One Breath Taking Furniture Destination

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Homestead Furniture invited Ohio Magazine Cusotm Media editor Kelsey Wagner in for a VIP EXPERIENCE and to custom build a piece of furniture.

Story by Kelsey Wagner | Photography by Laura Watilo Blake

Part of our aboveand- beyond experience included gourmet chocolate truffles from a local chocolatier and a personalized greeting sign welcoming us.

I’ve always been one of those HGTV-watching, Pinterestscouring, self-proclaimed interior designers — at least when it comes to my own home. So when I was chosen to design a piece from Homestead Furniture (where greats like NBA athletes and luxury hotel chains have been known to patronize), it was like winning the lottery. I enlisted my fiancé Grant to tag along, scheduled our VIP visit online and waited (rather impatiently) for the day to roll around.

In the meantime, Grant and I discuss logistics — what kind of piece do we want? Where will it go? What size should it be? And, of course, what will it look like? I consider my home to be a mashup of midcentury modern and bohemian, with a touch of Scandinavian. We want something that fits into the current aesthetic and has the versatility to work in the future as our design styles change. I take to scrolling through Pinterest for inspiration. We settle on something highly useful, a new coffee table, knowing that it will always be at the heart of our living space. I take note of a few living room measurements and we’re ready to go.

The day of the visit to Homestead finally arrives. Pulling up to the store’s campus, you’d never know you were just minutes away from some of the best Amish cooking and artistry in the state. On one side of the street is the modern storefront, but on the other side is a lush arboretum centered around a pond and bubbling waterfall that sends ripples across its surface. Next door is a sprawling event center overlooking the arboretum, and behind is the massive workshop where furniture is handmade onsite by Amish craftsmen. I make a mental note to come back another day for a lazy stroll through the arboretum, a workshop tour and a home-cooked meal from Mrs. Yoder’s Kitchen just around the corner

“My eye is drawn to the row of live edge slabs lining the walls, each piece a mosaic of unique grains and colors. But the thing that strikes me most about the showroom is the huge diversity in styles.”

The first thing we see walking into the showroom is a charming sign personally welcoming Grant and me to Homestead. Sitting in front is a small black box with two chocolate truffles from a local, gourmet chocolatier, which we devour on the spot. We’re approached by an Amish gentleman, clearly an employee. “Hi there,” he says with a smile. “You must be Kelsey and Grant. My name is LaVern and I’ll be helping you today. Welcome to Homestead Furniture.” And with that, our tour begins — but not before we’re offered fresh coffee and cookies.

We start by browsing the showroom, drinking in the elegant dining tables, consoles, couches and everything in between as LaVern pays close attention to our comments and what attracts us to different pieces, while pointing out unique aspects of each. My eye is drawn to the row of live edge slabs lining the walls, each piece a mosaic of unique grains and colors. But the thing that strikes me most about the showroom is the huge diversity in styles. Grant and I see pieces that trend towards the midcentury style we love, farmhouse-style furniture I know my mother would scoop up and even things that would fit the more transitional style of Grant’s parents — and that’s just on the showroom floor

LaVern understood our style right away. He paid close attention to our preferences and pointed out details he knew we’d fall for.

Leather Lovin'

It’s no secret that Homestead carries topselling upholstery lines like Stanford, Norwalk, Dutailer, Himolla and La-Z-Boy, but did you know it offers custom leather upholstery as well?

Leather is a natural, durable material that (with the proper care) only gets better as it ages. This makes it an ideal surface for high-traffic furniture like sofas or chairs. Just like hardwood furniture, a high-quality piece of leather furniture can become an heirloom piece for your family.

Homestead offers the highest-grade leather and, as is the store’s practice, the sky is the limit on what you can customize from color to style. And because each hide is unique, your leather furniture will be one-of-a-kind in every way.

Given Homestead’s reputation for completely bespoke pieces, there probably isn’t any style that can’t be accommodated.

When we’re ready to discuss our vision for the coffee table, LaVern leads us to the more private West Hall, Homestead’s designer showroom. Nothing can really prepare you for this ultra-luxurious space. You enter the West Hall through a dim, winding tunnel, gilded floor to ceiling with gold leaf. Emerging from the tunnel somewhat dazed, room after room of the most exquisite vignettes fight your eyes for attention. Each room is more chicly appointed than the next, with sleek metal beds dressed in crisp white linens inviting you to take a nap, expansive live-edge dining tables atop geometric metal bases begging to be touched and supple leather sofas beckoning you to sink right in.

With design inspiration swimming behind our eyelids, Grant and I sit down with LaVern to relay our vision for the coffee table. First on our list of wants is one of those breathtaking live-edge slabs I couldn’t keep my eyes (or hands) off of — the perfect tabletop for an organic, modern feel. And because we want nothing to take attention away from the character of a slab, we’re thinking a simple, metal base. He shows us a few different examples to spark ideas, never pressuring us in any direction, which we both appreciate.

After honing in on a few basic details, LaVern brings our piece to life with just a sketchpad and pen, transforming my confusing explanation into a perfect 3D sketch of what I’m imagining — a rectangular live-edge slab resting gracefully on two sleek, U-shaped metal legs.

We knew we wanted a liveedge tabletop, but hadn’t thought much beyond that. LaVern helped us refine our vision and bring it to life.

Sketch it Out

When you come in for a VIP experience at Homestead, you’ll have the opportunity to see your new piece of furniture hand sketched right before your eyes. Watch as a designer turns your words into reality with a 3D sketch, adjusting design and dimensions on paper, so you can make decisions without the guess work.

“Delivery was a breee and it's already been tested by a spill or two, curious cats and kicked up feet, and has passed with flying colors.”

We head back out to the showroom to pick our slab. LaVern excitedly shows us five or six pieces that will work with our size specifications, each one vastly different than the next in wood species, color, grain pattern and shape. The last one we come to it is a smooth, medium-brown walnut slab with one or two fist-sized knots and a thin, bark-lined crack running down one side. I know immediately this is the one I want, and looking at Grant’s face, I can tell he agrees. The slab is carefully laid down, measured and taped up to simulate where cuts will be made and legs attached.

Next we move on to the iconic color wall lined with hundreds of artfully arranged samples in every shade imaginable. For our purposes, we’re shown a drawer full of metal plates in various textures and hues. To keep the base simple and timeless, we pick a smooth, matte black steel, thinking the cold, industrial metal will contrast beautifully with the warm, organic wood top. When we’re happy with how it looks, all that’s left to do is cross some t’s and dot some i’s. LaVern fills us in on all the final details like the eight to 10-week estimated production time, white-glove delivery service and who to contact with any questions.

Before heading home and popping some champagne, Grant and I explore the store a little more. The outdoor living showroom in particular does not disappoint. Set up in two distinct sections, there’s a daytime side flooded with natural light and an ambient dusky side lit only by twinkling cafe lights, giving me a few ideas for my own patio.

Fast-forward a few weeks and our coffee table is fitting right into its new home — knots and all. Delivery was a breeze and it’s already been tested by a spill or two, curious cats and kicked up feet, and has passed with flying colors. We’re totally thrilled with how the table turned out and the overall experience. Grant and I are looking forward to many, many years with our new favorite piece of furniture, and are anxiously planning our next visit to Homestead.

Where traditional Amish craftsmanship meets refind luxury design.

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