Tips for Choosing Log Furniture
Author: Cari Haus
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 successfully sold log furniture on the Internet
since 1997. Currently she is webmaster for Log Cabin Rustics,
http://www.logcabinrustics.com/
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