| Looking for high quality, handcrafted, solid wood dining | | | | 4. Ask about the construction methods used in building |
| room furniture at great prices? Here are some tips | | | | your dining furniture. Look for traditional, robust |
| and advice to make your shopping experience | | | | construction and pay particular attention to joinery |
| successful and fun! | | | | methods used to fashion corners and attach legs to |
| | | | tables. High quality drawers normally feature dovetail |
| 1. Look for real American made dining furniture. Why? | | | | joinery, while table aprons are usually attached to table |
| Most so called "American made" wood furniture sold in | | | | legs with mortise and tenon joints. |
| the USA is imported from China and other developing | | | | 5. Consider lead time for crafting the furniture and for |
| countries. The quality is just not as high as you will | | | | shipping and delivery. Quality custom handcrafted dining |
| want to see if you are searching for genuine, | | | | furniture takes time to design and build. Typically the |
| handcrafted solid wood dining furniture. In an effort to | | | | lead time is 6-12 weeks for crafting, depending on |
| cut costs, major American furniture companies | | | | what's currently in the craftsman's queue. Don't forget, |
| including Thomasville, Basset, LazyBoy and others | | | | if your furniture maker will need to ship your furniture, |
| have moved their operations overseas. Quality has | | | | you may need to allot an additional 1-6 weeks for |
| plumetted. To find true quality that is backed by a | | | | shipping. |
| lifetime guarantee seek out small local furniture | | | | 6. Insist on white glove shipping and delivery. Perhaps |
| companies that craft honest, high quality dining furniture | | | | the biggest complaint from furniture buyers is about |
| out of locally and responsibly harvested hardwoods. | | | | shipping and delivery. Find out before your purchase, |
| 2. Decide what style you're looking for. Are you | | | | how your furniture will be shipped. If it's travelling any |
| seeking modern wood dining furniture with clean and | | | | distance, insist on a professionally trained furniture |
| simple Shaker lines, rustic distressed furniture, traditional | | | | delivery crew that will bring your furniture into your |
| colonial furniture or something in between? Furniture | | | | home, set it up in your dining room and thoroughly |
| makers will typically specialize in one style or another. | | | | inspect it for shipping damage. |
| You will get the best quality and price if you purchase | | | | 7. Get a lifetime guarantee. Most serious custom |
| from a craftsman who specializes in the style you're | | | | furniture makers will be happy to back their work with |
| looking for. | | | | a lifetime guarantee. If yours is uncomfortable with this |
| 3. Decide which type of wood you prefer. The most | | | | ask why. You may want to move on to another |
| popular hardwood for dining furniture these days is | | | | craftsman if there is no room for negotiation on the |
| American Black Cherry, but there are many other | | | | guarantee. |
| beautiful and durable furniture woods available including | | | | 8. Best time to buy dining room furniture. When it's on |
| maple, walnut and oak. These four premium | | | | sale, of course! Autumn is traditionally the time when |
| hardwoods typically price out at about the same with | | | | we think about dining furniture. Thanksgiving is on its |
| the exception of walnut which carries about a 20% | | | | way and so are many other holidays when family will |
| premium. Each wood varies in color, grain, hardness | | | | be gathering around the dining table. Many furniture |
| and durability and some woods, for example cherry | | | | companies will run their best sales during the Fall so |
| even change color over the life of the furniture. Ask | | | | check them out and get started. You dream dining |
| your furniture builder what types of wood they work | | | | room set could be just a few months away! |
| with. Most will offer several choices. | | | | |