Review of Canadel's Champlain Collection

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Spending time at a cottage surrounded by nature is something many people dream of. But with rising costs and inflation, owning a separate cottage property is no longer realistic for many homeowners.

Fortunately, you can bring the cozy, rustic charm of cottage living into your own home, without the upkeep of a second property. That’s exactly what Canadel’s Champlain Collection offers: a warm, French country-inspired design that captures the essence of rustic living.

Michelle MacLellan, the interior designer at La-Z-Boy Hunt Club and Canadel expert, describes Champlain as “the most rustic collection of all Canadel collections. Sort of reminiscent of a French country aesthetic.” 

In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the Champlain collection, including features, customization options, cost, and warranty.

Key Takeaways:

• Champlain is inspired by French country and cottage aesthetics. It features distressed finishes, handcrafted detailing, and heirloom-style design.
• All pieces are handmade in North America using solid Canadian birch and eco-friendly hevea wood, and can be customized using the Canadel UDesign tool.
• Furniture in the Champlain line is considered high-end in pricing, especially with thicker tops and pedestal bases that require more material and craftsmanship.
• The collection is backed by a 1-year warranty, with the option to purchase an extended 5-year protection plan for additional peace of mind.
• Ideal for homeowners who want a rustic, lived-in elegance and are looking to invest in long-term, high-quality dining furniture.

In This Article…

1. Brief Description of Canadel
2. Champlain Style & Unique Features
3. Champlain Dining Furniture Selection
4. Options & Customizations
5. Cost
6. Warranty
7. Is the Champlain Collection Right for You?

About Canadel Custom Dining

Established in 1982, Canadel is a Canadian family-owned company that manufactures handcrafted, high-quality, and custom-made dining room furniture. All Canadel products are manufactured in North America and distributed throughout Canada and the United States.

As makers of authentic birch wood dining room sets, Canadel operates with a vision of creating meaningful family heirlooms that will be passed down through generations. 

In addition, they provide extensive customization options, made easier with the Canadel UDesign tool, which provides the online customer with over 9 million furniture combinations and options to choose from

Michelle emphasizes that Canadel's local presence and reputation for longevity are what resonate most with Ottawa buyers. “Our clients want pieces they don’t have to replace. Canadel delivers that kind of confidence.”

Canadel Champlain Style and Unique Features

Handcrafted in North America using solid Canadian birch and eco-friendly hevea wood, the Champlain Collection is Canadel’s most rustic and artisan-inspired line. 

With distressed finishes, refined lines, and vintage-style detailing, Champlain captures the charm of a French country cottage. Each board is individually sanded and marked to imitate natural imperfections, giving the look of timeworn beauty without compromising quality.

This collection draws inspiration from early colonial woodworking, offering a warm, lived-in feel perfect for those seeking a relaxed yet elegant dining atmosphere. 

“Champlain is reminiscent of the French countryside,” says Michelle, “It feels like something passed down from generations; there’s a real sense of heritage and craftsmanship in every piece.”

Signature design elements include uniquely crafted table legs, upholstered or wood-based chairs, and top options in either round or rectangular shapes. The standout piece in the collection is the Champlain Harvest Table, a perfect embodiment of rustic chic, celebrated for its robust presence and handcrafted character.

Canadel Champlain Customization Options

It is important to note that all available options and customizations to the Champlain dining collection can be explored on Canadel’s UDesign tool, which is easily accessible on the Canadel website.

Dining Tables

Champlain’s dining tables have precisely 9 different sizes and 2 height options to choose from, making it one of the most versatile collections in terms of table options. In addition to the customization options, customers can choose from up to 5 leg styles and 4 pedestal options.

Pedestals in Champlain can either come in a solid wood option or a combination of wood and wrought iron. The wrought iron design is unique to the Champlain collection and not featured in other Canadel collections. 

Dining tables are also offered in a variety of body and top colours, allowing homeowners to showcase more rustic wood finishes in their dining rooms. 

Moreover, select dining tables from the Champlain collection can come with optional table extension leaves, connected to the end of the table. This means the extension pieces are not self-storing leaves. 

Lastly, top edge options for dining tables are also available. Customers can choose either a square edge or a thick square edge–the difference in thickness is about 1½ inches. Michelle says that the thicker table edge option is more expensive, giving the table a more solid look.

