It’s busy at Unruh this time of year. Can you imagine? We’ve already made the “Santa’s workshop” comparison in a previous post, but there isn’t much else like our old church setting during Christmas time. Men and women, serving as expert carpenters to bring you furniture for a lifetime, walk through our doors daily focused and relaxed, excited for the job at hand. On any given day, they’re cutting, lifting, sanding, finishing and delivering handcrafted furniture to satisfied customers.
But when it’s time to head home, our company is just like any other – run by employees who have families at home. We really care about that reality, and take care of our people so that they can take care of theirs. And at the end of a long day of working, sometimes popping in a movie with loved ones is the best idea. Sure, our crew consists of explorers and craftsmen, but we know how to lounge as well.
Come Christmas, curling up with family to watch a holiday movie is easy because there are so many great options. But we took it upon ourselves to narrow the list of great Christmas movies down to five. Therefore, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the great options this season, make sure you at least get these five in before Christmas and you’re ready to go. But before we get onto the movies, here are two Unruh media consoles worth gathering around with family.
Tennessee Credenza
“We’ve been buying furniture from Sam since the early days of his business. The first item was a custom coffee table and later a dining table, bed frame, nightstands, and dresser. We love the rustic styling and excellent quality. We would definitely go back!” -Julie Shipp
When we talk about a “media console” we aren’t just talking about four legs and a tabletop. Within our sideboard selection, you will find a few pieces more fit for entertainment than others. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t set a TV on top of other Unruh pieces of furniture (save a dining table) but a few just work better than others. Enter the Tennessee Credenza. This piece serves as an all-in-one hub for entertainment. There is more-than-enough storage below, complete with two doors and three openings for gaming systems, streaming services, books, magazines and memories.
Preview
$1949 Tennessee Credenza Customize Browse Sideboards
Creekwater Console
“Unruh Furniture creates custom made high-end furniture at very good rates. I have had a buffet table and a dining room table made by Unruh furniture. I was able to have furniture made that fit the space available in my home rather than go to a store and make compromises about what I wanted.” -Mark Hale
Our Creekwater Console is a little more barebones than the Tennessee, but still a beautiful option. Therefore, if you’re looking to conserve a little more space in your living or TV room, consider the Creekwater. And with some basic measurements of your home, utilize our online customizer tool to get a feel for this furniture in your space. With two shelves below the surface, this is another item worthy to store your entertainment selections and then some.
Preview
$1299 Creekwater Console Customize Browse Sideboards
Top Five Christmas Movies
We aren’t going to spend too much time here, as there really isn’t much to argue about. In other words, these movies speak for themselves. If you are left questioning, please round up your family, get ahold of each respective movie and enjoy this holiday season. And while you’re at it, come visit us at Unruh! We’d love to enhance your movie experience. One TV Stand at a time.
5. A Christmas Story
Unlike the other movies on this list, A Christmas Story is timeless because of one aspect: relatability. We can all relate to Ralphie and his quest for the perfect Christmas gift. That gift we just had to have when we were young, and how magical it was to see it under the tree come Christmas morning. Of course there are other important themes like watching your tongue around Dad or just keeping your tongue in your mouth. But this story is simply about adolescence and the wonder of the season.
4. Home Alone (1 and 2)
We know . . . we’re kind of cheating on this one. But Home Alone AND Home Alone 2: Lost in New York are on an equal footing of greatness, and we couldn’t leave one off the list. Two similar story arcs, in two different settings, are both amazing to watch year-after-year. Pair child actor greatness with the antics of love-able, laughable villains and the result is two of the greatest movies of all time.
3. White Christmas
The lone “musical” on the list, White Christmas has aged like a fine wine since its debut in 1954. Unfortunately, many Americans only know about Bing Crosby through Spotify playlists and radio sing alongs. But his work as an actor – alongside Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen – is at its best in this wonderful film. And thanks to quick dialogue and meaningful lyrics, this is a movie you can watch every year and pick up on something new.
2. Christmas Vacation
It’s a little sad how close Cousin Eddie comes to upending George Bailey for number one on our list. But Christmas Vacation is just that good. Because of its frivolity, this movie comes in second place. Yet every year we look forward to quoting Clark Griswold and viewing his always-entertaining quest to become the “last true family man.”
1. It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life is relatable but on a different, deeper level. Different in that this movie carries a dark turn, with George contemplating his own life, but deeper in that we relate to the depth of emotion and feeling he experiences throughout the movie. You watch his boyhood wonder and young-adult dreams fade as he grows to realize the importance of community, “loving your neighbor” and the sacrifice (and joy!) needed for both.
Ask someone from our team and you might get a few different answers, but you can’t argue that each movie on the list isn’t a gift to humankind. And at Unruh, we know a good gift when we see one.