Testimonials

I spent a ton of money on our last dining room table from a large big name retail store. Boy did I feel stupid when it scratched just by blowing on it. I mean really, it was a delicate piece of furniture. When we sold our dining room table to the people purchasing our house, I couldn’t be happier – I now had a reason to go to Element Furniture. I found them on craigslist a few years ago and followed their website. When we were ready, I made an appointment to go out to their shop and see their work in person. It was so exciting getting to pick out every aspect of our table. We LOVE our table and chairs. Scott was patient and answered all our questions. I loved working with someone who was excited about what he does. For around what we spent at that evil retail store (maybe less) we bought a SOLID table that Im sure we could host a dance party on. I love that it’s solid wood, no veneer. We went a little rustic but not a ton. Although it will be hard to scratch – if we do make a mark it will just blend right in. They actually got it done a week or two ahead of the scheduled time. Their delivery crew was great, super nice and helpful. We get a ton of compliments on the set. Well done! 5 Stars! A+! Highly recommend.

Let me start by saying THANK YOU!! This table is a work of art and the best piece of furniture I have ever purchased. The quality and detail is over the top, I couldn’t have dreamed of it being more perfect! From the moment I visited your shop, I had confidence in your craftsmanship. I also have to mention your patience.. You spent so much time helping me think through the best design for our home. Our table makes a statement from the minute you walk in our door – and I am so grateful to have found your company!! Until next time… Continued good luck Scott!

I was referred to Element Furniture by a friend after admiring his stunning dining room table. I then spent countless hours scrolling through the photo albums on the website, dreaming of having a table of my own. It took a Black Friday special to finally get me to take the first step of calling the shop, and it was an excellent decision. We then visited the shop in Joliet, which I highly recommend. Scott took the time to show us samples of the different wood types, stains, finish options, and leg widths. He also had some recently finished items on display in the front of the shop and showed us what different chairs would look like around a table. Our table is flush leg with an ebony finish and a distress level of 8. Basically, the table looks like it was dragged out of a field and spit shined before ending up in our dining room (which is exactly the look we were going for!!). From the exposed bolts, to the scuffed edges of the chairs, to the visible tool marks on the table surface, this dining set is a striking work of art. It’s also a solid piece of furniture that you can set a glass of ice water on without fear of destroying it. It will definitely outlast us and probably future generations as well. As another reviewer mentioned, we researched tables at the usual places (always made in other countries with questionable resources and shipped to the US), and the total price of the dining set from Element Furniture was comparable to major retailers (factoring in how ridiculously expensive chairs are). However, the quality is so much better, it’s handcrafted, you are supporting a local business, AND you end up with a unique piece of furniture that you helped to design! From the first phone call, to our shop visit, to the communication while we waited the table to arrive, Scott was awesome. He’s friendly, honest, and really knows his craft. To top it all off, the delivery guys were prompt, friendly, efficient, and courteous. They had the table set up in no time, polished it up, snapped a few photos to document their handiwork, and the guys even took off their shoes because it was raining out! (Not to mention, the table and chairs already had the little felt pads on the bottom to protect our wood floors.) I guess I just can’t heap enough praise on Scott and his business. Thank you for such a wonderful addition to our home, and we look forward to adding more pieces to our collection in the near future! Shop local!

Element Furniture is absolutely incredible, but so is their customer support! We’ve enjoyed our kitchen table for over a year. We get lots of compliments from family and friends who visit and the table is just the style we wanted and has the durability that we need with 2 little ones who use this table as their art station, play area, and impromptu percussion instrument. We recently had an incident after a New Years party with our table. Red ink from “2017” confetti stained the table in about 8 different places after the confetti had a drink spilled on it. When our regular cleaner (Meyer’s cleaning spray) and Murphy’s Oil Soap were not working, we made the mistake of trying a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. BAD IDEA. All this did was start to dull the finish. I thought our table might need to be completely stripped/refinished, because nothing was removing the red ink. I contacted Scott and he got back to me immediately with an answer I didn’t expect – Nail polish remover with Acetone or straight Acetone would remove the ink and not damage the table at all. I would never in a hundred years think this was a good idea on a table – acetone would strip away the finish and stain, wouldn’t it? My wife actually ruined her parent’s table as a kid when she spilled nail polish remove on it. Scott assured me that this was safe to do due to the quality and durability of the stains and finish they use and he spent all the time on the phone I needed to make sure I knew how to use the acetone correctly to remove the ink and also how to bring back the shine that the Magic Eraser started to dull. Well, the nail polish remover with acetone wasn’t strong enough to remove the red ink, but the straight acetone removed it with no problem!! I was amazed. I also followed the instructions Scott gave me to shine the table back up and it looks like nothing ever happened. THANK YOU Scott and Element Furniture! We will definitely be purchasing some additional furniture soon and will continue to share how much we’ve enjoyed working with a local craftsman with spectacular skills and products.

