Classic Amish Toys and Furniture Make Great Gifts

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Wooden GiftsAs you walk down the aisle of a big box store you will notice the same plastic, disposable toys year after year. Unlike in times before, toys don’t seem to be made to last these days. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, uncle or aunt, it isn’t very likely that you will see your holiday gift survive into the next gift giving season. So, why not make a switch this season and invest in a gift that will both delight children AND last for generations?

At Carriage House Furnishings, our classic Amish toys and furniture are constructed from solid wood by a craftsman, not a machine. Each piece is created with care and represents a much simpler era. You will find many different holiday gifts for both boys and girls at Carriage House Furnishings.

3-in-1 Combo Rocking Horse/Chair/Desk

Kids love things that transform. That’s why our craftsmen created a wooden masterpiece that starts as highchair, but can be changed into a rocking horse or desk as if by magic! Both boys and girls will be delighted to see their chair quickly turn into a toy where they can pretend to be riding a horse out in the open range, or to be working diligently at their desk to do their homework or crafting activity. As the child gets older, she or he can use the toy as a doll accessory or hold on to it for kids of their own in the future.

Wooden Doll Accessories

Dolls are thought to teach children many skills, including cognitive, fine motor and self-help skills. Plus, kids love to play with dolls! There is nothing more exciting for a young child than to receive a beautiful accessory for their much-beloved doll. Carriage House Furnishings offers a wide array of furniture for dolls, including a deluxe wardrobe, bed, chest, high chair and more! Each piece will expand a child’s imagination and may even help the child learn a new skill. Plus, these sturdy pieces can be passed down for generations.

Folding Barn with Animals

Perfect for both little boys and girls who love farm animals, Carriage House Furnishing’s Folding Barn has hinges that open to reveal a hidden scene with wooden animals inside. Removable wooden fences can be arranged according to your child’s imagination and animals can be moved into animation. This sturdy toy will not only instantly bring joy to a child’s face when he or she sees it, but it will definitely survive many years of fun and play. It’s a great way to add more fun to your child’s favorite doll playtime, especially if paired with the Folding Doll House for the matching humans at the farm to live!

No matter which wooden Amish gift you fancy, you can be sure that once you see its holiday gift success you will be coming back to Carriage House Furnishings for more! Stop in today at our location at the former Lapps Coach Shop in Ronks, Pennsylvania and see our full selection of expertly crafted doll furniture, rocking horses and other children’s play items or shop conveniently online now.

Make Your Dining Room More Inviting for the Holidays

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You want your guests during the holiday season to feel warm, comfortable and welcome while gathered around your table. If you’re looking to add some extra space or upgrade your dining room’s look, Carriage House Furnishings can help you make your dining room a more inviting space that ensures your guests feel at home.

Black and Walnut Dining Room HutchIf the kitchen is the heart of the home, then a good table is the heart and soul of the party. The Solid Top Westin Table from Carriage House Furnishings is the perfect piece for your dining room. This table is large enough to give everyone plenty of room while the optional bench seating can make the table feel more cozy and welcoming. The cappuccino finish makes the wood look both elegant and rustic. Simply add a festive centerpiece and some seasonal kitchenware, and your dining room is ready for the holiday season.

A three-door hickory hutch is the perfect addition to a classic country dining space that also provides storage space for all of your good plates and serving dishes you need during the holiday season. Available in your choice of black and walnut or hickory finishes, each hutch features glass doors that allow you to show off your favorite bowls and plates all throughout the year, as well.

Of course, the holiday meal also involved a lot of time in the kitchen, and whether your guests are keeping you company or you’re looking for more space to finish all your preparations, an island can be an exceptionally versatile addition. The French Country Kitchen Island offers a beautifully distressed look, but is a sturdy option to add additional counter space and additional kitchen seating. Whether you’re enjoying your morning coffee or setting out appetizers for guests to snack on, the French Country Kitchen Island is a functional and attractive addition to your space. You’ll wonder how you managed without it for so long!

This holiday season, create an inviting space where you and your loved ones can make memories for years to come with Carriage House Furnishings. Stop down and see our full kitchen and dining room furniture selection at the store in the former Lapps Coach Shop in Intercourse, Pennsylvania, or shop our inventory online now. To learn more or to check on the availability of any item, call us today at 717-768-8712.

Curl Up With a Good Book: The Benefits of Reading

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With the weather getting colder, more and more people are starting to move inside. But what should you do with your newfound spare time? At Carriage House Furnishings, we think that there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book.

