Our Story
Chilton's roots as a Maine company date back to 1885, and we still apply traditional values to every aspect of our business. We work with a furniture designer to grow our exclusive Chilton design collection and add new pieces each year. Some of our newest pieces include the Fjord Dining Table, the Dune Bed, the Nautilus Lounge Chair (2020 GOOD DESIGN Winner), and the Concord Dining Chairs.
As a Maine company, we are committed to building locally as much as possible. More than 60% of our furniture is handcrafted in small Maine workshops, and we also work with boutique craftsmen in Vermont and the Midwest, many of whom have been partners for decades. Many of our pieces can be custom built to your specifications. All Chilton pieces are built to our high standards, and we offer white glove set up and delivery service nationwide.
Shaker Inspired
"Beauty rests in utility." – Shaker Maxim
The Shakers hold that beauty results when form follows function. Shaker furniture highlights the natural beauty of wood, along with solid joinery, sensible balance, and proportion. The clean, unembellished lines of Shaker design blend effortlessly with other styles. These timeless qualities are why, more than a century on, Shaker furniture is still in high demand, and why subsequent schools of design such as Arts & Crafts, Mid-Century modern have borrowed and continue to borrow from Shaker principles.Made in America — Committed to Maine
We are proud that all of our furniture is made in America, more than half of our furniture is designed and built locally in Maine, and nearly two-thirds is built in New England. Over the years, Chilton has built relationships all over the state with small shops and independent craftsmen with a passion for working with wood. They are the first place we turn when we have new designs ready to be brought to life.
Value, Built to Last
Chilton works with its trusted family of woodworkers to offer wood furniture of a unique long-term value. We cater to customers who recognize that value and who believe, as we do, that investing in quality furniture that graces families (not landfills) for generations is the best way to honor the raw materials we use—materials that can take decades to re-grow.
Uncompromising Service
Service at Chilton begins with a relaxed and informative shopping experience. Most of our furniture is available online and our team is here to answer all of your questions as you browse the Web—just give us a call.
At the time of your purchase, we provide our best estimate of the time needed to build and deliver your furniture. Once your order is completed, our delivery team or one of our delivery partners will carry your new furniture, blanket-wrapped, into your home. We deliver to all 48 contiguous states.
Family Owned
Chilton was founded in the nineteenth century as a maker of paints, varnishes, and industrial coatings. In the 1970s, Chilton began selling simple, locally-made furniture coated with Chilton finishes and stains. Customers loved the wood furniture, and it soon became Chilton's central business. Quality wood furniture remains our focus today.
In September of 2014, Chilton was acquired by current owners Jared and Jennifer Levin. Jared and Jen met at Columbia Law School in New York, where they first made their home. After Columbia, Jen went to work as a corporate attorney before retiring from practice to raise their three daughters. When their youngest entered school, Jen was ready to start a new career. She had a passion for furniture and design, and as a Bates college graduate who spent her childhood summers in Ocean Park, Jen also longed to move the family to Maine. She searched the Internet for "businesses for sale in Maine" and Chilton was at the top of the list!
Chilton met all of Jen's criteria—a respected brand with beautiful, American-made wood furniture and a seasoned team. Jen was also attracted to Chilton's specialization in the simple, clean lines of Shaker-inspired design. Chilton also spoke to Jared, who spent his finance career working with consumer and retail companies.
In the summer of 2015, just before their first anniversary as owners, Jen convinced Jared, a lifelong New Yorker, to take the plunge and relocate to Cumberland, Maine—halfway between our Freeport and Scarborough stores, and within striking distance of all the natural beauty, great skiing, friendly communities, and gifted woodworkers a family could hope to know.
The Chilton Name
The Chilton name is as old as New England. James Chilton and his family were passengers on the Mayflower. Legend has it that James' daughter, Mary Chilton, was the first to set foot on Plymouth Rock. She was reportedly so excited to arrive in the New World that she leapt from the dinghy and waded ashore.
According to company lore, descendants of Mary Chilton were among a group that founded a corporation in Portland, Maine to capitalize on the manufacturing boom that followed the Civil War. That corporation reorganized in 1885 under the name Chilton Paint Company, making a wide range of paints, varnishes, and industrial coatings.
The original Chilton Paint Co building in College Point, NY.
Coming to Maine?
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Owners
Chilton Furniture Co.