With the hardwood used in the manufacturing of our furniture each board has its own story. You can rest in the fact that your solid hardwood furnishings look like no other.

The hardwoods used originate mostly from forest east of the Mississippi. It takes approximately 60 years for a hardwood tree to reach maturity. As it does, each tree has its own story, its own unique grain patterns and textures. When you get to know this tree, the individual boards reflect this unique process.

• The tree's main story is written in its unique grain pattern. Grain patterns are made by the tree's growth rings - one for each year.

• A board's knots mark the growth of limbs that extended from the main trunk.

• Color variations are a standard trademark of hardwoods. The outside or younger wood is lighter than the inside core where the wood is usually darker. Other color variations are created by minerals and other elements affecting the tree's growth.

• The durability and integrity of our hardwood furniture is not affected by these naturally occurring variations, in fact, these variations are exactly what most people want, giving the warmth and charm of individuality.

Don't Accept Synthetic Substitutes!

Solid hardwood pieces have many synthetic substitutes. Don't accept them! Solid hardwoods have become the standard in top quality home furnishings.

What you may think looks like a solid hardwood table may very well be a cheap, synthetic substitute. Ask questions. Take a critical look at all aspects of the table. Artificial wood substitutes will never look quite as authentic, won't hold screws as well, nor will it bear the shock, stresses or loads of the daily life of your furnishings.

Be cautious when you hear the term "solid oak pedestal table" because true it is that only the pedestal is solid. The top, which is most important, could be anything from particle board to veneer to chip core, and is not water resistant.

Solid wood means that each part is made of genuine hardwood lumber. Nothing else.

"All wood" is often counterfeit, and is the term used to describe thin slices of veneer bonded to composite boards of plywood.

Artificial laminates are surfaces made of plastic or other synthetic materials bonded, again, to composite boards or plywood.

Be sure the furniture you are looking at has a water resistant finish and a guarantee to back it.

Terms such as "Oak Finish" may refer to the color of the wood pattern printed on the artificial surface. It does not mean that the furniture is authentic hardwood.

Real or imitation?

Not sure if you're buying solid hardwood or a cheap imitation?

A check point is the glue joints. Put you finger on a glue joint and trace it along the top of the surface, over the edge and, and to the underside. If the line disappears its probably an imitation. Solid hardwood joints on the other hand can be traced across the top, the side, and the underside.