How to find the Best Amish Furnishing Store in Michigan

If you have an eye on Amish furniture for your home, there are a few things to note before buying the first item you find.  As Amish furniture is well-made and can be more expensive than standard furniture, you’ll want to make sure you purchase authentic pieces.  Read on to learn more about Amish furniture and what to look out for when searching for the best Amish furnishing stores in Michigan:

Solid Wood

Although many Amish builders use solid hardwood in their crafting, some do not.  Amish builders often use a combination of solid wood and plywood in furniture making, but heirloom-quality furniture uses minimal plywood, saving its use for unexposed areas such as drawer bottoms and case backs.

It can be difficult to spot the nuances between hardwood and plywood, so make sure to read the fine details.  Even if the Michigan Amish furniture store you’re considering boasts about “solid wood” and “old world Amish craftmanship”, take a look at what is left unsaid on the product pages.  For example, if the description for a dresser has a “solid top and drawer front” with no specified wood used for other parts of the dresser, it could mean a majority of the piece is made of plywood.  You can also check the wood by looking at the price of the piece.  If the price is significantly lower than similar pieces from other sellers, plywood may be one of the top materials.

Construction

Traditional woodworking methods – such as dado, dovetail, and mortise & tenon joinery – should be noticeably used in Amish craftmanship.  If these methods are not easily noticeable, the top Amish Furnishing Stores in Michigan will be able to show the furniture is joined.  Make sure to examine the following when your at the Amish furniture store:

• Drawer boxes: Dovetail joinery is commonly used for the fronts and backs of Amish furniture drawers.  Check to see if dovetail is used, and ask an associate what method is used if dovetail joinery is not.
• Drawer fronts: Drawer fronts can be made of a single plank of wood or feature multiple, glued-up boards.  Both are good quality; however, single plank drawers generally have a more consistent stain and showcase the beauty of gran patterns better than glued-up boards.
• Primary & secondary wood: Quality Amish furniture typically features a “primary” wood and a “secondary” wood – which is often less expensive and frames the primary wood. When looking at the type of wood used, check for tougher hardwoods like oak, cherry, and walnut.  Good secondary wood options include maple, oak, and ash.

Hardware

The wood may stand the test of time, but will your hardware?  We argue the hardware is just as important as the wood and construction.  Before deciding to buy, check both the drawer glides and hinges:

• Drawer glides: Don’t be afraid to open and close all the doors when you examine the placement and material of the glides. The glides should be mounted out-of-sight, underneath the drawer and should not slam against the furniture when you close the door.
• Hinges: Similar with drawer glides, hinges should be hidden for a clean, sophisticated look and should not slam shut when pushed closed.

In the market for well-designed Amish furniture from one of the best Amish Furniture Stores in Michigan?  Give the experts at Fenton Home Furnishings a call.  With our selection of hand-crafted furniture, there’s something for everyone.