I feel that an appropriate review for Element Furniture is needed. The level of craftsmanship, communication, skill- I rarely think that a business is so stellar as these guys. I will tell you why I am writing this. I came into 2 raw slabs of American Elm, live edge a few years ago. I wanted to make a live edge table- and shamelessly copy much, much more expensive versions at Room and Board and other top end stores. Scott and I communicated via email, text, phone regarding the wood and I finally made the drive down to Joliet. A few weeks later, my 2-slabs were perfectly finished, bookmatched to perfection, and I had a wonderful table top. I had my own legs- and now I have a table that looks like a masterpiece. Fast forward- I wanted an edgy coffee table. I had some bowling alley lane, wood. I thought it would be different, but cool for a loft. I went down again, for the master finishing. Scott and company could have finished the wood to perfection, but stressed that I was pouring money into a non-finish quality work. I had no choice but to trust them. I didn’t want to pour thousands of dollars into something that would look 50% as good as my imagination had made it out to be. After careful consultation, I ended up going with a Rustic-made end grain butcher block top for my 2-tier coffee table. Again, the quality was perfection. I have a one of a kind table that is simply terrific.

Yup, it’s another 5 Star review…. OUR. TABLE. IS. AMAZING!!! Seriously, I wake up every day and just stare at in in my kitchen and run my hands over it. Is it possible to be completely in love with a table? Because I am! I think my husband might be getting slightly jealous. My 2 year old excitedly shouts “New Table” and “New Bench” every time he sees them. All he wants to do is climb on the bench and sit at the table. (The table even provides babysitting services! Wowza!) It is the first thing people notice when they walk into our condo. I needed a custom table built for our unique dining nook in our condo. I wanted a table that was solid and could withstand a 2 year old banging and climbing on it. (I feel like the standard big box stores such as Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel use wood & finishes that are too soft and cause the tables to easily ding.) Our table is made out of solid wood using a restaurant grade finish. It is super heavy and sturdy and absolutely stunning. Check out their Facebook page for pictures of ALL of the pieces they have made over the years. WARNING: You can and will spend HOURS looking at the beautiful pictures on FB. Plan ahead and set some time aside. This review is way too long coming!! We got our table and could not be more pleased!!! It is just absolutely fabulous! Scott was so great to work with, he really loves what he’s doing and definitely strives to make sure you get the table you want!. We looked all over the place for a table, the big name stores and our table blows those out of the water, it’s sturdier, more durable and hands down a lot nicer:) the table was slightly more expensive than others we looked at but well worth it! You should definitely go check out Scott’s shop, he’s happy to show you tables he’s working on and help you choose yours!

We’ve had our table for almost three years now and it’s just as beautiful and sturdy as ever. We took it apart for a move and it was quick and easy. We’re looking forward to eating dinner at this table with our great great great grandchildren. We’ll probably be back for another table in the future, and we recommend REF to friends all the time. They are awesome. Can’t say enough good things.

After our children managed to destroy an Ashley Furniture kitchen table within two years, we knew we had to find a table that could withstand the punishment of three mini-tornados. Fortunately, we found Element Furniture. Scott was very patient in listening to our needs and building us the table we wanted. I did go out to his showroom to look at the tables, but you could find the table style you want and order from just looking at the pictures on the website. The quality of the table is better than anything I’ve ever seen. I highly recommend Element Furniture if you want a kitchen table that will outlive you.

After looking for an expandable rustic table for months with no luck, we luckily found Scott and Element Furniture. Scott listened to our needs, showed us sample finishes and built us a 100% custom table for 6 with expandable leaves for up to 12 which we love. The finished product was well worth the wait and cost and will last for generations.

Scott is the man! We’ve had our table for a month now, and it is by far the best purchase that we’ve made for our new home. I don’t know why you would go anywhere else for a table. My wife and I really enjoyed the process of picking out the details for it as well. Scott is very personable and will get it done for you. It’s nice to see somebody do quality work that they take great pride in. That makes it that much more enjoyable for us. We know that somebody spent 16 weeks working on our table and putting their touch on it. Very high quality workmanship. I’m guessing this won’t be our last purchase with Element Furniture. Thanks again guys!

Scott and his crew are simply amazing. We had them make 2 tables and we could not be anymore pleased. Yes, they are more expensive than your typical furniture store, but the quality is far superior. I expect that we’ll have these tables for 30+ years. So in that time we would have gone through many inferior tables. Buy it right the first time. Will be cheaper in the long run. Also nothing quite like supporting a product made by American hands with skill and care.

We ordered a dinning room table as well as a desk from here last summer. They both turned out beautifully! We really wanted something that was unique and made of great quality. The folks here are great to work with. Their stuff is not cheap, but you get what you pay for. We will definitely be coming back for a kitchen table in the near future!

If you need a gorgeous, sturdy table, Element Furniture is the place for you. Everyone there from Scott to the delivery crew was very professional. We had our customized table today and It’s just beautiful. Highest quality you can find and fare prices. 5 stars for Scott and the people at Element Furniture! I recommend you check the gallery on the website, you’ll be impressed.

