of case goods.  Real wood veneer is used for case goods (chests, dressers, cabinets, night stands) sides and backs for esthetic and structural design reasons.  The pieces are made with frame and panel type construction and the use of solid wood in this design might cause the panels to warp in conditions of changing humidity.

As solid wood furniture specialists at Vermont Woods Studios, we spend a lot of time discussing the specifics of solid wood versus veneered construction methods with our customers.  Details for each of our collections are found in our Construction Details pages.  We welcome your comments and questions either below, on our Facebook, by phone or in person at our Vernon VT showroom.

The post Cherry Veneers: Six Furniture Collections That Bring Out Their Best appeared first on Vermont Woods Studios.

Vermont furniture can be distinguished from other American made furniture or imported furniture by the extensive use of real, solid wood. American Black Cherry is the wood most often used in Vermont furniture although sugar maple, black walnut, oak and other local species are also popular.

Typically Vermont furniture can be distinguished from other American made furniture or imported furniture by the extensive use of real, solid wood.  American Black Cherry is the wood most often used in Vermont furniture although sugar maple, black walnut, oak and other local species are also popular.

At Vermont Woods Studios we represent woodworkers and fine furniture makers from all across the Green Mountain State so our furniture reflects a wide variety of styles, designs and crafting techniques.  Some of our furniture makers work exclusively with all solid wood construction and others employ the use of veneers.  So customers often ask us about the difference between the two techniques.

Honestly, with all of our handmade furniture, heirloom quality is the bottom line and that can be achieved using all solid wood construction or with the incorporation of premium quality, high end veneers.

Although Vermont is best known for our all solid wood construction, we have several craftsmen who prefer to incorporate high quality veneers into their designs.  This is done when veneers are the best choice for a particular design, rather than simply the most economical choice.  For instance, the curved back panel of the Copeland Catalina Bed must be a veneer because it would be structurally impossible to build it out of solids. Copeland's framed panels, that is panels surrounded on all four sides, are often made of high grade, veneered plywood because in these instances, a solid panel would have the potential to expand and break the frame apart during periods of high humidity.

Plywood is considerably stronger than solids of equal dimension and some furniture makers choose them for Case Backs and Drawer Bottoms for that reason. On each of our furniture product pages you will find a link to the construction details for that product.  We urge you to read through the information presented and give us a call with your questions.  For the furniture on our website, you will find that when veneers are used, they are the the best choice for the design. 

After all this discussion about veneers however, I can say that most of our furniture is still designed and constructed with all real solid wood, sustainably harvested in Vermont or neighboring states.  If this is an important feature for you, give us a all and let us know.  We'll help you find the right handmade solid wood furniture for your home.

The post Fine Furniture Characteristics: Solid Wood vs Veneers appeared first on Vermont Woods Studios.