Reading has been proven to relieve stress. Books distract the mind and provide a low-cost escape. With a temporary pass from reality, it’s hard not to find the appeal of transporting yourself into another world, especially when it’s blustery, snowy and cold outside. We think that Jojen Reed in “A Dance With Dragons” – the fifth “Game of Thrones” novel by George R. R. Martin – was able to quote this phenomenon the best:

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”

It has also been proven that those who read have an enhanced vocabulary and higher intelligence rate. The more you read, the easier it is to keep your mind sharp. Novels contain words that are not used in everyday conversation, and can provide a depth to your interactions and your lexicon. It will be easier to find the words that you need to describe a particular emotion, feeling or idea, which can in turn lead to a better memory and better writing skills.

Stronger focus and concentration is another beneficial side effect of reading. If you are in the throes of a great story, it’s a hard thing to put down. Our world is filled with multitasking and divided attentions, so sometimes it’s nice to just shut things out and only focus on one thing at a time. Plus, taking this time out of your day can lead to better focus in other areas of your life.

Reading can also lead to stronger problem-solving skills. Have you ever tried to figure out where a story is going or have you ever imagined where it could go? That’s analytical thinking. Discussing a book is a great way to develop critical thinking skills. Multiple viewpoints of the same storyline lead to great debate and plot analysis.

If you are a book aficionado, you will need a place to store all of your great written adventures. At Carriage House Furnishings, we have a wide variety of Amish-built bookshelves that are the perfect place to store your favorite novels. We are sure to have a bookshelf that will meet your needs. Shop our selection of bookcases online now or come down and see us in Ronks, Pennsylvania in the former Lapps Coach Shop. Learn more by calling us today at 717-768-8712.

Rock and Relax this Autumn

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Rocking Chair The leaves are gently falling from the trees as autumn briskly slides into winter. You are outside on the porch drinking in the crisp and chilly air with a warm beverage and book in hand. This time of year is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors whether you live in the country, city or suburbs, but those cool fall evenings on the porch are not quite the same when you are sitting on a hard, plastic chair purchased from your local big box retailer. Instead, why not breathe in the changing of the seasons as they are meant to be enjoyed – in a comfortable Amish rocker or glider.

At Carriage House Furnishings you will find the very best selections in outdoor Amish furniture, so you can relax on your porch or patio in comfort. For a classic addition to your outdoor furniture set, brighten up your porch with the ash lumbar rocker in green. At an affordable price, you can buy a set to cover seating for the whole family – including the kids! Carriage House Furnishings’ child’s bowback rocker is sized for the little ones and will look great with any of your other Amish outdoor furniture purchases.

If your preferred furniture style is more rustic, check out the Amish-made hickory swivel glider with available gliding ottoman. This comfy chair features a wide-back cushion displaying a picturesque mountain scene and offering added comfort to your glider. Complete your look with a pair of matching high back hickory rockers! With a porch full of comfortable Amish rockers and gliders, you, your family and your guests will sit comfortably all season long.

Each rocker and glider from Carriage House Furnishing is designed and constructed with only the highest quality of natural hardwood, and handcrafted to be both highly functional and beautiful. No matter which you choose, you will be happy with sturdy and comfortable furniture from Carriage House Furnishings that will last you for years to come.

Shop now online, call Carriage House Furnishings at 717-768-8712 for more information on the best rocker or glider for you or stop in and see us at the former Lapps Coach Shop in Intercourse, Pennsylvania today.

Protect Your Valuables in Style

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It’s nice to have pretty things, but it’s almost just as nice to have something pretty to store them in! That’s why Carriage House Furnishings has a whole line of jewelry chests and armoires that are created by hand with beauty and function in mind, and are perfect for protecting your valuables. Take a look at some these delightful pieces that are perfect for storing your favorite pieces of jewelry.

Cherry Dressing Table

Our cherry dressing table gives any room a grand feel, and functions as a writing desk, jewelry storage area and vanity table all in one. Perfect for putting on your make up and jewelry in the morning, or penning a quick thank you note, this dressing table is a great addition to any room. This table would also make a wonderful gift to a young lady, since it can grow and adapt with her to suit any need. It’s also available in an oak finish for those who prefer a lighter colored wood.

Jewelry ArmoireJewelry Armoires

For women with lots of special jewelry pieces to store, we have jewelry armoires in a number of finishes and styles, including our cherry jewelry armoire, cherry shaker jewelry armoire, oak jewelry armoire with provincial finish and oak shaker jewelry armoire.

Each of these jewelry armoires feature storages areas that are perfect for keeping all kinds of jewelry, from the side doors with hooks for your long necklaces, to the drawers for watches and chunky bracelets, to the ring holders at the top. The shaker styles are a little bit more modern and casual, and would meld with lots of styles. The cherry and oak with provincial finish styles provide a classical look that is sure to be popular for many generations to come, and can mix well with other antique furniture or be paired with modern items to create a blended contemporary look.

