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ClearLake Furniture
Custom-crafted by hand ... one piece at a time. |
Spring is in the air 2011
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Greetings!
We still have snow on the mountain but people are already planning their spring clean-up. That could mean purging all that stuff that's been collecting in the garage or attic, or maybe it's finally giving in to that long-lasting desire to redecorate a room-particularly after you've been spent the winter staring at it.
If you've got a space that needs a change, come talk to us. In addition to the fine hardwood and upholstered furniture, we can also provide design services, lighting, accessories, and re-upholstery. When you're ready for a change, talk to us.
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An heirloom in the making.
At ClearLake Furniture, we thrive on challenge. So when a long-time customer showed us photos of his palatial entryway and asked for advice on a decorative piece of furniture for the space, our imagination was stirred.
The space had vaulted ceilings and semi-circular balconies above.
Brent came up with an 8-foot grandfather clock, designing it with
lines that are similar to ClearLake's Serenity collection, which would
work well with this unique space. After crafting a prototype from plywood, Steve went to work to craft the clock from ebonized walnut.
Find out more about this project on our blog.
And be sure to let us know if you have design challenges that could use a ClearLake solution!
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Old chair, new look.
A customer returned to us to order a pedestal end table with a river rock inlay. The piece was crafted with this stone, also known as "marinace", which was laid into cherry wood. And it's a beautiful piece!
But the story continues. This particular customer also had an upholstered chair that was looking rather tired and worn. She wanted to breathe new life into the chair but had been unable to find the right fabric to inspire the transformation. Our design pro, Joan Canfield, went to work on the assignment.
After lots of research, Joan found a leaf patterned print that worked with the client's decor and beautifully accented the fine wood. She then put our master upholsterer to work. Don's meticulous attention infused beauty and value into this piece. See the result for yourself! If you want design help, email Joan.
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From shipwreck to wine cabinet.
We've worked with many types of wood in our days as furniture craftsmen, but this latest project is truly one-of-a-kind. A customer salvaged wood from a shipwreck that occurred in 1946. Built in 1840, the Success burned and sank in the Great Lakes after having been brought there from India, where it had previously functioned as a prison ship. Most of the wood was lost in the fire, but the below-deck teak was salvaged. Two of the planks will become a ClearLake original wine cabinet. Our design incorporates the unique features of the wood so that we can retain its character. We will only need to make one cut into one of the boards. The rest will remain intact, preserving this piece of history! You can see the design and follow the progress of this "Rescue and Restore" operation on our blog.
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Congratulations to our monthly winner!
 Andy and Ellen Amstutz are the latest winners of a one-of-a-kind ClearLake Furniture cutting board. These two-inch-thick boards are hand-crafted from fine hardwoods, like walnut, maple, and cherry-and sometimes exotic woods, like cocobolo and bubinga.
This ClearLake exclusive is valued at $175 and you can register for our monthly giveaway. Just visit our website, scroll down and sign up to win your very own ClearLake cutting board!
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Visit our Facebook page.
 If you're on Facebook, take a look at our new Facebook page, where are posting
tips, ideas, creative thinking, photos of new pieces (including some that haven't yet
left our drawing board). We might also need your opinion on a few things. Please consider joining our Fans so we can build a community of people who appreciate the fine art of Vermont living.
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Welcome to the blogosphere.
 Ever wonder where furniture designs come from? Want to know what to look for when choosing furniture? Do you know where curly maple comes from? Visit our blog for the latest news around Ludlow and Okemo, ideas we've been pondering, tips, thoughts, and even a little Yankee wisdom thrown in on occasion. We're hoping to get some comments from our friends, customers, and colleagues on this forum so please stop by and subscribe to the ClearLake blog.
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We're always working on something interesting in our workshop. Please stop by when you're in the area and check us out. We welcome visitors and will gladly show you how furniture goes from raw lumber to cherished furniture.
Sincerely,
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Brent Karner,
Proprietor & Master Craftsman
ClearLake Furniture |
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