Dining Seats

When it comes to dining seating, chairs and stools can come in upholstered or wooden options. Dining chairs can also come with arms, if customers choose to include them, and many decorative back designs as well. Further, stools also have the option to swivel and have backs.

When it comes to dining benches, customers can choose between small or long options with upholstered benches coming with one, two, or three cushions.

The Champlain Collection currently has 19 chair options, 13 stool options, and 4 dining bench options, the most out of any collection, besides the Core Collection. 

Dining Buffets

A buffet may be the perfect way to tie your selection together and turn your dining pieces into a complete dining room. 

The buffets come in various shapes, sizes, and patterns in which the accent colour, body colour, and finish can be customized.

The Canadel Champlain Collection currently features 6 dining buffet options.

Wood Finish, Glass & Upholstery Options

As mentioned above, there are many different colours and finish options that the Champlain dining collection offers. 

The Champlain collection has about 16 wood finish colours. Unlike other Collections, Champlain does not offer any glass dining tabletops.

Moreover, upholstered dining seating options are offered in a massive array of fabric and velvet options. Champlain, unlike other dining room collections, does feature leather options, as well as faux-leather options.

Cost of Canadel Champlain Dining Furniture

Canadel sits in the premium price category, but this reflects the craftsmanship, customization, and quality of materials. Because each piece is made to order, prices are quoted based on selections. However, the table below offers a helpful reference point based on current starting prices:

*All La-Z-Boy prices listed in this article are subject to change. We aim to update all cost-related articles twice per year. This article was last updated on June 26th, 2025.  Contact your local Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston location by phone or in person for up-to-date pricing.

Canadel Champlain Collection Warranty

The Canadel Champlain Collection is covered by Canadel’s 1-year warranty, which covers the repair or replacement of chair frames, tabletops, fabric tears, or any unforeseen circumstances that would be covered under Canadel’s warranty. 

Given that each piece of furniture is quality-crafted and built to last a long time, Canadel also offers an extended 5-year warranty plan at an additional cost. 

This not only goes to further protect your purchase, but it is also transferable when you purchase new Canadel Furniture if you are looking to replace old additions.

Is the Champlain Dining Collection Right For You?

The Champlain collection may be described as stylish, but is it the right choice for your dining room? The answer to this depends on your budget, lifestyle, and design preferences.

As previously mentioned, the dining furniture from the Champlain collection is considered high-end in terms of cost. This is ideal for someone with a healthy budget who is ready to invest in dining furniture that will be a long-term investment. 

Alternatively, the high price tag of the Champlain collection may not be aligned with someone who has a smaller dining budget and is looking for more temporary dining furniture.

When it comes to lifestyle, Michelle says this collection is a great investment for those who enjoy hosting large groups. This is due to Champlain’s unique pedestal option, which offers much more room for seating compared to dining table legs.   

Finally, the Champlain collection offers a rustic cottage aesthetic. Michelle tells us that Champlain’s furniture is  “reminiscent of the French country, rustic, and cottage styles and will grab people’s attention. And the fact that it looks like an old family heirloom from your grandmother gives off a relaxed and elegant feel to the overall dining room set.”

This specific style is ideal for those who want to achieve a lived-in, yet sophisticated dining style. While Champlain’s style is beautiful to some, it may not be for everyone, specifically those who are seeking a more modern or industrial dining room design.

What's Next?

Now that you have all the information about the Canadel Champlain Dining Collection, why not experience it yourself?

Canadel has an intuitive tool to help you discover what each collection offers, thanks to its UDesign platform. Make sure to check out the UDesign tool so you can discover Canadel, as well as other dining room collections, in detail.

If you require assistance navigating the UDesign tool, check out this helpful article for a step-by-step tutorial.

La-Z-Boy also offers design assistance on all things Canadel custom design. By visiting an Ottawa, Gatineau or Kingston showroom, you can receive one-on-one assistance in selecting and custom designing your Canadel dining furniture. 

You can also book an appointment with our design consultants or interior design experts for any burning questions you may have. To learn more about our dining room furniture at La-Z-Boy, check out our Comprehensive Dining Room Buyer’s Guide.

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