Ole Mill Furniture has been around for 20 years, but owner/operator Leon Mast has worked there for a lot longer than that. The 7 000-square-foot furniture store occupies an old 1930s-era feed mill where, as a youth, Leon worked for his dad, Abe.
Now Leon uses his creativity to produce new designs for beautiful furniture. He uses mostly oak and a lot of the rich-grained "quarter-sawn oak," although cherry and maple can be special-ordered.
What is quarter-sawn oak? Well, at the sawmill, the oak log is split into fourths and then cut on the diagonal from the center of the tree out toward the edges. This method of cutting produces well-defined rays, or grain, running from the center, outward. This places the rays on the face of the board, showing the distinctive stripe or "ray fleck" running across the grain, creating that "look" of quarter-sawn oak. Some say quarter-sawn oak is structurally stronger and less liable to warp. This procedure lost popularity because it yielded less lumber per tree and took more labor to produce it than the regular way, but it's steadily gaining acceptance again. The look of quarter-sawn oak is associated with quality period pieces, and its warm tones make furniture look rich and inviting.
Ole Mill Furniture offers a complete line of furniture for your home: bedroom, dining room and kitchen furniture, as well as computer and entertainment centers (they specialize in those to fit the new, larger TV screens). Several of the dining room pieces are complete with racks for wine bottle and wine glasses. There is also a great line of upholstered furniture, as well as leather furniture. Look for the "distressed" leather. It's fantastic, and already has that worn, "that's-my-favorite-chair" appeal. You'll also find beautiful wooden gas fireplaces just ready to warm you for the winter.
At Ole Mill Furniture, you'll find a room filled with curio cabinets in all shapes and sizes, which are very popular with those who have collectibles to display. One curio caught my eye: instead of the door opening outward on hinges, the whole front acts as a sliding glass door, giving the display area a clean, uninterrupted appearance.
End tables, coffee tables, pub tables, benches and kitchen islands are also available, along with office furniture and children's furniture.
There's even a "time-out" chair for the little ones. It's a colorful little rocking chair that is inscribed with, "Time out to think, About the things you do, But always remember, I Love You." It's even got a timer on the top for five, 10 or 15 minutes, the time-out period for naughty behavior.
Most of the oak furniture is hand-made locally by Amish craftsmen, assuring high quality.
"We're able to offer things here that aren't found in any of the other furniture stores," Leon said. "I've worked to create my own designs, so they're different and unique. In fact, every time I come up with a new design, we have to make space for a whole new set. We only have so much room, so if we develop a new line, that pretty much means we have to discontinue another one. That's a hard choice to make."
Leon showed me one of his recent designs that I think you'll find lovely. This oak bedroom ensemble is called Sarah's Quilt Collection. Three big quilt patches are carved into the wood across the headboard. Small replicas of the patches appear as accents on the other pieces that complete the bedroom set. I can just see a charming bedroom with this line of furniture and a gorgeous handmade quilt on top of the bed.
If you're looking for a new dining room set with some "beefy" chairs, Ole Mill Furniture is the place to go. There are many wonderful sets from which to choose, and men will love the ample seats on the chairs.
Upstairs, Leon showed me what he calls the "man's room" collection. Here you will find leather couches and wooden furniture with a more rugged, cabin or lodge look. It's a very comfortable, easy-going look, and there are plenty of accessories to go along.
I asked Leon what trends he saw happening right now in home decorating, and he said the earth tones of the 70s are back, but this time they're different; a little warmer. He said the quarter-sawn oak furniture is also very popular, and it is a great look to bridge that gap if you're looking for new furniture to mix with antique pieces.
"People are mixing things these days," Leon explained. "They're mixing different woods and different styles. Everything doesn't have to match any more."
Whether you're looking for a matching group of furniture for your home, or a piece or two to add to your decor, take a delightful drive to Charm and visit Ole Mill Furniture. Leon and his staff will be glad to help you.
Ole Mill Furniture -- 4422 SR 557, in downtown Charm, OH 44617, (330) 893-2823, http://www.olemillfurniture.com; hours: Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thu., 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Sun.