Despite the fact that the Amish do not advertise or promote themselves or their products they enjoy a steady stream of business. The demand for fine quality furniture, cabinetry, doors and traditional crafts is becoming increasingly popular, especially in a day and age when machines are taking jobs where human hands came before.

Anything Amish can be just a Label

Today, many consumers will get into their cars and go out of their way to purchase Amish-made products. The usual stop is found somewhere along a road, sometimes a dusty rocky lane where one can hear the clippity-clop of horse-drawn carriages and watch as these omni-present vehicles draped entirely in black whisk the Amish passengers about. There one will usually find in or near the heart of the village a country a store with a sign “Amish Goods”.

At first sniff when steeping out of the car and taking a deep breath of farm-fresh air it can feel like you are at the right place, an inducement of sorts to walk on in and stock up on Amish-made goods. But as many people who came before and learned of this experience it may not necessarily be an authentic destination for ‘anything Amish’, even in light of the fact the shopkeeper may be a soft-spoken, bespectacled kind man with a white beard and a straw hat.

Beware the Amish-made label.

Getting the Goods to the Market is a Challenge

The mode of transportation for the Amish is a horse-drawn buggy. The buggy is not designed to transport trailer loads of products. Since they also do not employ Conestoga wagons of the sort that hauled their ancestors and everything they owned from points east to these fertile hills and valleys, plus the fact they don’t opt-in to the automobile let alone the electric grid.

When it comes to delivering their handmade goods to the marketplace they are at a disadvantage. The apparent dilemma is such that on the one hand they rely on one another for commerce, but more importantly they depend on the non-Amish customer, the ‘Yankee’, a term they use when referring to the outsiders. When it comes to the sale of their cabinets, doors and other merchandise the Yankees are the bread and butter of their enterprise.

Custom ‘solid core’ Mission style door.

Think and Look for Small

The typical Amish woodworking craftsman may specialize in one or two specific products -be it doors, windows, cabinets, furniture or arts and crafts. A small shop behind his house might consist of father and son or a couple of brothers who earn enough income to take care of their families, the community and the church. Their chief method of obtaining a sale is when a customer happens to stroll in the door, as long as it is not on Sunday mind you.

High Volume is not the Amish Way.

The individual craftsman and his shop are not large volume producers of wood products, it is not “their way” so to speak. Their primary goal is to produce and sell their wares in amounts sufficient enough to maintain a modest lifestyle, not necessarily to grow the business into a massive Sears catalog. Yet, any visitor to the area can usually find some retail stores that carry this locally made merchandise. The challenge for the retailer is to keep up with the demand and the small 2-man shop is not equipped to produce and deliver the merchandise fast enough.

Big Factories, Amish Hands

On the other hand what is more commonly found in the retail stores is furniture and cabinets that come from large modern manufacturing facilities that may be located in or near an Amish community. The factories may employ scores of Amish workers from the nearby village and supply them with jobs -not to craft products by hand but but to push buttons, control levers and flick switches on modern CNC (computer numerical control) machinery. The Amish factory workers have a hand in the production of merchandise, but are not necessarily employed for the ability to hand-make anything. Nevertheless the finished factory product can be a fine piece of merchandise and usually is, the quality of which is limited only to the extent of the capabilities of the machines or lack thereof. The machine in a factory in the Amish village can spit out product in relatively the same manner whether it is found in an Amish community, Portland Oregon or based in China. Since there are no requirements that any Amish product be ‘authenticated’ in any manner it is only with asking the direct question to the shopkeeper for example, as to how the product was manufactured in the first place.

Custom made Hutch made in an Amish Shop

How to Find ‘Authentic’ Amish Products

It is one thing to finally find authentic Amish-made products as just about every Amishman makes something with his or her hands. It is another thing entirely to find a specific quality of goods as there are no rating agencies or a Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List (thank you) of which one can turn for assistance.

Just as the students of Picasso will not all become world class painters, the same holds true in the Amish community. Not all Amish craftsman are cut from the same mold and the level of quality can vary widely. If it were violins, for example that one sought to purchase from an Amish shop it is not enough to automatically assume that all violins found in an Amish shop are ‘Stradivarius-like’, more likely one will find the violin to be satisfactory for the string section of high school orchestra. However, that is not to say the exceptional product is not there, quite the contrary.

Exquisite Quality is Out There, Now go and Find it

The primary means that most Yankees acquire quality Amish merchandise is about as old-fashioned as the workshop itself -word of mouth. Word of mouth advertising in the Amish community is unlike anything that can be offered up in the high speed digital world of google and the internet. The Amish manage to sell millions of pieces year in and year out and not once rely on the internet, for the Amish do not build websites! Because of this anyone looking for ‘authentic’ Amish products must be wary of that which is found online (present company excepted of course.)

Today, one can find online all sorts of ‘Amish’ offerings but again the authenticity remains a question. Should it matter? The answer to that is really up to the consumer. The writer of this piece has had business dealings within the Amish community for over 25 years. Within the community one can find some of the finest craftsman skilled enough to carve meticulous Swiss watches out of wood. Then again there are some Amish who simply are better at farming than crafting, yet in lean times may hang up the yoke and take up a tool box to make ends meet.

Question? Ask Bud

For anyone who has had the opportunity to acquire fine quality hand-crafted cabinetry or furniture from an Amish shop can appreciate a good find while at the same time simply smile to oneself that good fortune practically lives down the street or next door.

Building a New Home? We can Help

It Begins with a Dream, your Vision
For anyone looking to build a home it begins with an idea of the style and type of home one is considering. There are many house designs to chose from with bungalows, colonials, farmhouses, craftsman, contemporary, ranch, modern, prairie, traditional and many more. It is a good idea early on to narrow the choices of the architectural style of the home you intend to build. Then when you talk to a custom home builder or your architect you can get an idea of what you are considering is feasible for the locality in which you plan to build.

