The Furniture of Gustav Stickley: History, Techniques, and Projects

Hardwood frames are kiln-dried and double-doweled with corner blocks glued and screwed at every joint — this is old-school frame construction that prevents the wobble and creak you get from staple-and-cardboard furniture. Eight-way hand-tied spring suspension distributes weight evenly and can be re-tied if springs ever sag. Made in Hickory, North Carolina. The cushion cores use high-density foam wrapped in polyester fiber that resists flattening better than standard furniture foam.

Die-cast aluminum frame with a polished finish that doesn't peel, chip, or corrode. The seat and back cushions are segmented leather pads that distribute weight independently — if one pad wears out, you replace that pad, not the whole chair. The tilt mechanism and gas cylinder are standard office-chair parts that any technician can swap. Herman Miller (the authorized manufacturer) offers a 12-year warranty covering everything. Original Eames Aluminum Group chairs from the 1960s are still in daily office use.

Pottery Barn's higher-end desks (Bedford, Livingston, Benchwright lines) use kiln-dried hardwood frames with dovetail drawer construction — a joint method that resists pulling apart under the weight of loaded drawers. The wood finishes are multi-step catalyzed lacquer that's more durable than typical furniture stain. The hardware (drawer pulls, hinges) is solid metal rather than plastic. While not heirloom-quality like Stickley, Pottery Barn occupies a reasonable middle ground between Ikea particleboard and custom furniture maker pricing.