So, where can we find some peace and tranquility?  Hopefully, in our own homes. 

When it comes to home furnishings, less is definitely more.  We need simplicity, especially at home.  Fortunately, this is a growing trend that is here to stay. 

Furniture designers are creating more pieces than ever with a cleaner, lighter scale to appeal to more modern lifestyles.  

“Our new designs are defined by their simple, yet dramatic lines and enhanced by detailed craftsmanship,” explains Jonas Geiger, President of Furniture by Dovetail.

If you’re looking to achieve serenity in your home decor, check out furniture that is part of this growing trend.  Maybe you can start with your bedroom furniture and finally get some much needed sleep! 

When buying furniture, it is especially crucial to select carefully because you will have it for many years to come—if you you choose wisely, that is.  Your furniture is an investment.  This is especially true when you buy durable, high-end furniture that can be passed along through generations.

So, how can you select pieces that truly reflect you—and not all your friends too?  This can be a genuine challenge these days when so many people turn to big chain retailers and for their purchases.  

Not to worry though.  There are plenty of options out there for distinctive, high-quality, furnishings that will make your home feel as unique as you are.  Handcrafted pieces are a smart choice.  Furniture handmade by individual craftsmen is different by it’s very nature.  It is not mass produced, so you won’t see similar furniture all over town in your friends’ homes.

You can find handcrafted furnishings in many local areas by looking online for craftsmen and stores that specialize in wood furniture.  Furniture by Dovetail offers a wide selection of handcrafted furniture for every room of your home—even your kitchen and office.  Stop by our showroom to see for yourself what makes handcrafted furniture such a smart investment.

 2. Take Some Measurements
Measure your space and note the locations of outlets and windows.  Draw a template and evaluate the space you have available for the furniture you need in your home office.  Make sure there is room for electronic components to be placed close to outlets and that computer screens are protected from glare from windows.  As a rule of thumb:

• Desk surfaces are typically 29 to 30 inches from the floor.
• Desk surfaces are usually too high for comfortable computer use.  If you plan on using a piece of furniture primarily while working on the computer, look for an adjustable keyboard platform or adjustable legs, so you can adapt the furniture to a comfortable working height.
• You should have at least 3 ½’ of space behind your desk chair.
• Make sure you have at least 3′ of space between the desk and another piece of furniture.

3. Study Your Light
Will you be working in your home office during certain hours or all day?  Watch the way sunlight hits the space during the hours in which you will be working.  Make sure to position furniture and computer screens away from glare.  If your space is very dark, plan to install overhead lighting or allocate room on furniture surfaces for lamps.
 
4. Think About Style
Unless you are lucky enough to have a completely different floor or wing for your home office, your work furniture will be visible from your living space. Both the quality and style of your home office furniture should be compatible with the rest of your home. Don’t get so carried away by the function offered by a piece of furniture that you lose sight of the style that looks great in your home.

5. Shop for Quality Furniture
Work furniture receives heavy use. Make sure you are buying pieces that are up to the job by looking beyond the surface.

• Drawers should feature metal suspension rollers for maximum durability.
• Wood drawers should be fastened together using dovetail construction rather than staples, light nails or glue.
• Chairs should offer complete back support and be adjustable, so you can work with your feet flat on the floor.
• Desk tops should have slightly rounded edges. Look for wood tops that are thick enough to accommodate light sanding in case you need to repair the surface.

Furniture by Dovetail offers everything from space saving computer armoires to full office suites.  Browse our office collection to get some ideas, then visit our showrooms or give us a call at 508-829-8947 to discuss your custom furniture needs.

A great kitchen is so desirable that entire books and websites are devoted to “dream kitchens.”  But, what really qualifies as a dream kitchen?  A kitchen can look beautiful, but that’s meaningless if it doesn’t function efficiently and suit your lifestyle.

If you are building new custom kitchen or redesigning a kitchen, consider several factors:
 
1. How You Really Live
If you enjoy preparing elaborate meals or cooking with a partner, that means multiple ovens, workstations and ample storage will be far more important to you than to someone who keeps meals as simple as possible. If you love to entertain, consider the features and traffic flow that will simplify your job as a host or hostess. Your kitchen should reflect your lifestyle. Think carefully about how you really live and work with a design professional to create a kitchen that meets your specific needs.
 