Jewelry Chests

For those extra special pieces, Carriage House Furnishings also offers a number of small jewelry chests. Our cherry jewelry chest with grapes features a beautiful cherry finish and a classic carving of grapes on the top. Similarly, our cherry jewelry chest with roses features that same classic cherry finish, but has roses on the lid instead, and is also available in an oak finish. Both of these pieces are handcrafted with function and style in mind, and will store your jewelry safely and neatly with a number of hooks, drawers, pockets and compartments.

For more information on the handmade goods from Carriage House Furnishings, or for questions about ordering pieces today, give us a call at 717-768-8712 or stop in and see us on West Newport Road in Ronks today.

Draw Local Birds this Fall and Winter with a Birdhouse

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Birdhouses are a perfect way to provide a safe place for birds that do not migrate during the colder fall and winter months. In addition to being functional, birdhouses can also be aesthetically pleasing, adding a unique quality to your yard.

At Carriage House Furnishings, we have many birdhouses available that are both pretty and practical. These birdhouses are also sure to be conversational pieces when welcoming guests outside your home.

Bird Feeder with Copper RoofOne such option Carriage House Furnishings offers is the large bird feeder with copper roof. This painted birdhouse is made with weather-resistant wood and is topped with a copper-roof. This birdhouse is easy to refill, and is sure to be a great draw for local birds in all four seasons.

If you’re looking to give birds a new nesting place, our low-roof Martin house is constructed from white painted wood and also features a copper top. Made in a style to match the bird feeder above, adding this birdhouse to your yard will give birds not only a place to rest, but also a spot to snack, enticing birds to choose your yard as a favorite place to stay.

When choosing a birdhouse for your home, you aren’t simply looking to buy something that will look nice in your yard – although these options certainly will! You are also buying something that will be functional and appealing to birds, making your yard place to be!

Carriage House Furnishings features the best in Amish-made furniture and fixtures, all designed to add beauty to your home, while at the same time being highly functional and reliable thanks to the solid wood construction of each piece. Amish furniture is widely known for its appearance, durability and quality, and when you buy from Carriage House Furnishings, it will be easy to see why.

Check out these birdhouses and feeders for yourself by stopping into our showroom in the former Lapps Coach Shop location in Intercourse, or call us today at 717-768-8712.

Help Your Child Stay Organized this Fall

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The back-to-school season is in full swing, which means your home may be in a bit of chaos. Until things settle down, you may feel overwhelmed with all of the new schedules you need to juggle, and the new activities your kids have going on. But, here at Carriage House Furnishings, we think the fall is a great time to help keep your child reorganized and refocused, and several of the items we offer can help you make sure your home and your kids stay organized this fall.

The best way to keep your child organized is to make sure he or she frequently goes through their toys, and donates what they don’t want to play with anymore or that are broken. Throwing away items that can’t be repaired or sending things that your kids aren’t interested in anymore to your local thrift shop or charity donation bin can help keep the toy collection organized and under control. The fall is a perfect time to do this kind of clearing out, reminding your kids that the holidays are coming up which means they’ll need to make room for any new toys they may receive and give ones they don’t use a chance to find new life with another family.

Maple Toy ChestTo help keep things looking neat and clean in the playroom, check out Carriage House Furnishings’ maple toy chest. This sturdy chest gives your kids a spot to store all of their toys, and will keep the playroom or living room looking neat and tidy. You can also request a sports scene option that adds a distinct look that makes this chest a perfect place to store shoes, gloves, footballs, soccer balls or anything else for outdoor sports by the door.

Another way to keep your kids focused and energized this fall is to provide them with a dedicated spot to do their homework. Our hickory child’s table and chair set or our child’s oak table and two chairs are perfect options for this purpose. If your kids are always working on their homework in the same place, they’ll never misplace their books or miss an assignment. Plus, if your child colors outside the lines a bit, the finish offers a layer of protection to make cleaning off stray crayon or marker lines a breeze.

Keeping your kids and your home organized this fall is all about consistency, strategy, and having fun when you can! Help them out with these and other great organizational items available at Carriage House Furnishings. To learn more, stop in and see us at the former Lapps Coach Shop in Ronks, or give us a call today at 717-768-8712.

Make Your Den More Cozy

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Home FixturesAs autumn winds swirl through the neighborhood trees, causing colorful leaves to dance towards the ground, conversations between friends move from outside on the porch to inside in the den. Make your living room space more cozy and inviting by incorporating the following pieces of living room furniture.