We Have House Plans
(330) 524-5626

Do you even need an architect?
Having an architect is not essential for new home design. There are many home designers who design magnificent homes and are not licensed architects. The home designer can, if need be, approach an architect for a stamp of approval.

At this stage it is not advisable to cement ideas to your wish list because you may not get everything your heart desires. There are many practical and impractical considerations to take into account when planning a new home. Some decisions are out of your control and in the hands of the local planning and zoning department. For example, here in Hudson Ohio we have an architectural review board that reserves the right to reject and accept an entire home design or it can be as minor as shutters and deck screws. Plus, if you already have a building site there may be issues that can affect the final design such as wetlands, riparian right-of-ways, height and width restrictions, sight restrictions and more.

Settle in on a Design Theme

In the early stage of your journey focus on floor plans and your architectural main theme. Are you more of a traditionalist with a Norman Rockwell kind of look or are you at the other end with the Phillip Johnson ultra-modern glass house? Most of us are somewhere in the middle. With the basic architectural style at hand it is easier to move from floor plan to floor plan and to create a set of functions that appeal to you. Ask yourself about the priorities, such as 1st floor laundry off the garage, or do you prefer it in the basement or perhaps on the 2nd floor.

Maybe the laundry room is not an issue but you are fond of entertaining. Since we know that company always ends up in the kitchen then maybe you want to make the kitchen a priority. It is entirely possible to design the kitchen of your dreams and then have the architect or home designer to create a house around the kitchen!

Another consideration is how you get things done in your home. If you work out of the house you may need a home office. If going to the gym is a regular occurrence you might want an exercise area. Though the living room has faded away in many new home designs there are some people who still want it. As you think of how the house will be used then jot down some ideas or create an idea book at Houzz.

Without a doubt in today’s homes the modern bathroom is a priority. The bathroom is an excellent space in which to glamorize with function, storage, lighting and the latest in showering accessories. Today’s shower is more than a space to water by way of a simple faucet and shower head. It can be a complete bathing experience with steam, pulsating jets where ‘pampering’ oneself rules. And it should be that way.

Nothing like a new custom house.

Another step in the path of building your ultimate dream house is to consider the other members of your family, especially if there are young children, or future plans to have a room for retired parents or in-laws. With young children their needs are completely different from their needs when teens. With toddlers and young kids it is all about safety, with teens it is all about how to get them to vacate the nest, which is more of a challenge when the space they are enjoying is a bit too cozy.

I hope this ‘beginner’ course on how to build a house is helpful. As for when to build your new home…well as any builder who loves to build will answer that question simply by responding, “yesterday!”

Let us know if we can help you with a new home.

When we opened our doors in 1988 with a custom kitchen and bath business called “The Kitchen and Bath Company” in Shaker Heights, Ohio. K&B Co was the starting block that lead to the eventual goal as laid out in the vision of the owner, Bud Spofford to combine his skills in carpentry, design, and business management to build and renovate custom homes in NE Ohio.

NE Ohio before the recession was a boom time for many local builders and remodeling pros, in 2006 the economy said otherwise. But as all good things come to a temporary halt (not an end) it presents an opportunity to find new directions, new markets. Though the economy for new homes slowed to a crawl the demand grew for the odds and ends that need fixing. This was the genesis for Housecalls Home Services, a handyman niche service company.

Feel free to ask any questions about your home improvement projects.

Kitchen Renovations
Your kitchen renovation is a smart, worthwhile project that could easily help increase the value of your home. Plus, as the heart of the home it is where family and friends tend to get together, which in itself is valuable yet the value of which is hard to pin down in terms of dollars and cents. The down side of not remodeling the kitchen is when your kitchen is out-of-date or obsolete-this makes for a tougher sale.

A kitchen update does not necessarily require a guts-out major remodel. It can be basic touching up of nicks and scratches, fresh clear coat on the cabinets, new knobs or handles, grime removal, fresh paint, modern lighting and flooring. A little effort and a few dollars can go a long way.

On the other hand if a kitchen is woefully inadequate a complete renovation may be the only way to enhance value. The best part is the kitchen is usually the best opportunity to invest a few dollars that will come back into your pocket later at resale. Today’s kitchens offer features that home buyers like, such as effortless soft close drawers, self closing doors, durable finishes in a multitude of stains and paints, a wide variety of storage options.

Updating a Bathroom
A bathroom remodel can be the most profitable home improvement project.  If a return on investment is your guide just ask any Realtor,  the best money is in upgrading your bathroom or kitchen where you have the greatest chance of getting your money back. For example, In northeast Ohio many homes have huge, outdated whirlpools taking up space that rarely, if ever get used. Getting rid of a cumbersome whirlpool is for many home owners the primary reason to update. What they do instead is to replace the wasted space with a spacious, roomy walk in shower. How nice is that?

Exterior and Interior Doors
At first blush, the quality of your front door may not seem like a significant factor in the overall value of your home. But according to experts, the front door is a very important part of a home’s curb appeal and contributes greatly to value.

Custom ‘solid core’ Mission style door.

The entry to your home is usually the first impression for visitors. A good quality wood door with a beautiful finish and a fully loaded multi-function Schlage lock with keyless entry and built-in alarm technology tells visitors they are entering a unique, high quality space. A front door renovation can be an excellent return on investment.

When considering remodeling a kitchen, a bath or improving an entry door with a new, quality wood door step back and realize what is important to you and your goals. If you are selling your home or keeping it for awhile? Therein may lie the best answer.