If you’re like me who visits Ikea just to admire and appreciate their furniture collection, then why not go to an actual furniture museum? See how present furniture trends today have been influenced by the remarkable designs dating back to pre-World War I period. So if you desire inspiration for your home or office, then stop by these furniture museums for some aesthetics and history!
High Point Museum
North Carolina’s town of High Point saw first-hand the economic and social contributions of the booming furniture manufacturing era, which began in the 1880s. At the turn of the 20th century, High Point became the center of furniture manufacturing and marketing in the South, as well as the entire country. At the Museum, visit the High Point’s Furniture Heritage exhibit and learn how the furniture industry triggered the growth and prosperity of the city. Have fun with the interactive elements and learn from the videos, photographs, and memorabilia of the beginnings of the industry. Old machinery and furniture are also part of the exhibit.
The Stickley Museum
Named after the Stickley brothers who started their lucrative furniture business from handcrafting simple wooden chairs, the Stickley Museum in Binghamton, NY, now houses 120 years’ worth of history and craftsmanship. The site of the museum is the original Stickley factory and in the old finishing room, you’ll find the 8,000-square foot exhibit, A Well Crafted Legacy, which highlights a century of exceptional furniture making. Find out what built Stickley’s reputation for manufacturing heirloom quality furniture.
Wharton Esherick Museum
An extraordinary sculptor, Wharton Esherick worked with wood to create the finest and most unique forms of furniture, furnishings, and interiors. His hilltop residence in Paoli, PA, is now home to more than 200 of his works on exhibition and preserved as when he used to live there. What makes Esherick outstanding was he was the pioneer of furniture makers. He built furniture and interiors not for the commission but for the joy of creating something beautiful and functional for everyday use.