While searching online for a rustic table we happened stumble upon Scott’s site, and we are so thrilled we did! We ordered an oversized hightop table and 6 chairs. Scott was a pleasure to work with and crafted us a gorgeous table and chairs that everyone loves. The pictures really don’t do it justice. Wasn’t till he delivered it did we realize how beautiful it was. The price was affordable as well. You won’t find this quality and craftsmanship for these prices at any store.

I just received my kitchen table and benches from Scott and I can hardly express how pleased I am. Not only is the table perfect for my space, but the quality of the wood is just stunning ? the grain, color and thickness is really special. We live in a 100 year old house and the kitchen has an awkward space for dinning. Furthermore, we have two small children, so I was naturally concerned about the table getting destroyed. Scott was so helpful, he helped me select measurements, color, finish appropriate for our lifestyle and living space. The end result was a high quality table at a fraction of the cost of pottery barn, crate and barrel etc. Additionally, he told me that if I ever want to change the dimensions or finish of the table he could take it back and make any adjustments I would like!

We absolutely love our new table! We had searched several furniture stores for something unique and high-quality, but were left disappointed. So we turned to the internet for a possible antique gem we could fix up ourselves. Instead, we were lucky to find Scott’s Element Furniture! Everything about our new table is perfect, and Scott exceeded our expectations. He was extremely helpful throughout the whole process, from picking size and stain, to delivering and setting it up for us. We have, and will continue, to recommend Scott to our friends and family.

I ordered a custom 96″ table with 6 chairs, a bench and 22″ leaf. I upgraded to 4″x4″ legs and had the chairs finished with a burnt look on the edges. The craftsmanship and quality are impecable. You will not find anything close to this from any other store. This is quality coming from a local small business. Scott and his team care about their customers. For example, I wasn’t supposed to receive my order until after January 1st and because I told Scott that I was hosting Christmas Eve and that all my family would be there, he made sure the table was done in time. Who does that? Answer, Element Furniture and nobody else.

I had been searching high and low for the table I wanted. I had it pictured in my mind, but just couldn’t find it anywhere – until – I came across Element Furniture. We went in on a Saturday and I explained to Scott what I had envisioned. He took my thoughts and turned them into the most beautiful table I could have imagined. The workmanship just cannot compare to any high end stores out there. I’m having my first dinner party on the new table on Thanksgiving – how appropriate! It will be a table that will be handed down from generation to generation. Thank you Scott and your crew for an amazing job! It is appreciated more than you can imagine!

We are so grateful that we found Scott! With 2 little girls and another on the way, we were looking for a solid table that will last! We love the rustic, distressed, natural look, and this table is SO solid. We got the 42×72 table with extra large legs flush in dark walnut with matching bench and 4 chairs. So many friends have already commented on how well built it is, so hope to bring in more business for you Scott! Thank you very much.

Took delivery of our table today. In a word, fantastic! Scott’s craftsmanship and vision clearly set him apart in a world which is increasingly dominated by mass-produced goods of dubious quality. Simply stated, Scott created a table that we will enjoy for many years to come. Efharisto Poli. (Greek for “thank you very much”)

After our old dining table broke, we set out to find the perfect table. Unfortunately, we weren’t finding exactly what we wanted at furniture stores. We came across Scott’s website and were pleased at how customized we could make our table. We were a little nervous about purchasing a table that we had never seen. But, Scott invited us out to his workshop and even took us into his home to show us his own dining table. At that point, we were sold! The quality and craftsmanship are amazing! We could customize the table exactly the way we wanted, instead of settling on something from a furniture store. Scott delivered it, set it up, and explained a ton about the table, the wood, etc. Excellent customer service! Super friendly! We LOVE our new table! Thanks, Scott!

After months of looking for a table with character (and after returning one table to a high-end furniture store), we talked to Scott and ordered a custom table that is perfect for us and our space. Scott walked us through every aspect of the order, working with our requests, and also giving great advice when asked. The wood is gorgeous, and the design is both highly functional and beautiful (get the leaves–the contrast in wood grain adds a great dimension to the table’s look). The delivery and set up went perfectly (and are free!). Everyone who has seen the table loves it. Scott’s a great guy, and an excellent craftsman. We’re already talking about the next custom piece we want him to make for us. Thanks, Scott.

Scott just delivered an amazing table and matching coffee table to our place. The quality and craftsmanship are top-notch. The table looks 100x better than any of the stuff you see in a wide range of stores, including high-end ones. Plus – it will cost you less. This is hands-down the best table you can get for the price. It’s all custom too – what’s not to love? Plus, we liked buying something from someone local that’s made with local wood. Added bonus – no set-up – he does it for you!

From the very first inquiry, to the delivery of our gorgeous table and benches, Scott was extremely helpful, professional and completed everything according to schedule. My husband and I keep looking at our incredibly beautiful table and saying, “I just love this table!”. I asked Scott if he signed it because I seriously believe it will be on Antique Roadshow 100 years from now and will live on past then!!