We specialize in
crafting custom furniture created by
Amish crafters here in the Illinois Amish Country. Our Amish craftsmen can create or reproduce
practically any item that you can describe, design, or
invent in wood. Long known for their woodworking skills,
the Arthur Amish community has built its reputation on
solid wood and top quality.
Who can order Wood Loft Amish custom furniture?
The answer is everyone can. We
are developing this furniture website mainly for those
of you in the mid-west USA but that
doesn't prevent those from further away from creating
the perfect piece of furniture. We have done pieces and have shipped items using
furniture movers completely across the country and had
satisfactory results. We just ask that if this is what
we must do, that we both realize the added time and
communication that will be necessary to work out the
details of the custom work. We're more than willing to
work with you no matter where you live, so don't let
distance be the holdup. We can send pictures and
drawings back and forth by email and send color blocks
and wood samples by UPS. It just takes a bit more time
and planning. Give us a call or email us about your
plan.
Where is Arthur, Il.? We are located in East Central
Illinois within an easy, one day round trip drive, just
a couple of hours out of Chicago, St. Louis, and
Indianapolis. Check our map page for more information on
location.
Northern Illinois Delivery - Most people pick up their
items at our store in Arthur. As we said earlier, we are
not comfortable with the costs and problems associated
with crating and carrier delivery, but we have done it.
We do offer blanket wrapped delivery "locally" within
200 miles, and to northern Illinois and the Chicago-land
area for those who are not able to pick up their orders.
Costs are reasonable and still allow you to save a great
deal over "city prices." Actual costs are based on time
and exact location and are job specific. We can discuss
this when we talk about your order. We either deliver it
in our truck and trailer or contract out with a local
furniture delivery service. Either way, we can be sure
that way that its done right.
Do you have to drive to
Arthur? - In most cases, you will need
to visit us at least one time prior to confirming your
order to develop final details about your order. Because
this is custom work, we want you to have a clear
understanding of the nature of our quality, style,
color, finish and other options. This, we feel,
can be done only in our showroom, where we can look at
and touch other pieces made by our craftsmen. We are
also confident that if you see the quality of the work
we do, at the prices we offer, that you will be more
comfortable with your purchase. But with only one visit
we can, however, develop pricing, general design, color
and other details by phone, fax mail or e-mail, and save
a lot of time and travel.
Woods, Styles, Colors and
Designs - We work in all species of
wood. Oak is a primary wood we use, but also do many
items in cherry, walnut, hickory and maple. We use a
great deal of "solid" wood, that is, lumber, with a
minimum use of veneers in some concealed or non
strategic locations (thin backs, drawer bottoms, etc.)
where they are actually quite superior to "solid." In
colors (stains) we have a large number of "standard"
colors available but are also very comfortable in
matching any sample color that you might provide.
Designs? Well, that's where the word custom comes
in. While any of the items in the store might tempt you
to take it home with you, for no extra cost we can put
your dreams and ideas together into a special piece,
just for you. Waiting time runs 12 to 16 weeks for most
items, but they are well worth the wait, we assure you.
(click here for
sample wood photos)
The Process - Long Distance
Ordering
Step 1 - If you have an interest in a specific item that
you have seen elsewhere or have always wanted, try to
get or make a drawing or photo of the item or at least
its basic dimensions, and specific properties (doors,
drawers, shelves etc) and then give us a call and we can
discuss our products, our quality, our services and what
information we will need to get a price and information
together for you. In most cases after this we will ask
that you mail, fax or forward to us the necessary basic
size, shape, style information and we will work up a
price. Often, we work up plans from drawings or pages
torn from Sunday supplements, other furniture store ads,
or catalogs, but simple pencil line drawings work as
well.
Step 2 - We will get back to you with a price and other
information about the item(s) you inquired about. If
there is interest at this point we would probably need
to find out a few more details about the piece you want
constructed. The things that fall into this
category are exact measurements, different moldings, and
other aspects that you must keep in mind so that we can
refine the design process and be sure that we have not
overlooked anything that would affect our final price
quote or the intended quality of you furniture.
Step 3 - Somewhere in all this, and about at this point,
is when we need to get together to discuss the
subjective aspects of furniture design. Just what
exactly, do you mean or we mean by "medium" color, or
"slightly eased" edges. What's the appeal of a "large"
dental molding vs. a "small" one? In some cases you can
see Arthur Amish made items in your neighborhood, and
I'm thinking of the Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis
areas in particular, in other people's showrooms (at
correspondingly higher "city" prices.) These items may
give you a bit of background on the quality and finish
but still, we'd like to see you.
With one visit under our belts, we will present you with
a firm price and delivery date, and with your
permission, begin your furniture. We do require a 50%
non refundable deposit on all custom orders. We
will advise you when the furniture is ready for your
inspection, pick up or delivery. Pick up or delivery can
be decided at the end for your convenience. Many people
find that they have a friend with a pickup truck, or can
rent a small U-Haul trailer for very little money and
with the money saved, spend a day or even overnight in
Amish Country.
If you've stayed with us this long, and think you might
have an interest, you may want to check out new pages
that we are building on different categories of our
furniture.