2. Efficiency
The pathway between the refrigerator, stove and sink is known as the “work triangle.”  For maximum efficiency, these appliances should be arranged in a rough triangle so that the total number of feet between the two appliances and sink add up to no more than 26 feet.  No single leg of the triangle should be shorter than 4 feet nor longer than 9 feet. If you plan on incorporating several workstations, create efficient work triangles for each one.  Just make sure the triangles don’t intersect to create a collision course!
 
3. Layouts
Most kitchens are a variation of these basic plans:

• L-Shape: The range, refrigerator and sink are arranged, so that two are on one long “leg” and the other is on the short leg of the “L.”  Often the refrigerator is at one end, the stove is at the other, and the sink is in between the two.

• U-Shape: The stove and refrigerator are opposite each other on the “U” and the sink is in the middle.

• G-Shape: Add a peninsula separating the work area from an adjoining space and the “L” or “U” shape becomes a “G.”

• Corridor or Galley: The stove and sink are on one wall with a refrigerator directly opposite and a narrow walkway in between.

Kitchen designers are skilled at adapting these basic plans to accommodate two-cook kitchens and multiple work centers.
 
4. Furniture and Cabinetry
The furniture and cabinetry that you select for your kitchen serve as both design elements and work horses.  Think about the aesthetics you want and all the features you need.  Do you need storage for an extensive wine collection?  Do you have items that you want to showcase on special shelves?  Do you need cabinets that are over-sized or undersized to fit your stature?
 
The beauty of custom kitchen furniture and cabinetry is that you can create one-of-a-kind pieces that precisely fit your style, your kitchen design, and how you use your kitchen. With custom pieces, you can choose from a wide variety of woods and finishes, including exotic woods that are unavailable in ready-made lines of kitchen furniture.  A skilled craftsman can create dramatic pieces that make your kitchen a work of art.
 
Take a look at the Gallery of Kitchens on our Facebook page to get some ideas.
 
For more tips about planning a dream kitchen, download the Kitchen Planner from the National Kitchen & Bath Association at www.nkba.org.

The benefits of buying local are simple:

1. Money gets re-invested back into the community
2. The carbon footprint is reduced and helps preserve the environment
3. Closer relationship between seller, buyer and community

Local retailers may not always beat the prices of the larger chains, but that difference is offset by increased local employment rates and improved environmental practices.  And, let’s not forget superior service and higher quality.  For example, if you’re debating about spending a few dollars more to buy a new digital camera from a local shop instead of a retail giant, you should consider customer service.  Who will more likely take time to help you understand your new camera?  And, who is more likely to be there if you have a problem with the camera down the road?

Whether you’re purchasing hardware supplies or sporting goods, you will help to keep money circulating within the community if you patronize a local shop instead of a big box retailer.  You will also reduce transportation costs and energy-wasting trips that result from buying from a major retail chain.

Buying furniture is no exception.  In fact, buying local is even more important when products are manufactured locally as well.  Since its inception in 1988, Furniture by Dovetail has been making all of its furniture in Holden, MA.  We are proud to be made in the USA–and even more proud to be made in Massachusetts. 

At the 2009 EDUCAUSE conference, Syracuse University Dean of Libraries Suzanne E. Thorin bluntly said: “Let’s face it: the library, as a place, is dead. Kaput. Finito. We need to move on to a new concept of what the academic library is.”

These carrels at Simmons College were crafted to fit together in flexible arrangements while providing ample surface space for technology.

Clearly, libraries as quiet places of solitary research packed with stacks of books are vanishing. But does that mean that libraries are dead?  Far from it.

In a June 2010 report, the Association of College and Research Libraries outlined the following top 10 trends:

1. The definition of the library space will change as physical space is repurposed and virtual space expands.

2. Changes in higher education will require that librarians possess diverse skill sets.

3. Increased collaboration will expand the role of the library within the institution and beyond.

4. Libraries will continue to lead efforts to develop scholarly communication and intellectual property services.

5. Technology will continue to change services and required skills.

6. Explosive growth of mobile devices and applications will drive new services.

7. Academic library collection growth is driven by patron demand and will include new resource types.

8. Digitization of unique library collections will increase and require a larger share of resources.

9. Demands for accountability and assessment will increase.

10. Budget challenges will continue and libraries will evolve as a result.

Academic and corporate libraries are in the midst of a dramatic transformation that shows no signs of slowing down.  As change becomes the new norm, it becomes more important than ever to design and furnish spaces for maximum flexibility.

