Retreat Bookcase by Charleston Forge

I really enjoy telling the story of how Susan and I started our "official business lives" in 1974 by opening a retail store when I was only 23 and she even younger. Charleston Forge actually evolved from that store ten years later. Mouths drop open and eyes get bigger (some with tears) when we share the tales of those humble beginnings.

It's a pretty incredible story of pride, determination, gambles and sacrifices, and how we surrounded ourselves with talented craftsmen and women who share the same desire to be creative and please you as Susan and I.

Perhaps someday we'll write a book and call it, "We Don't Do Ordinary". For now, we'll just share tid-bits with you through our social networking buttons. We hope you will enjoy and pass them on to your friends.

Making beautiful furniture in America is our passion. Not a day goes by that we don't recognize how fortunate we are to live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and come to work every day right alongside true artisans who were raised in these rugged hills and who take great pride in everything they do. Whether they are forging hot metal or hand-planing a solid wood table top, you can see and feel a sense of hand in every piece they make. There are no high speed production lines -- each piece is made one at a time, by hand. Our furniture is beautiful and it is designed to be used -- not pampered.

And speaking of "not pampered", not only do we make residential furniture, we make furniture for restaurants, hotels, resorts, assisted living facilities, offices, conference rooms, kitchen cabinet suppliers, granite and marble fabrication houses (who need strong bases to support their heavy tops). We've made furniture for well known retailers such as Room & Board, Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel, and Bloomingdales, just to name a few. We even made a custom bed for a famous boxer who had a body almost as big as his ego.

Thank you for your interest in Charleston Forge. We think you will be as proud to own our furniture as we are to make it.

Charleston Forge products carry a warranty for one (1) year following the original invoice date.

Charleston Forge uses solid wood, fine leathers and fabrics, and other natural materials. Variation of color, stain, dye lot, etc. are to be expected. We believe these characteristics make each piece unique, and do not consider these variations to be a defect.

Chips and scratches that occur from handling or use are not the responsibility of Charleston Forge. We do not warrant against wear, fading or shrinking on fabric or leather parts. Please note that foam seats will soften and conform with use and is not considered a defect.

This warranty applies under conditions of normal residential use and does not apply to damage incurred as a result of negligence or misuse. This includes improper cleaning, exposure to chemicals, foreign substances, liquids, sunlight, accidents or any use for which the product was not intended. We shall, at our discretion, repair or replace items that fall under the terms of this warranty.

We reserve the right to make changes in our designs, details and dimensions without notice.

Susan and I started our business careers fresh out of college by opening a small retail fireplace shop in 1974 here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

This picturesque community sits atop the highest mountains east of the Mississippi River, so cool summer breezes and cold snowy winters have attracted new home builders for more than seventy-five years. It was the perfect setting for a fireplace shop.

We sold high-quality products and learned very early that there are people who truly recognize and appreciate the finer things in life. We offered delivery and installation service that the discount cash-and-carry stores couldn't, or wouldn't, do.

We learned to custom-build handmade wrought iron fire screens, wood baskets, log racks and pot racks out of the tools that our maker gave us iron, fire, wood and passion.

Very quickly we had a growing, thriving business on our hands.

Word of our unique offerings spread throughout this land of mountain people, people who take pride in their work and deserve to be called artisans. We surrounded ourselves with these people and they helped us create more products.

In 1982 we started making furniture using the same natural elements of iron and wood, but added accents of brass, copper and glass, and the word continued to spread.

Today, Susan and I, and our daughter, Jamie, who grew up in and now into our business, take great pride in the fact that our products, designed by, made by, sold by, and serviced by more than 60 wonderful High Country people are shipped around the country and overseas.

Our products are offered to you through a network of highly qualified furniture stores, interior designers and sales agents.

All of us at Charleston Forge truly appreciate your interest and we hope you will use our dealer locator page to contact our dealer nearest to you.

Our best to you,

Art & Susan Barber

Standard

Charcoal	Oil-Rubbed Bronze	Gun Metal	Textured Black
Antique Pewter Dark	Antique Pewter Light

Premium

Marrone Antico	Burnished Iron	Glazed Hudson	Argento Antico
Antique Gold	Luminous	Etched Silver

Standard

Black Crackle	Ebony on Maple	Honeysuckle on Maple	HoneySuckle on Oak
Mulberry on Maple	Mulberry on Oak	Nutmeg on Maple	Nutmeg on Oak
Saddle on Maple	Saddle on Oak

Standard

Standard

Distressed

Distressed

Metal Care -- Do's

• Do clean periodically with mild soap and water.
• Do rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Do apply a good furniture wax one or two times a year.
• Do lightly buff with a soft cloth to produce a low sheen and warm luster.

Metal Care -- Dont's

• Don't use harsh abrasives or strong detergents.
• Not intended for outdoor use.

Wood Care -- Do's

• Do dust frequently with a 100% cotton cloth.
• Do clean wood with a damp cloth.
• Do cover the bottoms of all table-top accessories with felt.

Wood Care -- Dont's

• Do not clean wood with soap and water.
• Do not leave water standing on the wood.
• Do not use cleaners containing soap, oil, ammonia, or solvents.
• Do not place wood in direct sunlight.
• Not intended for outside use.