The Stated Home | American-made Style Guide & Furniture Primer

Wood Defects: What’s Normal and What’s a Problem?

Part of what makes wood so beautiful is it’s unique grain and the character that comes from it being a natural, living material. But because it spent decades growing in a forest, real wood–and the furniture made from it–will never be perfect. For example, solid wood furniture will have some color variation and marks and it will grow and shrink slightly with changes in the environment. But that doesn’t mean every imperfection is acceptable. Sometimes there are flaws that just aren’t okay. So what’s considered normal and what’s considered a defect? Let us break it down for you.

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Furnishings 101

Eco-Friendly Furniture: The Truth About Logging

If you’ve spent any time at all on our site, you already know what we think about the quality of imported furniture (they cut corners in wood material, wood type, veneers, joinery, and finishes). American-made furniture is great because not only does it last a lot longer, but it doesn’t contribute to illegal logging–a practice that accounts for approximately 10 to 30 percent of all lumber used in furniture and flooring and that has tragic consequences: (more…)

Furnishings 101

Wood Furniture Manufacturers in America

Looking for companies that manufacture wood furniture here in America? You’re in luck! There are actually a lot of these companies around. That’s the good news. The bad news is that finding them isn’t always the easiest. You can always shop at The Stated Home, which only sells pieces made by American manufacturers, or use the retailer locator on the individual company websites.

When it comes to American wood furniture manufacturers, you have three main categories: companies that make a large selection of mid-priced furniture for every room, smaller companies that typically focus on a specific style or type of furniture, and fine furniture – higher priced pieces with exceptional design and/or labor-intensive manufacturing.

It’s impossible to list every single one of the manufacturers out there, and for the purposes of this list we won’t mention the really small companies that only make a few items. That said, if you know of a company that we missed, please let us know! (more…)

Furnishings 101

American Upholstery: The Companies to Know

Upholstered furniture is anything that has cushions or padding and is covered in fabric (think sofas, chairs, ottomans, beds, that sort of thing). And there are still a fair number of manufacturers who make these kinds of items here in America. For this list, we didn’t include the larger retail stores that manufacture in America. That information is pretty easy to figure out (see our post here comparing sofas from the major retail stores), so we wanted to instead highlight smaller manufacturers that you can find at your local furniture store. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it should give you plenty of options to start with. (more…)

Furnishings 101

American Furniture Companies: How to Spot Them

It may seem like every furniture store is full of imported pieces, but there are still many companies that manufacture in America. The problem is, it’s tough to find American-made furniture among all those imported items. Frustration with this shopping experience is what led us to create The Stated Home in the first place! Every single piece we sell is made domestically, making it easier than ever to find American-made furniture. That said, we want you to prioritize purchasing American-made furniture, even if you don’t shop with us. And the following pointers will help you do just that. (more…)

Furnishings 101

Good Wood Furniture: Shopping Tips

Trying to separate out quality wood furniture from cheaply made junk is as close to finding a needle in a haystack as you’ll get. Two pieces can look practically the same, but one will last a decade while the other will get wobbly within months. You can make it easy on yourself by shopping at a retailer like The Stated Home, which only sells well-made furniture made from real wood. But if you’re shopping somewhere else, here are the things to look for that will ensure you get something that will last: (more…)