Coffee Table

There is nothing like a steaming cup of coffee or hot chocolate to warm up with during the autumn and winter seasons. Hot drinks bring comfort with their warmth and create a relaxing vibe for any room. Setting a coffee table in the middle of your den allows for guests to have intimate conversations over seasonal beverages. The round coffee table from Carriage House Furnishings comes with a maple top, instilling an earthy, laid-back feel into any space.

End Tables

End tables create bookends for your furniture, providing the feeling of safety. You can place lamps on each end table to add a warm glow to your den or stack books and magazines on the bottom shelf of an end table or in the drawers to encourage relaxation. After all, during the colder seasons, snuggling up with a good book proves a wonderful way to pass the time and a great way to catch up on your backlogged reading queue. These end tables from Carriage House Furnishings provide room for lamps, books and more. Don’t forget to place some spare candles in the drawer for when you would like a lower-lit room or in case the power goes out.

Gliders

Nothing creates a cozy atmosphere like a comfortable glider. Adding gliders to your den rather than couches allows for more personal space and comfort. Gliders move back and forth, allowing you to rock at your own pace. Upholstered gliders with comfortable cushions invite family and guests to sit down and relax for a while.  Get a glider from Carriage House Furnishings and add an ottoman to prop up your feet, achieving the ultimate in relaxation.

Small Side Table

Tables can be used for a variety of purposes. To make your den a more welcoming space, use a side table to add some decorations to the room. Set up framed photos of your family, friends and pets, or turn the table into a place where guests can set down their belongings. Use the table to set up a buffet-style meal or snack trays during a house party or while having guests over for the football game. Small tables, such as this one from Carriage House Furnishings, placed along a sidewall in your den can add to the homey ambiance of the room.

There’s no shortage of great options to make your living room or den more cozy and comfortable. Check out our full inventory online, stop in and see us in Ronks, or call us today at 717-768-8712.

Refresh Your Bedroom Set this Fall

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Fall is the perfect time to hit the refresh button on your entire bedroom set. With the cooler months rolling in, you’ll want to spend those cozy fall nights snuggled up in bed with a glass of wine or a hot chocolate, watching an old movie or reading your favorite book. So make sure your bedroom set is as comfy as possible to prepare for hibernation season.

Our Lexington bed set has everything you need, including a bed, an armoire, two dressers to choose from and a couple of nightstand options. This classic set is sturdy and handmade, so the quality is incomparable to what you’ll find in regular furniture stores. Depending on your style preferences, the set is available in a number of different finish options from very light brown maple for a more rustic look to a dark cherry that provides a more modern look. Depending on your tastes and preferences, we’ll work with you to find the perfect finish for your set.

Hickory Bedroom SetIf you want to update your bedframe and are looking for a funkier option, check out our hickory bed. This bed is built to last and is tougher than nails. Hickory is a great wood for furniture making because it’s particularly sturdy, so when you buy a sturdy hickory wood bed frame, it can easily be the last one you ever buy. We offer this bed in all common mattress sizes and each one is built to order, sure to pair nicely with any of our other bedroom pieces.

Carriage House Furnishings has tons of options to choose from for anyone looking for the perfect rustic-chic-inspired bedroom set to complement your style and upgrade your cozy bedroom. The best part is, we’re a one-stop shop for all the furniture you need, and all of our pieces are handmade by extremely attentive and talented Amish craftsmen.

The cooler months are nearly upon us, so don’t wait – update your bedroom furniture this fall so that you can spend the cozy fall months snuggled up in your newly refreshed bedroom, courtesy of Carriage House Furnishings. Stop in and see our inventory in person at the former Lapps Coach Shop in Intercourse or call us today at 717-768-8712 to learn more.

Advantages of Hickory Furniture

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Hickory is a fantastic furniture-building material. It’s tough, resilient and durable, and has held that reputation for decades. In fact, during his tenure as our president, Andrew Jackson was consistently referred to as “Old Hickory” because of his staunch demeanor and toughness in the face of battle.

Today hickory accounts for roughly 2 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available, according to the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, which makes it an exclusive but highly prized furniture material. Let’s take a look at a couple of reasons why hickory is a great choice for your furniture.

Hickory Wood FurnitureColoration and Appearance

Depending on your individual taste, you can find hickory in a variety of different colors. The color of hickory is always beautiful on its own, but can vary with a bit of varnish, offering different shades from natural or light finishes to auburn and even ebony hues. The grain of the wood is distinctive as well, offering unique patterns and styles that add character to any hickory element. No matter what your taste, you can always find something that will catch your eye with this wood grain.

