Creating a Rustic Tablescape

As the weather turns colder, the season for gathering begins. Our stunning collection of expertly crafted, Northern White Cedar log dining tables features a variety of tables perfect for any rustic home. Whether you're searching for a round table for a cozy, intimate space or a large table with ample seating to accommodate a full house, we have you covered.

Rocky Top Signature Walnut Log Pub Table

Rocky Top 12 Ft. Reclaimed Wood Log Table

And just in case you need a little inspiration on creating the perfect rustic tablescape to adorn your new table, here are a few of our favorites. For more inspiration, follow our Rustic Dining board on Pinterest!

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Rustic Inspiration is a Click Away

Hey There, LogHeads!

Here at Rocky Top Log Furniture and Railing, we're passionate about rustic living. That's why we'd love to invite you to get inspired with us! Follow us on Pinterest to browse galleries of some of our favorite pieces, expertly crafted with Northern White Cedar logs and get decorating and lifestyle tips for creating a cozy, rustic home or business. Click here to get started.

Today we're featuring great rustic holiday decor projects that will look stunning with our log furniture. Which project is your favorite?

Planning the Ultimate Guest Bedroom

As the weather turns cooler, now's the time to create a warm retreat for friends and family who will gather this coming holiday season. Here are our tips for creating the ultimate guest bedroom for those near and dear:

1. Choose an unforgettable bed:
Often times people overlook the guest room and use it as a place to put cast-off furniture but it should be where you focus your best hospitality efforts. Go beyond creating a home-away-from-home feel in your guest room to make it feel like a cozy retreat from the real-world with an heirloom-quality bed. Our stunning reclaimed wood beds have plenty of character and will make guests feel they've slipped away to a rustic lodge.

2. Add texture for comfort:
Think of trips you've taken to lodges or bed and breakfasts: these places always provide you with luxurious linens and cozy throws. Invest in a beautiful, richly-hued duvet and quilt and high-quality linens to dress the bed. A woven or furry throw placed at the foot of the bed will be welcoming and useful.

Photo from Country Living

3. Provide storage:
If you don't have closet space available in your guest room, consider purchasing an armoire so your guests won't have to live out of a suitcase during their stay. Also from our collection of reclaimed wood furniture, this rustic armoire features two drawers and ample room for storing clothing, guest towels or even extra linens and blankets.

4. A place to take their shoes off:
It's a good idea to invest in a bench to place at the end of the bed so guests can set down their luggage or even sit to take off their shoes. This indoor bench from our LogHeads Grizzly collection is richly-detailed and perfect for any rustic retreat.

5. Remember the details...
Besides the basic necessities like an alarm clock, extra hangers and a hair dryer, remember to leave special items for your guests. Keep a pad of paper and pencil in a drawer near the bedside table, monogrammed soaps in the bathroom and for an extra touch of hospitality, provide your guests with a snack basket complete with a water bottle, bedtime snacks and a "Do Not Disturb" sign.

Photo by www.theprojectgirl.com

Product Spotlight: New TV Chest!

Hey, LogHeads! Are you ready for a sneak-peek at the newest product in our log furniture collection?

Our new log TV chest features four drawers with ample room for storage. Expertly crafted of Northern White Cedar that has been hand-peeled and sanded for a smooth-to-the-touch finish, the log chest boasts a classic design that will be pleasing for generations to come.

What do you think? Where would you love to put it in your house?

Log Furniture Care

Hey, LogHeads! We hope it's as lovely in your neck of the woods as it is here in Kentucky!

Yesterday we asked our friends on Facebook to share their questions about rustic home decor and log furniture and our friend, Barb of Afton, New York asked a great one that we thought we'd tackle here today. She wrote, "Is there any special upkeep for log furniture?"

This is a question we get often from first-time customers who are amazed by the organic beauty of our furniture. With its many natural characteristics and charm, it's almost as if people feel they are bringing the beauty of the outdoors in so surely, there must be something special or time-consuming that needs to be done to keep the furniture looking so full of life. But Dave McKnight, General Manager of Rocky Top Log Furniture and long-time customer, says that if the wood is finished with a clear polyurethane, upkeep of your new log furniture requires little more effort than an occasional dusting with Pledge and a clean rag.

Why is this? It's the beauty of Northern White Cedar! Ranked by the USDA as one of the most useful woods for rustic exterior building, log homes and furniture, Northern White Cedar is lightweight and resistant to decay. Not only is it useful in building, the Northern White Cedar is often used for its essential oil, which can be found in many soaps, disinfectants and room sprays. Some folks even use it's twigs to make teas that relieve headaches and other ailments. Northern White Cedar is a perfect, low-maintenance material for furniture and its durability makes for heirloom-quality pieces.

