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Tips for Choosing Log Furniture
 If
you just love that rustic look, and are finally ready to finally
buy log furniture for your home, there are a number of "rules
of thumb" that can help you in making good choices.
Begin by considering the overall style of your home. Do you have
a log home that is overwhelmingly rustic? Or are you seeking to
add a rustic touch to one or more rooms of a more conventional home?
Size is Everything
Homes that feature large logs, spacious ceilings or are roomy in
general require a different flavor of rustic furniture than their
more conventional counterparts. If large logs make up the walls
of your room, or you have a fireplace made from monster rocks from
Montana, you'll need a massive log look for your furniture as well.
Otherwise, your log furniture will seem dwarfed and insignificant.
Even if the home for your log furniture is a cabin with 8-inch logs,
a few large pieces of furniture will look better than many small
ones. Larger furniture makes a room feel full without being cluttered.
If your bedroom has a high cathedral ceiling, a log canopy bed can
help fill out the dimensions. There is also much you can do with
artwork and lighting to make the best use of your space.
Types of wood
A variety of wood types are used to create rustic furniture. Following
is an overview of several which are available on our website:
Steam-bent Hickory
Hickory is a very durable, flexible wood. Many a child has climbed
to the top of a green hickory sapling to ride it down as it yields
to the weight without breaking. When heated with steam for a period
of time, Hickory poles can easily be formed into various unique
pieces of furniture. The steamed poles are placed in a jig and left
to dry. They will become very rigid and retain this shape when dry.
Steam-bent hickory is strong enough to be used for tools such as
hammers and axes, and unpeeled hickory accounts for one of the best-selling
lines of log furniture. The Amish use steam-bent hickory to make
dining room chairs, as the legs for dining room tables, coffee tables,
and rockers.
Northern White Cedar
Northern White Cedar grows in Northern Michigan and Canada. It withstands
the abuse of seasonal elements without breaking down or rotting
like other woods. It is a beautiful light tan color when freshly
milled.
It turns silvery-gray with age, but can be treated with a good quality
finish to help retain its color. You will notice cracks- some small
and some larger in your rustic furniture. This occurs naturally
in the drying process and adds to the rustic look of our products.
These cracks do not diminish the function or design of our furniture.
They are not a manufacturing defect, just a natural part of seasoning,
enhancing the beauty of the wood.
Red Cedar
The most surprising thing about Red Cedar (also know as Aromatic
Cedar) is that it is not a member of the cedar family at all, instead
belonging to the juniper family. Everyone knows the deep aromatic
smell of the red cedar. The wood is heavy, and naturally insect
and rot resistant.
Clothes stored in a chest made of red cedar will be protected from
moths. Red cedar has tight knots that add character and beauty.
It is sometimes purple, but most often a brownish red that will
in time become browner even when preserved. Furniture built with
red cedar will last a long time and can definitely be handed down
from generation to generation.
Shopping for Quality
Not all log furniture is created equal-no matter how stylish or
comfortable it may be. The quality of the materials used in log
furniture, and the craftsmanship employed, vary widely-and this
is often reflected in the price. While there are always some bargains
to be had, it is quite true that you get what you pay for in log
furniture.
With this thought in mind, buy the best furniture you can. It will
look better and last longer if you do. In addition, look for all-wood
or solid-wood furniture (as opposed to veneered plywood or particle
boards). Solid wood furniture tends to show less wear at the joints
and fittings, and also reacts better to seasonal moisture changes.
Look for well-fitted, carefully crafted connections. Dove-tailed
drawers are especially known for holding together well. If you want
your furniture to be finished, look for a long-lasting, tough and
evenly applied coating. A word to the wise: unless you are experienced
in applying furniture finish, leave the finishing up to the furniture
manufacturer.
Choosing a Log Furniture Store
Let the buyer beware-there is a wide variety of customer service
between log furniture stores. If you are looking to buy on line,
look for a store where quality furniture and customer service are
both top priorities. I have seen log furniture manufacturers and
stores that always deliver late, and I have seen some who deliver
on-time with shoddy quality.
Look for testimonials on the site you are considering. Call and
talk to a salesman at the log furniture store. A word to the wise-log
furniture websites that merely drop ship log furniture have a lot
less control over quality than those who building, finish and/or
ship the furniture themselves.
The ideal online log furniture store has many repeat customers who
not only purchase again from their store, but recommend them to
others. Quality stores are interested in more than a quick sale.
They understand the value of delivering top-quality log furniture-furniture
that will last a lifetime and add a truly rustic touch to your home.
About The Author
Cari Haus has been successfully selling log furniture on the Internet
since 1997. Copyright 2003 by Cari Haus, website http://www.logcabinrustics.com/
Permission is granted to reprint this article, either online or
in written publications, as long as the copyright information, this
paragraph, and a link address or a link to the Log Cabin Rustics
website is attached at the end of the article.
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