Where is this furniture made?

Our furniture is all hand made by an alliance of small cabinet shops throughout the Midwest. We contract with these shops to produce our furniture line. Nearly all of the finishing process and final assembly is handled at our Schoolcraft, Michigan warehouse location.

Is this furniture made by the Amish?

Many of our pieces are manufactured by the Amish in Indiana and Ohio. Their craftsmanship is evident in the pieces they build. We also have a large number of furniture builders who are not Amish and who build with great skill.

What kind of protective finish is used on this furniture?

We use Resistovar by Valspar. It is a catalyzed lacquer that has become a standard finish for finer furniture and cabinetry. It is superior to oil finishes, straight (nitrocellulose) lacquers, waterborne finishes and polyurethanes. One of the many benefits of the catalyzed lacquers is that they contain very high solid contents and build very quickly. In fact, our process requires only two coats of finish for water-resistant protection. The finish is extremely tough and resists all common household chemicals.

What kind of stains do you use and is the furniture available in other colors?

We use oil stains. These stains penetrate deep into the wood and highlight oak's unique grain pattern. Unlike pigmented, wiping stains, oil stains enhance the wood’s grain instead of covering it up. Most items are available in mission red, black walnut and clear natural within three to four weeks. Pieces finished in clear natural will highlight the natural variations of oak's own coloring. Darker mineral streaks and lighter, tight-grained areas will contrast themselves sharply on pieces finished in natural.

Do you do custom stain matching?

No. We do offer four stain colors and four lacquer colors to accent any décor. Combinations of stain and lacquers on a single piece can also be ordered for even more dramatic effects.

Can I buy my furniture unfinished?

Yes, we sell our furniture unfinished. There is a 5% discount for unfinished items. It is important to remember that all unfinished furniture sales are final and cannot be warranted under any circumstances. Because oak is porous and subject to moisture exchange, it must be finished immediately by the customer. Warping and splitting is inevitable for furniture that is not finished soon after it is received. All customers are responsible for picking up their unfinished furniture purchases immediately upon completion and encouraged to finish them as soon as possible.

How are your products different from other oak furniture retailers?

We offer complete lines of oak furniture for every room in the home. By doing the staining and finishing ourselves, we are able to provide uniformity of color. We also stock nearly all of the items featured in our catalog in our medium finish and in some popular other stain colors, allowing for immediate delivery. Therefore, the customer is not inconvenienced by the lengthy lead times associated with traditional furniture stores. We offer a wide array of hardware and glass choices to give the customer more choice. We also have the capability to produce special orders and even custom designs in a very timely manner.

Other stores say that they have oak furniture. How are your products different?

Many other stores are advertising solid oak furniture; however, usually the items in these stores have much less solid material than our pieces. These stores sell products that may have oak facings only. The tops and sides are usually produced from oak plywood or particle board. This construction does not have the strength or the ability to be repaired like solid oak. The grain pattern lacks the depth and the variety of the real thing. As a rule we will use solid oak materials wherever and whenever we can. If solid oak materials are undesired for a certain application or raise the price unjustifiably, then we seek out top quality alternatives.

Yet there is some oak ply material in the products you make. Why is this?

We use oak ply materials only in areas that are absolutely necessary and usually in the interior parts of a piece. Deeper shelves in entertainment centers, for example, need to be made of ply materials. Solid shelves of those sizes would inevitably warp or split because they would not be secured into the piece. Bookcase shelves are narrow enough to be built of solid oak material.

Do you offer custom order furniture services?

Modifications to a large number of our products are available. Information about common special orders is included with each section of the catalog. We can even design a piece from scratch for a customer. Simply provide a drawing of the special requested and we will provide you with a quote.

How long do custom orders take to receive?

Typically special orders can be filled in just four to six weeks. This time frame can vary widely depending on the nature of the change, the time of year and the item that is being changed. Please call for the best estimate on the particular item that you are working with. We appreciate your understanding when special orders take longer than originally expected. These delays are usually from circumstances beyond our control or may reflect extra care given to insure that the customer is fully satisfied. Items from the Woodenware category will take longer to receive in special colors.

Which items can be special ordered?

Please see the following list of lines that may be customized:

Tables	Many custom size table tops available. A variety of table edges available.
Chairs	No variation to chairs, stools, rockers, etc. are available.
Hutches	Many special alterations available.
Occasional Tables	Many special alterations available.
Bedroom	Many special alterations available.
Entertainment	Many special alterations available.
Office	Many special alterations available.
Miscellaneous	Many special alterations available.
Woodenware	No special orders available.
Lamps	No special orders available.*
Glass	Many possible glass applications available. No custom bevel clusters available.
Hardware	No special orders available. Customer’s own hardware option.
* Special order tiffany lamps are available through Larry Galdes, our in house glass artist.

Can leaded glass be added when plain glass is already installed?

All glass is held in with glass clips, which allows for an easy switch. We stock a large selection of leaded glass patterns for hutches and entertainment centers, while also offering custom orders.

Do you offer custom order services for leaded glass?

Custom leaded glass is available from our in house artist, Larry Galdes. He offers a wide range of choices, including stained glass. Please contact him with special order inquiries.

Is bevel edge glass available for most pieces?

We stock a large quantity of bevel edge glass for most stocking hutches and entertainment pieces. Please keep in mind, bevel edge glass is not available for special orders when the door opening measurement has changed.

What size handles are used on this furniture?

Most handles are set at 3” centers. The 5” and 7” oak handles are the only exception.

Can a customer provide their own hardware?

A customer can provide us with their own hardware and receive a $2 credit per handle or knob. We will also install the customer’s hardware.

Is C.O.M. available for the glider rockers?

C.O.M. is available for the glider rockers and footstool. Please reference the Dutailier catalog for further details and fabric requirements.

Why is there color variation in the wood?

Color and grain variations are natural expressions of the real origin of the furniture's components: oak lumber. This evidence of authenticity, including limb marks, mineral streaks and grain variations creates the character of a natural product. These differences are to be appreciated as they make each piece truly one of a kind.

Why aren't your drawers dovetailed?

We use a method of drawer construction that is equal in strength to dovetailing and we bring it to our customers at a savings of many dollars per drawer. In fact, in fifteen years of building dressers we have not had a single drawer failure. That reflects our commitment to offering outstanding value in solid oak furniture. This helps us market quality products that more people can enjoy.

I got clear glass in my hutch for now. Can I update it with one of your beveled cluster styles later on?

Yes. It is easy to add a beveled cluster window to any of our furniture items that have glass doors. The glass clips that we use make it a snap to change windows as you wish.