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