Winter Furniture: Sled Chairs and Ski Chairs

Have you seen our sled chair? It is the perfect touch of whimsy to your rustic decor. The sled makes up the back of the chair, while birch branches finish off the look as the front legs. Imagine your young kids or grandchildren having their holiday photo taken on this chair.

If it look familiar, it may be because you had a Flexible Flyer of your own... an American icon that is still available today! Flexible Flyers have been around since 1889.

If skiing is more of your sport, glide through winter in rustic style with our ski chair version.

New Natural Birch Candle Holders

 

 

New styles of Flat River Furniture's popular birch candle holders are available. The two newest sets include pillar candle holders with ferns and a clear coat that makes the bark shine. 

The second style is a five votive holder with twigs wrapped around the birch and attached with brass detailing.

Order yours for the holidays! They make wonderful presents, each one unique to show the receiver that you chose a special gift that cannot be found in big box stores. They are also a great house warming gift, or keep a couple on hand for those spare-of-the-moment presents. Of course you will also need an extra for yourself!

Each birch candle holder comes with a tag letting the receiver know that the order was specially handcrafted by Flat River Furniture. 

Call 401-304-4540 or email timscottisells@gmail.com for more information about our products.

Rustic Walnut Farm Table and Birch Wood Candle Holders

 

 

Thanksgiving dinner anyone? This rustic walnut farm table is a one of a kind piece.

The 62X24 inch top is crafted from one piece of walnut that has been mended with 5 cherry dutchmen. It has been hand planned and rubbed with a deep oil finish.

 The legs are handmade from reclaimed wood and pickled with an organic stain.

Additionally, more birch candle holder styles have been added. No two are exactly alike. Get your very own version now!

 

Natural Birch Candle Holders

Shed a little light with these natural birch tea-light candle holders. Created with the beauty of the wood and bark in mind, the tea-light holders are a simple way to bring some rustic flare to your indoor décor. Wrap them in raffia and leaves or holly and berries and they easily transition for to any season.

Birch candle holders come in varying sizes. They may even be customized to hold larger candle sizes. Put in your request now!

As always, Flat River Furniture is available for custom orders. The holidays will be coming sooner than you think. Place your orders now.  Contact Tim at 401-304-4540.

Update: Flea Markets, Hollowed Tree Table, Satisfied Customers

Looks like we have a little updating to do around here.

This past weekend was Saints John and Paul Flea Market in Coventry. There was a great turn out and two pieces went on to find good homes. I am looking to expand to other local flea markets, so be sure to keep an eye out on Facebook for updates on where Flat River Furniture will be next.

Secondly, a new addition was created for the FRF collection last week. This table was made from a naturally hollowed out tree trunk. Waxy natural satin stain was used to enhance the beautiful color of the wood and beveled glass top was added. 

Last but not least, one of FRF's customers insisted that we share her pleasure with her new bench. After seeing the rustic "twiggy" bench and side table that was one of the first products, Bob and Karen requested a bench of their own. Proudly displayed at their home in North Kingstown, this bench differs from the original with a curved back and dark stain.

Flat River Furniture is glad to have so many happy customers this week! Contact Tim is you would like to join the crowd.

Lions Motorcycle Run

 

 

 

Please join us for the 3rd Annual Coventry-West Greenwich Lions Cancer in Children Motorcycle Run and Steak Fry.

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2013

TICKETS ARE $25 FOR RIDERS AND $20 FOR PASSENGERS
CONTACT TIM SCOTTI 397-5689 FOR TICKETS OR MORE INFO
RAIN DATE IS JULY 14TH

Support a great cause while enjoying a ride with friends, or as the quote above suggests, a therapy session.

FRF Updates: Harvest Table, Live Edge Bench, Wishing Well

It's been a few weeks since the last post on here, so it's time to get back on track. Here's a look at what Flat River has been up to:

Making harvest tables. 
This one is a beauty with dark walnut stained legs and a natural oak top. Of course it has the butterflies that have become a signature of FRF pieces. This would be a great addition to any dining room to display the overflow of food on holidays, although it could easily be used in any room.

 

Making live edge benches.

This sleek bench has an unexpected twist. Place it anywhere you need a place to rest or by your fire pit as seating.

 

Building wishing wells.

This one is not for sale, but check out the new well outside the factory. Make a wish!

Don't forget, Flat River Furniture takes custom orders.

Rustic Entertaining

Last fall we shared this potters bench, one of Flat River's first creations.

Today I was thinking how it would make a great outdoor bar or summer buffet stand. Much like the sold out wall mounted cabinet from Plow and Hearth below.The plant stand has the added benefit of being longer for more counter space and an extra shelf underneath.

 

With that in mind, I put together this collection of other outdoor entertaining details that would compliment a rustic style gathering.

1. Serve some homemade lemonade from a galvanized metal beverage container.

2. Then drink them out of mason jars with handles. These are popular lately and can be found all around the place, but here are Pottery Barn's.

3. Grab a tasty pastry from this tree trunk dessert stand...

4. after you've dined at a beautifully set farmers table. 

5. I perfer sunflowers though. The perfect summer flower. 

6. Strands of lights add a final touch, allowing you to enjoy each others company long after the sun has gone down. 

So, are you ready for your own potter bench? Contact Tim for information on getting your own custom piece.

Game Night

We love family game night. Monopoly, Clue, cards, Yahtzee, Life, etc. It's a fun relaxed time to get together and have some laughs while beating your loved ones.


It is also a low cost option for something to do together rather than go out to a movie, for example, which seems to cost more every time you walk through the door. This evening of bonding costs only the price of a board game (if you don't have one already, which you probably do) and maybe a pizza. Pizza is usually mandatory with this crew. Best of all, everyone can be included. Many games are suitable for a wide age range.

