Charleston Forge – Quality American Craftsmanship From The Blue Ridge

By: Art Barber of Charleston Forge

Susan and I started our business careers fresh out of college by opening a small retail fireplace shop in 1974 here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

This picturesque community sits atop the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River, so cool summer breezes and cold snowy winters have attracted new home builders without a slowdown for more than seventy-five years a perfect setting for a fireplace shop.

We sold high-quality products and learned very early that there are people who truly recognize and appreciate the finer things in life. We offered delivery and installation service that the discount cash and carry stores couldn’t or wouldn’t do.

We learned to custom build handmade wrought iron fire screens, wood baskets, log racks and pot racks out of the tools that our maker gave us iron, fire, wood and passion.

Very quickly we had a growing, thriving business on our hands.

Word of our unique offerings spread throughout this land of mountain people, people who take pride in their work and deserve to be called artisans. We surrounded ourselves with these people and they helped us create more products.

In 1982 we started making furniture using the same natural elements of iron and wood, but added accents of brass, copper and glass& and the word continued to spread.

Today, Susan and I and our daughter, Jamie, and son, Brandon, who have both grown up in and now into our business, take great pride in the fact that our products, designed by, made by, sold by and serviced by more than 200 wonderful North Carolina mountain people are shipped throughout the world

Our products are offered to you through a network of highly qualified furniture stores, interior designers and sales agents.

Visit us at Bowen Town & Country Furniture in Winston-Salem, NC where we are proud to carry fine furniture from Charleston Forge.  We are located at 1910 Mooney Street, right off Stratdford Road…near Hanes Mall.

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Experience the most highly recommended bed in America!

Visit us at Bowen Town & Country Furniture. Located at 1910 Mooney Street, right off Stratdford Road…near Hanes Mall.

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Tomorrow’s Antiques – Available Today

Remember going to Grandma’s house?  If yours was like mine, the place was furnished almost exclusively with really old furniture…some good, some bad.  Sprinkled in the mix were some pieces that had some special significance…the chest great-great-grandpa built before the Yankees got him at Gettysburg…that kind of thing.

A lot of those old antique furniture pieces look great…from a distance.  When you examine them closely, you’ll find that the years may not have been kind.  Looking terrific isn’t enough for furniture you actually plan to use.  The piece has got to be sturdy enough to stand up to the rigors of use by a busy family…and most antiques can’t meet that requirement.

If you want the look of a fine hand-crafted antique but need something you can use on a daily basis, there IS a solution.  Bucks County Furniture -a very small Pennsylvania company- makes what I refer to as “new” antiques.  Using techniques from years gone by such as hand-planing the lumber and assembling pieces with cut nails and pegs, Bucks County turns pine, cherry, and tiger maple into tomorrow’s heirlooms -today.

And make no mistake…other than a single chair that they have made in a small Canadian workshop, EVERY piece of Bucks County is proudly hand-made in America.  Take a look at www.buckscountyfurniture.com .  You’ll think you’re looking at museum pieces…but it’s furniture you can use every day – and a piece or two can work with ANY decor.  When you’re ready to see Bucks County Furniture in person, come to Bowen Town & Country Furniture in Winston-Salem, NC.  We all love it and many of us own it – the best testimonial there is.

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Living With Leather Furniture – And Loving It!

Leather…the hallmark of quality and comfort in seating…the incomparable feel and aroma…a treat for all the senses.  Fine quality leather furniture is the best investment you can make in seating pieces for your home.  Fine leather – with care- will last four or five times longer than most fabrics.  You’ll notice that I said “with care.”  Leather requires care and maintenance just like a fine automobile, but caring for leather is much easier and less expensive.

Let’s devote a few lines to the different types of leather that are available.  Top grain steerhide is the gold standard in most cases.  The “top grain” is the outermost part of the hide…the part the hair grows out of.  Hides are usually thick enough that they are shaved into several layers; the layers below the top grain are referred to as “split grain” leather or simply “splits.”  Splits do not have the durability or grain pattern of the top grain; they are usually embossed with a grain pattern and are much less expensive than top grain leather.  Splits are sometimes coated with polyurethane and sold as “bi-cast” leathers.  You will also see “bonded” leather.  Bonded leather is a mixture of ground leather scraps and other materials; it’s sort of the “particle board” of the leather industry.  Once found mostly in book covers, bonded leather is now being used in inexpensive furniture.

There are other forms and grades of leather; top grain cowhide is from older animals and generally has more scars and natural markings than steerhide.  Exotic hides such as lambskin, deerskin, and calfskin are available as well; these offer incredible softness but are thinner and more fragile than steerhide.  Many leathers have at least some protective coating applied at the tannery; the amount varies with the coloring process. Other leathers, such as “nubuck” (it has a suede-like texture) cannot be given a protective coating; they feel wonderful but are vulnerable to soil and stains.

Expect some natural markings in better-quality leathers; they add character and are proof positive that you have not been sold a lesser-quality hide.  If leather furniture appears to be “too cheap,” you can rest assured that there is a reason.  You’ll pay more for top quality, but you’ll get a far better value for your money.

Now we’ll talk about keeping that leather piece in tip-top shape.  Leather should be kept out of sunlight; even indirect sun can fade leather in a short time.  Keep your leather furniture free of dust by dusting it weekly with a clean, soft cloth.  Clean your leather thoroughly several times each year with an appropriate cleaning product followed by an application of the proper protectant for your particular type of hide.  Most fine leather furniture manufacturers recommend LeatherMaster cleaners and protectants.  You can visit their website at www.mmna.com for detailed cleaning and care tips.  You may also order their products through the website.  Failure to clean and protect your leather can cause real problems. Depending on the type of leather you have, the oils from your skin may darken the leather or, in some cases, take the color out of the hide.  The use of some medications by the consumer can cause the leather to fade or darken as well.

If you’re considering leather furniture, do your homework first.  Know what you’re buying; choose a leather that is compatible with your lifestyle and furniture from a quality manufacturer.  Be sure you’re working with a reputable retailer who has a good record with the Better Business Bureau in your area.  A good furniture store will provide invaluable advice during the decision process as well as service after the sale.  You may pay a bit more up front, but your investment will yield dividends into the future.

And last – but not least- be willing to invest a few minutes a few times each year to give your fine leather the care it deserves.

Visit us at Bowen Town & Country Furniture and browse our collection of fine leather furniture! We are located at 1910 Mooney Street, right off Stratdford Road…near Hanes Mall.

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