For a copy of our complete white paper entitled, “Transforming Academic & Corporate Libraries: How Furniture and Facilities are Adapting to a Digital Age,” please email your request to: kim_neuhauser@furniturebydovetail.com.

In this kitchen island, we used solid wood to frame the island and create the braces for the counter top, but used veneer for the curved insets in the base.

What is Veneer?
Wood veneer is a thin slice of wood cut or peeled from a log. The slice can be as thin as a piece of paper or thick enough to accommodate sanding and refinishing down the road. The veneer is adhered to another wood surface. Typically, the outer layer is made from the most beautiful or exotic woods, while the substrate is made from utilitarian woods or particle board.

How Solid Woods and Veneers Compare
When shopping for furniture, most people are looking for a combination of beautiful design and materials, durability, value and, increasingly, environmentally sensitive materials. Let’s compare solid woods and veneers according to these criteria:

1. Aesthetics
If you’re looking for the simple lines, plain woods, and solidness of Shaker or Mission style furniture, solid wood is a great option. If you want some curves in your furniture, matched grain patterns, inlaid woods or exotic woods, you’ll be drawn to pieces that incorporate veneers.

2. Durability
Solid wood furniture will last forever if it is made well. Years of heavy use may lead to dents, dings or scratches, but the beauty of solid wood is that surface imperfections may be sanded out and the furniture can be refinished.

3. Value
Furniture made completely from solid wood is more expensive than furniture made from a combination of veneers and solid wood. This stands to reason since more high-quality lumber is needed.

4. Environmental Considerations
If conserving natural resources is a priority, then furniture made of wood veneers is a great choice. The veneering technology makes it possible to get 15 to 20 tables out of the same lumber used to create just one solid wood table.

We used exotic wood veneers on the headboard of this bed and table drawer and top to create eye-catching, distinctive pieces.

The Signs of Quality
The local discount furniture store sells furniture made from wood veneers. So do high-end furniture artisans such as Furniture by Dovetail. What’s the difference? Here are five telltale signs of quality:

Thickness of the veneer – Mass produced furniture is often covered by veneers that are as thin as 1/128th of an inch. These veneers are too thin to permit sanding or refinishing.

Construction – Wood veneers on inexpensive furniture are typically fastened together with staples or cheap nails. Quality furniture will be constructed with veneers on real wood substrates that are fastened using durable woodworking techniques such as dovetailing, doweling or tongue and groove joints.

Mix of solid wood and veneer – High quality furniture uses solid wood in structural elements such as furniture legs, posts, arms and frames. Less expensive counterparts will use wood veneers throughout a piece of furniture.

Type of wood - Craftsmen use high-end wood veneers for their superior grains and the ability to use exotic woods that are unavailable. Wood veneers are specified for their exceptional beauty, whereas the local furniture superstore uses more mundane veneers to hide defects and keep costs down.

Design – While mass furniture makers use veneers purely because they are more affordable than solid wood, craftsmen often employ veneers for specific effects that would otherwise be extremely difficult to achieve.

To receive a copy of our complete white paper, “The Truth about Veneers and Solid Wood in Fine Furniture,” please email your request to: kim_neuhauser@furniturebydovetail.com

Furniture by Dovetail started in 1988 and quickly became a leading provider of custom furniture. We use only hand-selected hardwoods, time-honored joinery, and hand-rubbed finishes to create furniture for your home or workspace.

We offer an extensive standard collection that includes contemporary interpretations of classic styles that stem from a wide array of design traditions, from arts and crafts to art deco. Custom furniture is our specialty. With thousands of pieces now in customers’ homes and offices, we have developed a wealth of experience to perfectly craft your product and create something both functional and beautiful.

Be sure to check this blog often. We will be updating frequently with new concepts for furniture design, ideas for furnishing your home, and some behind-the-scenes looks at what goes into making these handcrafted pieces. We’ll also have news about what’s happening at Furniture by Dovetail, along with any upcoming special offers and deals.