Go grab some family and a pile of games and get to it!

Nice weather is coming and the daylight is lasting longer. Bring game night outside! We like this tree stump checkerboard. By using pebbles you never have to worry about loosing the pieces.

 

What is your favorite game to play?

Outdoor Forts

Despite signs of spring beginning to pop up in the garden, and the vernal equinox only being a couple weeks away, it still looks like winter outside my window. In fact, it is currently snowing. That doesn't mean we can't start thinking about the nice sunny weather on its way though......hopefully. In fact, by planning ahead, you can get a head start on some projects for your yard.

Is there something you would like to see in your backyard this year? Maybe its a new vegetable garden, or a new patio. If you want to be the "cool" parent on the street, it might be one of these forts. Call it a hangout, club house, tree house, whatever you like. These are way cooler than any you will buy at Toys R Us.

via: http://www.traditionalhome.com/gardens_outdoorliving/outdoorliving/virginia-farm-garden_ss13.html

via: http://blogs.babble.com/family-style/2011/06/02/fresh-ideas-for-outdoor-play/#backyard-theater

via: http://kentoncollective.blogspot.com/

And lastly, for those of you who can't build, you can certainly try adding some curtains below a deck and they it will be just as cool for giving them a space of their own.

Rustic Grandfather Clock

 

What do yo get when you mix tradition with the rustic style of Flat Rive Furniture? Our 'Old Timer Clock'. Made from a grandfather clock, birch bark, and twigs, this is definitely unlike any other clock you've seen before. Perhaps we will set a new trend for these free standing timepieces that have been around since the 1680s. 

A lot of time and attention to detail went into this piece, making it very special. Notice the intricate detail of the twigs. With three open shelves, not only does it function to tell you the time of day, but it can also be used to display your possessions and collections. 

Can you believe it started out at this?

 What do you think of Flat River Furniture's latest product? We would love to hear your thoughts.

Cat Trees

Let's face it. We know you are obsessed with your cat. Anyone with a pet is. Who can blame you? Naturally you want the best for your furry friend. If your cat is like your baby, that means awesome toys. 

Cat trees offer a place to hang, scratch up without getting Mom mad, and feel secure. They also like the advantage of being able to observe all of their surroundings in the event something comes around to pounce on.

For the kitty in your life who is the prince of the castle, obviously something like the Buckingham Palace Kitty Mansion is the way to go. Sitting 9 feet high and 7 feet wide it has plenty of space, although we wonder where you would put such a thing. It may compete with the fireplace as the focal point of your living room.

If you don't want something so obvious in its purpose, subtler and more natural may be a better choice for you. Perhaps a cat tree that actually looks like a tree. Finally, a house plant with function! We happen to think this one is pretty cool.

As always, Flat River Furniture will be glad to create a one of a kind custom tree house for your feline. Just contact Tim with what you are looking for.

Of course there are do-it-yourselfers out there or those on a budget. For you, check out this simple version that can be found on Martha Stewart's website.

Now go pet your kitty!

Johnson's Pond (Flat River Reservoir): Home of Flat River Furniture

As you may or may not know, Flat River Furniture is located on Johnson's Pond in Coventry, RI. It is a fantastic area that my family has enjoyed for nearly 50 years.

"The Factory" page has been updated with the following background about this area:

Johnson's Pond is also know as Flat River Reservoir (hence the name Flat River Furniture). By damning the south branch of the Pawtuxet River, near where it is joined by the Flat River, a 659-acre lake was created.

Johnson's pond provides both municipal water and recreation. It is a great residential area with beautiful scenery and opportunities for boating and other water sports. Water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing are also popular. Fishing tournaments are regularly held on the pond. Spotted sea trout, steelhead trout, smelt, whitefish, yellow bass, pickerel and pan fish (sunfish) can all be caught here. In the winter you can find people ice fishing.

On the 4th of July families gather to watch the firework show put on by the Johnson's Pond Civic Association. The best one!

We enjoy our animals friends that regularly visit, such as the Muscovy ducks that have taken up residence on the property and an otter.

And of course there is always some swimming going on. 

1000 Pageviews and Yard Stick Benches

First of all, a big shout out to the friends, followers and people who have viewed this blog. We have hit over the 1000 page view mark! Milestones are exciting. Hopefully you liked what you saw.

Secondly, as much as we want to showcase Flat River's furniture, we also want this to be a blog that showcases other topics of interest. Of course the main focus is still to get the FRF name out there and to show you the products being made, but in the future you may also find personal stories, how-to's, topics we are interested in, things that inspire us, etc. By expanding the content, hopefully you all will find this a place you visit on a regular basis. 

That being said, today I'm going to share someone else's creation that sparked a thought. Do you remember this little piece?

  

It has since found a home, but I could not help but think about it when I stumbled across this stool at Shabby Love's blog.

Shabby Love's yard stick stool

The yard sticks and rulers reminded me of that schoolhouse feel. A similar bench would be perfect for someone using that desk for its intended purpose. 

It's amazing the items that can be re-purposed to create something new and wonderful. Those old rulers could have ended up in a dump somewhere, but luckily someone had enough creativity to see them as something else. Well done!

Black Diamond Ski Chairs

The air is chilly, but you are kept warm by the feeling of exhilaration from flying down the black diamond ski trail. Grab a seat in the lodge with a cup of hot cocoa by the fire. 

Or... you can hang out in one of these chair and always have a piece of the slopes with you. If you are an avid skier these are a must have. They would also make a cool addition for a man cave, home gym, or a boys sports themed room.  

Now go get ém!

Lap Top Desk Update

The live edge oak lap top desk is complete! 

Visit http://www.facebook.com/flatriver.furniture for more pictures.