Durable and Resilient

We mentioned that Jackson was nicknamed after hickory, and with good reason. The wood is incredibly durable and will last for a very long time. It’s incredibly strong and is sure to fantastic in your home. If you have children or tend to be the sort of person prone to spills, a simple trick to increase the life of your hickory furniture is to apply a simple clear-coat or a stain yourself. This can help seal the wood and keep spills from soaking in. If something does spill, be sure to wipe it up quickly with soap and water and avoid using bleach, which could cause the colors to run.

Availability

Hickory is extremely easy to get a hold of, due to the popularity and availability of hickory cabinets. It has historically been a hardwood of choice, and Wood Magazine reports that with its reasonably high availability along the East Coast, it continues to be easy to find. However, that’s like saying paper is easy to find – it’s what’s done with it that matters – and the Amish craftsmen who build the hickory furniture at Carriage House Furnishings take care to ensure that every piece is comfortable, appealing and made to last.

Hickory continues to be a wonderful furniture-building material. Hickory can take a long time to grow and mature – in some cases taking as long 200 years to grow and fully mature before it can be used – but like many things in life, the best things are worth waiting for. We’ve made some fantastic items with hickory, including cabinets, benches, tables and more.

To learn more about the full range of hickory products available from Carriage House Furnishings, call us today at 717-768-8712 or stop in and see us at the former Lapps Coach Shop in Intercourse, Pennsylvania.

A Lasting Tradition: The History of Amish Furniture

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Amish Furniture Amish furniture first rose to popularity in the 1920s as people of the time looked for furniture made a simpler way of life from a simpler time, without all of the technology used at the time.

Sound familiar?

Amish furniture dates back to the early days of the Amish themselves in the 1690s when a group of traditional Mennonite Christians in Switzerland split from their church, says The Barnyard Gazette blog. During the 18th century, many of these people immigrated to Pennsylvania where they formed tightly formed communities around their strong belief system.

A part of that culture included sustainability. The Amish grew, made or built everything they use – and often still do – and throughout the decades since, people in contemporary culture have come to appreciate their work for the skill and craftsmanship that goes into it.

Today, people still look for Amish-created furniture for those same reasons. Amish furniture has a distinctive look and feel that comes from simplicity of design, but built from strong materials and crafted with incredible detail.

At Carriage Home Furnishings, we sell some of the finest Amish furniture available. Based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in the heart of Amish country, our products can add beauty to your home while also being highly functional and reliable.

We sell major pieces for bedrooms and dining rooms, along with accent pieces and many other types of furniture. Amish furniture comes in a variety of wood types from the local area including northern red oak, cherry, maple and elm.

With all that’s available today, it’s easy to forget about the finer goods available. If you want furniture, you may be tempted to buy a do-it-yourself piece from the mall or from a designer showroom, but those pieces will not have the authenticity and the true beauty and charm found in Amish-made furniture.

If you are interested in decorating your home with true Amish goods, stop in and see us at the former Lapps Coach Shop in Intercourse or give us a call today at 717-768-8712.

Gear Up for School with a New Desk or Bookcase

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The summer is heading into its final month and back-to-school shopping has likely begun in your home. In addition to the traditional school supplies and clothes, you may find yourself in the market for a sturdy new desk or bookcase to help store all your supplies and provide a quiet, comfortable place to learn.

Carriage House Furnishings offers well-constructed, Amish-made bookshelves and desks that are perfect for any student. Although each product is designed with solid hardwoods, there are a variety of finishes, styles and sizes to choose from.

Desk with Hutch TopIf your son or daughter is in need of a durable and attractive desk, we’ve got you covered. You can choose from a simple black desk with a walnut finish and keyboard drawer or a larger desk with a hutch top and light walnut finish for more storage space. If you are looking for a premium school desk, Carriage House Furnishings offers the Eshton Oak Desk — also available in maple. No matter what you decide, each option has been expertly crafted to provide a dependable place for students to work on projects throughout their school years into their professional lives.

In addition to a well-made desk, complete your back-to-school furniture set with an Amish-built bookcase. For a student with few books or a smaller living space, we carry a small, two-shelf bookcase with a sandy buff and nice walnut finish. You can also find medium, large and extra-large open-shelf bookcases in a variety of finishes for students who are expecting more books and need more storage space than their desk can provide. We’ve even crafted various sized bookshelves with doors for students who prefer to hide their clutter out of sight.

With the wide array of choices of back to school furniture Carriage House Furnishings has to offer, you will be done checking off your to-do list in no time. For questions about our products and designs, call us today at 717-768-8712 or stop in and see us today on West Newport Road in Ronks, Pennsylvania.