Chinese Antique Hunting

Many of our friends are returning to the US this summer. As they start their preparations for the move home, we’ve noticed a common theme: they’re all having furniture made.
We decided to spend a weekend day investigating this "furniture making" craze. We started with Chinese antiques, including new antiques which are basically custom made but look like the old style. We got a bit distracted as it was rather fun looking at all the Chinese styled furniture – dreaming up ideas for shoe cabinets, garden furniture, dressers, etc. Four stores later, we made our way to a store which we’d heard so much about: Elm Workshop. They use Chinese Elm, American Oak, and (recycled) Burmese teak to make any of your favorite wooden furniture. Imagine catalogs upon catalogs of famous brand name furniture: stickley, pottery barn, etc. They can reproduce any of that in the stain you want. We spent a lot of time looking at photos from our California home,trying to identify what we want made. We have to admit – after less than 9 months in the house, we had forgotten a lot about what we needed. We still have some homework to doon where and what to make, but are excited by the prospect of coming home with some well designed custom pieces! :)