Author: Nicole Karr

Poster Bed

This mixed hardwood four poster bed has been in a state of partial completion, hanging around the shop for a long time. It was promised to a good friend who will be taking it home today. This queen sized bed is a modern version of the poster bed, with four sided posts that taper at the bottom, and tear drop shaped bolt covers. The woods used are spalted maple, red oak, hickory, and sycamore, all grown in Pennsylvania. There is a center support and thick solid wood slats to support the mattress.

Also in the shop are another bed and a nighstand for Rissay Ltd of Philadelphia, and some bathroom cabinets under construction, destined for New Jersey.

Testimonials

"Adam delivered the dresser this afternoon and it is beautiful!  Angela loves it and keeps going upstairs to look at it.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

                       – J.C. Fairfax, VA, in a Jan 2010 email

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“Adam Karr, of Springhouse Woodshop, Benton, did the spacious, detail-oriented kitchen in Brian and Ellen Slovinski’s  new-old dwelling. The kitchen is the heart of this home, as well as the ultimate showpiece.

The Slovinskis are tall, so they made the countertops 38 inches high, rather than the standard 36 inches. However a custom-made Hoosier, complete with built-in flour sifter, has a countertop at 36 inches with baking in mind, for better leverage when kneading dough, for instance.

Other through-out details include a paper towel holder built underneath an island sink, drawers for pots and pans directly underneath the stovetop, a corner drawer that cleverly pulls straight out at an angle and a pantry door with a chalk board surface, convenient to keep lists of things needed.

The couple credits Karr with a built-in nook in the entryway that showcases a bench, hooks for coats, an area under the bench for shoes, and side shelves to hold keys, mail, and gloves. He also built an exquisite linen closet on the second floor.

“The nice thing about custom-made furniture is that it is sold direct, so it eliminates the furniture store between the maker and the consumer and the huge mark-up. For quality, affordable, U.S.-made products, you can go with the craftsman”, Brian said. Ellen adds that she saw a bedroom set she liked in a furniture store but wanted it a little different. She showed Karr a picture of the furniture and asked if he could make it as she wanted; he said yes and came back with a price comparable to the piece she had found in the furniture store.   -  from the Times Leader, February 2, 2008, article by Dawn Zera

Walnut Dining Table

This table was commissioned by a favorite repeat client for dining and entertaining large groups. It was built entirely of solid walnut and measured 5’2” by 10’2”. The apron and legs featured a recessed design element. We moved the piece into the client’s new larger home and it fit nicely into this room.

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Drop Leaf Harvest Tables

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These two Drop Leaf Harvest Tables were commissioned in Cherry wood. They are 74” long and 39” wide with the leaves up for dining (a single table will seat six). With the leaves down, each table is a slender 18” wide’- and would make a nice low-profile hallway table.

The tables are built on the vase shaped arch base that coordinates with our arch bench. If you need seating for a crowd on occasion, the two tables placed end to end creates comfortable seating for up to 12 people. The tables can be finished to suit your decor: they can be painted, antiqued, clear coated, or stained to match your palette. As with everything from the Springhouse Woodshop, these were built by hand and constructed to last through a lifetime of daily use.

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In the shop: Cherry Dresser

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In the shop right now is this small two over two (drawers) cherry dresser. The client commissioned it as a Christmas present for his wife,specially sized to fit into their room. It will have a clear lacquer finish, 1 and 3/4” diameter shaker knobs, and soft closing under mount slides on four inset dovetailed drawers. The tapered front legs and decorative cutout at its base make for this piece of furniture a charming addition to any bedroom. It will be delivered in time for the holiday. What a nice gift!

Glen Mills, PA Kitchen, revisited

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This kitchen looks much more finished, now that the granite counters are on. The homeowner chose polished brass knobs and bin pulls and they do go well with the natural cherry wood. Cherry ages over time due to sun exposure and mellows to a rich tone. A few of the high-end details in this room include: dovetailed hardwood drawers on soft-close self-closing under mount slides, a trash and recycling pullout, pantry pullout trays, a wood paneled dishwasher, and a furniture style case piece with raised panels and glass doors .