From Shipshewana to Our Floor: What We Saw at Amish Market This Year

Every year in early March, we take a few of our core staff members to Shipshewana to see what is new, reconnect with some of the builders we work with, and look for styles that deserve a place on our floor. It is one of the most important buying trips we make all year, because when you sell handcrafted furniture, there is no substitute for seeing the work in person, studying the details up close, and having real conversations with the people who build it.

This year’s trip started a little differently than planned.

We were supposed to leave on Monday, but a foot of snow changed that in a hurry. Instead of heading south as scheduled, we pushed the trip back a day and adjusted on the fly. By the time we rolled into the market space at about 2:00 in the afternoon, we were ready to get right to work.

And that is exactly what we did.

The market itself is impressive, with 100,000 square feet filled with Amish woodworkers, new designs, familiar makers, and plenty to take in. We spent time catching up with some of our favorite builders, talking shop, and seeing what they had been working on since our last visit. We also met with our finisher, the owner of the finish shop who stains the furniture, which is always valuable because finish is such a big part of how a piece ultimately lives in a home. He kindly invited us to dinner, which we were not able to make work this time, but those relationships are a big part of why these trips matter.

That is one of the things people do not always see from the outside. Buying furniture like this is not just about placing orders. It is about knowing the makers, understanding how they work, seeing the woods and finishes in person, and paying attention to the subtle shifts in design from one season to the next.

This year, several trends stood out right away.

One of the clearest was the continued move toward more contemporary design. Not stark or cold contemporary, but cleaner silhouettes, simpler profiles, and a more edited look overall. We saw plenty of pieces that still had the warmth and substance people expect from Amish furniture, but with lines that felt fresher and more current for today’s homes.

We also noticed more fluted detailing showing up across categories. That texture added just enough visual interest without making pieces feel busy. It was one of those details that kept appearing in ways that felt thoughtful and refined, especially on storage pieces and accent furniture.

Color and finish direction were also easy to spot. Neutral earthtone stains were everywhere, and greens showed up often as an accent color. That combination made a lot of sense. The wood tones felt grounded and natural, while the greens brought in a bit of softness and personality. It was a palette that felt calm, usable, and easy to live with.

Walnut was shown often, especially rustic walnut. That was one of the strongest impressions from the trip. Rustic walnut has a richness and natural character that gives furniture instant presence, and many of the pieces using it felt especially strong. Maple was also common, which is no surprise, but we also noticed more oak than we have in past years. What made that especially interesting was the finish direction. Instead of traditional oak looks, many of the pieces were shown in earthtone stains that gave the wood a completely different feel. It softened the familiar look of oak and made it read in a much more current way.

One thing we did not see quite as much of was a wave of brand new woodshops. In some past years, there seemed to be more new builders entering the mix. This year felt a little steadier in that regard. Even so, there was still no shortage of strong work, and we came away with plenty of ideas and several pieces we were excited to bring back.

As much as we enjoy seeing the full market, the real goal is always the same: find furniture that feels right for our customers and right for our floor.

Among the pieces we chose to add were an Amish post bedroom set in rustic walnut, an Amish pedestal dining table with leather chairs, a striking cabinet with a two-tone look and interior lighting, an upholstered Amish accent chair in green fabric with an earthtone finish, and a modern Amish buffet in maple. We also added a few occasional table groups that we think will fit beautifully into a variety of homes.

Each of those pieces reflects something we were seeing at market.

The bedroom set in rustic walnut speaks to the continued strength of walnut and the appeal of furniture with real warmth and natural character. The pedestal table brings solid wood construction together with a sculptural base that feels updated and distinctive. The cabinet shows how lighting, contrast, and shape can turn a practical storage piece into something with real presence. The accent chair brings in that green note we kept seeing, while still feeling easy to place. And the maple buffet shows how clean lines and a modern profile can still feel substantial and inviting when they are done in solid wood.

Trips like this are a reminder that good furniture does not happen by accident. It comes from good makers, thoughtful design, skilled finishing, and careful selection. Our job is to sort through what we see, pay attention to where things are headed, and choose the pieces that we believe will hold up not only in quality, but in style.

That is why these visits matter so much to us.

They help us keep our floor fresh. They help us discover builders and details we may not have seen otherwise. And they help us bring back furniture that feels personal, well made, and worth seeing in person.

This year’s trip may have been shortened by the weather, but it still delivered exactly what we hoped for: strong conversations, fresh ideas, and new pieces we are excited to share. If you have not stopped in recently, this is a good time to do it. Some of our favorite finds from Shipshewana are now making their way to our floor, and we think you will see why they stood out to us.