Global rainforest destruction continues to proceed at a rate of > 1 acre per second.  60 seconds every minute.  60 minutes every hour, 24/7/365.  It’s the greatest extinction in the history of the earth.  Once the rainforest is gone, it’s gone forever.  It doesn’t regenerate like our northern temperate forests.  Interested in conserving the rainforest and preserving the iconic species who’ve lived there for millions of years?  Learn how your choices for furniture, flooring and other forest products can help.

Where Does Your Wooden Furniture Come From?

Ever wonder where your wooden furniture comes from?  Seven years ago I founded Vermont Woods Studios because I didn’t like the answer to that question.  And the answer is:  if you didn’t  purchase American made furniture, yours may well have originated in a beautiful tropical rainforest that was being plundered by illegal logging activities.

One Acre of Rainforest Disappears Every Second

I spent the first few years at Vermont Woods Studios trying to raise awareness about rainforest devastation and how it’s driven by the wood furniture and flooring industries.  Did you know that the rainforest is disappearing at the rate of >1 acre per second?  It sounds unbelievable and sensationalist, doesn’t it?  I mean that’s over 4000 football fields every hour of every 24 hour day, 365 days/year.  But it’s true and that fact is why we continue to work so hard to offer sustainable, locally made furniture at this Vermont furniture store.

You and I Have the Power to Save the Rainforest

Consumers of wood furniture, flooring and other forest products are the key to saving the rainforest.  If you’re taking the trouble to learn about sustainable wooden furniture and how you as a consumer can be part of the global solution, we want to help.  I’ll be writing a series of blogs over the next few months to provide some background information regarding the past, present and future of the rainforest and how we consumers can do our part to save it.  Have any rainforest references or stories you’d like to share?  Use the comment section below or join the conversation on our Facebook.

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• Select the furniture maker who has crafted pieces most similar to
  what you're looking for.  This is critical.  It's much easier and more
  affordable for them to customize something they've already designed and
  built than to start from scratch.

• Ask the furniture maker about customizing existing pieces with your
  choice of wood, finish, hardware, dimensions, molding, leg style and so
  on.  Note: there is a big difference between commissioning an original, unique custom work of art and customizing an existing piece of furniture.

• Discuss wood choices and characteristics with your furniture
  maker.  Are you trying to match this new piece with existing pieces in
  the same room?  If so, you may want to bring in that furniture or
  photos of those pieces to the workshop.

• Discuss furniture finish with your furniture maker.  Do you want a
  natural oil finish or one that provides more protection against
  moisture and perhaps small hand-prints and such.  Or something in between.  There are many choices to consider.

• Spend the time upfront to discuss the details of your furniture
  order up-front with your furniture maker.  Remember the old saying,
  "measure twice, cut once".  You don't want to have any surprises when it's time to install your furniture.

• Have fun and enjoy the process.  Get to know your furniture maker. 
  His or her personality will be a significant part of the meaning of
  your new heirloom!

• Looking for ideas? Check out the custom wood furniture at Vermont Woods Studios.

The post Custom Wood Furniture: Top 10 Ways to get What You Want – Continued appeared first on Vermont Woods Studios.

Furnishing your home is an investment.  High quality wooden furniture that's built to last a lifetime is bound to give you a better return than any instrument you can find on Wall Street. 

The idea that custom furniture is too expensive for you is a myth, but if you're going to take the plunge and invest your hard-earned dollars, be sure you do it wisely and get exactly what you want.

Here are some suggestions for success:

• Avoid big box stores and any furniture store that focuses on selling cheap, imported furniture, aka: curbside furniture (you know where this will be in 5 years).

• Go to a local fine furniture fair and meet the many talented furniture makers in your area.  Vermont has a fabulous fair in Woodstock every Fall.

• Visit with local furniture makers in their shops.  Examine their work.  Touch it, sit in it and page through their portfolios with them.  You'll be surprised at the quality and diversity of their work!

• Check references.  Most furniture makers will be happy to connect you with others who have purchased their furniture.  Don't be surprised if those customers invite you come to their homes and see their furniture.  It happens often!

• Ask the furniture makers where their wood comes from.  Usually it will be local, sustainably harvested wood.  If you're looking for mahogany or another wood that cannot be obtained locally, make sure the wood is green certified by a legitimate organization like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

• More suggestions tomorrow!  In the meantime, visit Vermont Woods Studios for custom furniture ideas.

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