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 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 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 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 dimensions. There is also much you can do with artwork and lighting to make 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 top of a green hickory sapling to ride it down as it yields to 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 best-selling lines of log furniture. The Amish use steam-bent hickory to make dining room chairs, as legs for dining room tables, coffee tables, and rockers. Northern White Cedar

"BAD BOYS/GOOD BOYS" Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Being An Insensitive Dad © Lee Wise 2003 All rights reserved

I WAS AMAZED

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. A father and his son had entered men's room. While I was washing my hands, I listened as father wielded a series of demanding and demeaning statements at his son as if they were swords in a battle for ... who knows what?

And all about going to bathroom quickly!

It was perfect victory. The enemy (the son) had been slain. The battle was won. The general had summoned his one-man army to do his bidding.

It was also totally and completely ridiculous. There was no consideration for feelings or physical needs of young person.

The "bad boy" had won day -- and bad boy was not son.

It was son's insensitive dad.

I WAS SADDENED AND ANGRY

This incident occurred while on vacation. I loved vacation except for one aspect: watching fathers deal with their children.

I was sad. And I was angry.

The "interesting" thing was that when I related this observation to my daughter and son-in-law, they proceeded to share with me *their* same discouragement while they were on a recent trip to a theme park.

Their message was same:

"We had a great time. The only discouraging thing was seeing dads with their children."

I AGREE: IT'S NOT EASY

I am a father and I would be among first to declare that raising children is not an easy task.

Parts of it are rough. Real rough.

I would also be quick to admit times I have failed as a father.

But I do hope that no one has ever said this about me after observing my relationship with either my children or grand- children:

"We saw most discouraging thing today.

This guy was a jerk. The way he treated those kids was awful.

No respect. No honor.

Only demands and unrealistic expectations. I tell ya, it was sad."

WE KNOW THERE IS A BETTER WAY

Let me be quick to add: all is not bad. I have seen many loving, caring fathers throughout years. I *love* watching those types of dads relate to their children. It is one of my personal delights in life :)

With that in mind, I am offering a few simple suggestions for a better way: a better way for fathers to relate to their children than two negative examples I have shared with you.

I will center my suggestions on five themes:

1. Consideration 2. Respect 3. Humility 4. Compassion 5. Love

Two comments as I transition into my suggestions:

*You will quickly discover that this will not be a long and drawn out discussion of these themes. Enjoy.

*Many of points will be shared through using simple "affirmations" -- or descriptive comments if you please. These affirmations will help you personalize what is said. So...

We have discussed a few of "bad boy" characteristics.

Let's turn our attention to five characteristics of "good boys." That is, men who are determined *not* to be thought of as "one of those insensitive dads."

CONSIDERATION

Consideration says...

"I adjust my expectations according to needs, maturity level and emotional capabilities of child I am relating to at moment."