The Pearce Sectional from Pottery Barn is a versatile piece of furniture that can be worked into most rooms, regardless of style. It represents what has historically been a dominant American furniture industry that has as of the last twenty years been severely threatened by cheap foreign imports. Upholstered in the Everyday Suede, along with large rolled arms, this sofa is comfortable, durable and great for conversation. Pottery Barn decided to take their furniture manufacturing to the skilled craftsmen and women of Sutter Street in Highpoint, North Carolina. Highpoint is rich with tradition, including many third and fourth generation furniture makers. Pottery Barn produces a quality, handmade product that undergoes six quality control tests before being released to retail. Their factory, corporate and retail stores provide well-paying jobs to many Americans. To see more images and configurations for the Pearce sectional, check out: potterybarn.com The video above is an overview of…Continue Reading
Today we are talking with Dani Turkovich from AT-95. AT-95 is making quality furniture and fixtures in Middle America from American resources.   Can you give 50 BUILT readers some background on yourselves and how AT-95 came to be? While working 10 years in various large architectural firms, Dennis Blankemeyer expected to become the next Frank Lloyd Wright. Unfortunately, his design skills were set to work mainly drafting toilet partitions, shuffling mass quantities of paperwork and creating drawing after drawing for $150 million dollar projects in a large architectural firm. After long days hammering out drawing after drawing in an impersonal cubicle farm, Dennis would spend the majority of his free time designing and concepting items for a store that he dreamed of opening with his wife, Denise. Dennis and Denise opened American Furnishings in 1995 in a very small, 1,200 square foot space in Grandview, Ohio. Because Dennis and Denise were green in the ‘retail’ industry, business…Continue Reading
Today’s interview is with Brent Starck, founder of Drift Studio in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. Drift is a design studio, think-tank, prototype lab and ultimately a maker of module furniture.   Can you give 50 BUILT readers some background on yourselves and how Drift came to be? I have been planning and imagining the idea of Drift Studio for most of my life in some form or another. I’ve always been an inventor, an artist and a maker at heart and I’ve always imagined a life where I could pursue those passions on a daily basis as my career.  Drift Studio is my effort to make those dreams a reality. It is a place that hopefully will become a creative hub for product ideas and an incubator to help nurture those ideas into reality. I studied economics at the UW-Madison and while I fully enjoyed the whole experience it wasn’t until junior…Continue Reading
The furniture industry has been one of the hardest hit over the last two decades and North Carolina is ground zero for the US furniture industry. Ethan Allen was founded in 1932 and is currently one of the largest furniture companies in the USA. More than seventy percent of its cherry, maple and alder wood pieces are crafted in the United States. Ethan Allen has six manufacturing facilities including two sawmills, but over the last four years have had to close 2 factories. With the threat of cheap foreign imports, now is as important of a time as ever to support the companies that still make an effort to manufacture in the USA. ethanallen.com
Founded in 1924 by Thomas Bahnson Stanley, Stanley furniture is an American furniture company with manufacturing in Virginia and North Carolina. In 2009 they brought 100% of their overseas manufacturing for their Young America line back to the states. Young America furniture is built for the youth market, making pieces from cribs to armoires. Their cribs are Greenguard certified and their product line offers a large selection of color and stain options. With a focus on craft, quality, sustainability and safety, Young America is a great option for any child.