Winona and Horizon

Handmade in New England

Our Winona and Horizon ranges are hand made in a small workshop in Burlington, Vermont. The maker started life producing wooden looms, before moving on to making fine furniture. Both ranges are available in solid cherry, maple, and walnut, all from renewable sources in the North East of the United States and Eastern Canada.

He is very proud of his furniture, as you can read from his commentary below:

We believe that the outside of the furniture should appear as if built with traditional techniques, with an emphasis on colour and grain selection and matching boards. Inside, we apply the technology that is most appropriate for the use in question-the most up-to-date parts and the strongest and smoothest operating slides and hardware. Those parts that are not visible are chosen because they do the absolute best job in the application.

We make parts in multiples, but each piece of furniture is bench-crafted by a small team of Vermont Craftsmen. Everyone on our team is a quality-control person, and parts and furniture can be rejected at any time.

 

JOINERY

Mortise and Tenon Joints

Wherever structural right angles meet, a mortise and tenon joint is used. As shown in the photo, a solid wood tenon connects two adjoining components. The tenon secures the joint and holds it tightly together. This insertion of one wood block into another gives the joint its superior strength and flexibility of movement. In high stress joints additional glue blocks are used to ensure durability.

 

DRAWER BOXES

Chuck and Bore Joints

Our standard drawer boxes are Baltic Birch plywood with Chuck and Bore construction. This plywood is the strongest made in the world (it originates in Russia). The wood pegs, or chucks, shown in the photo are carved from the same solid piece of wood used to create the side panel. They are NOT inserted dowels. This precision joinery, also called round mortise and tenon, creates a strong and durable drawer box. The use of plywood removes the weaknesses associated with wood movement; mostly, that constant expansion and contraction eventually will break glue lines.

Our drawer boxes have been lab tested to be stronger and resist more stress than a solid wood dovetail drawer box. We believe that they are the strongest and most durable drawer boxes available and we have NEVER had one fail under any circumstances. In addition, they are finished with an extremely smooth and tough polyester finish – the only part of our furniture not treated by hand with oil. This protects your clothing and linens, as well as making cleaning easier.

DOORS AND ENDS

Floating Panels

Solid hardwood floating panels are used on the sides and doors of our case pieces. Each one is fitted and inserted into the frame. This construction method allows the panel to breathe within the borders of the frame and prevents the piece from warping or cracking. Floating panels are also aesthetically pleasing. They add a decorative element to the piece

Frame and Drawer Fronts

Solid hardwood floating panels are used on the sides and doors of our case pieces. Each one is fitted and inserted into the frame. This construction method allows the panel to breathe within the borders of the frame and prevents the piece from warping or cracking. Floating panels are also aesthetically pleasing. They add a decorative element to the piece.

FINISH

Oil

We take great care in sanding our furniture and, as mentioned above, in selecting matching colour and grain. This allows us to use a hand-rubbed oil finish that highlights the natural colour and beauty of the wood. Particularly in cherry, but also in maple and walnut, this oil brings out the depth of the wood and speeds the darkening that develops with age. With a little care, our traditional oil and wax finish will protect your furniture and develop the patina that distinguishes handcrafted furniture.

In addition, our finish is less toxic to the environment. The process produces no emissions to pollute the air.

Care instructions are available in all our showroom