Our outdoor furniture, which is resistant to bugs or decay, can be treated with a quality UV protector to protect from damaging UV rays. "I recommend visiting your local Sherwin-Williams to consult with a professional about choosing the best stain for your outdoor furniture," says McKnight. "We've partnered with them to provide the best options for caring for your log furniture." Before you visit, be sure to pick up a discount card at Rocky Top Log Furniture and Railing so your can save 15% off your Sherwin-William's purchase!

Creating a Rustic Room for Kids

What is it about a rustic retreat that makes the worry of the world melt away? You slow down a little, savor everything more and take time to explore. Maybe it's that taking time to do those things reminds us of long summers at camp or autumns spent wrapped up in blankets by the fire? Whatever the reason, why not start the tradition with your kids early so they'll have a lifelong appreciation for rustic living? We came across this vintage-inspired, cozy sleeping porch and thought we'd show you how to recreate the look for your kids using Rocky Top Log Furniture!

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The Rocky Top Rustic Log Nightstand with Doors would be a great addition to your child's room because it combines form and function. With all of the rustic-character of the outdoors, the nightstand also boasts plenty of storage for toys and books and will withstand the toughest wear and tear.

Like the vintage metal bed featured above, our Kentucky Log Bed has a classic and simple silhouette. Built of hand-sanded, Northern White Cedar logs, the log bed is sure to be an heirloom piece.

But, then again, wouldn't a bunk bed be perfect? Our LogHeads Grizzly Cabin Log Bunk Bed with Built-In Ladder is ideal for a rustic kids' room! Just imagine all of the late-night storytelling and memories that will be made!

Rocky Top at Dollywood!

Don't you just love fall? We do, too! And fall at Dollywood (where we proudly showcase our rustic log furniture in our showroom located in the 150-acre adventure park) is a celebration you won't want to miss!

Tucked away in the picturesque Smokey Mountains of Tennessee, Dollywood boasts more than 40 rides and attractions, award-winning entertainment, talented crafters and artisans and delicious Southern-style fare that makes the whole place smell like home. If you're able, plan your visit during October when the park will host the National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration, a four-week festival of free concerts and toasts to the season. October is also the peak of color for the region's fall foliage, making it the perfect destination for a weekend road trip. While you are there, visit our second Tennessee location, and tell the folks there we sent you! For more information and tips on booking your fall retreat, visit the official Dollywood website.

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Reclaimed Wood Furniture

One of the most distinguishing features of our log furniture is the rustic, natural beauty of the wood. Each piece is different; each has its own unique knots and one-of-a-kind character. When it comes to our Reclaimed Wood Furniture, we've transformed some of our well-loved, classic styles with old, storied wood that's been made new again. There's something so romantic and, well, optimistic about these reclaimed pieces: Something that makes you believe in second-chances. When you bring a piece like this into your home, you're bringing home a little history...

What do you think? To read more about our Reclaimed series, go here.

Rocky Top Log Desks

Maybe it's the new season or even the momentum from the "back to school" rush but it seems like everyone is working hard to get organized. Often times it's our workplaces that are the most overlooked and overworked spaces in our homes. If that sounds like you, we thought we'd share some tips for creating and maintaining your home work places.

Start with a desk you love...
You desk is both the focal point and workhorse of your office so it's wise to invest in a desk that you'll love for the long-haul. Our Northern White Cedar  and Walnut log desks are not only hardworking, the wood has so much character it may inspire you to keep your desk clear.

 Deal with paper right away...
Create a system that will allow you to sort personal and professional papers so you can process everything right away. It's easier to justify putting it off if you don't have a place for the paper, which just leads to messy stacks and frustration down the road. Our Executive Walnut Log Desk combines form and function with five spacious drawers for storage.

Take advantage of small spaces...
If you are unable to devote an entire room to use as office space, look for a place you can carve out in the corner or consider converting a large closet into office space. Our Cedar Log Desk is perfect for small spaces and features a wide drawer for bonus storage.

To browse our full collection of desks, go here! Happy Organizing!

Rocky Top Log Railing

Hey, LogHeads! September is one of the busiest months for our log railing department as professional builders and even do-it-yourselfers take advantage of cooler weather to tackle big projects like building decks, porches or staircases. We featured the home of Jim and Marsha Gamin earlier this week, which boasts a stunning deck built with Rocky Top's gorgeous Northern White Cedar log railing and to get you inspired before the weekend, we thought we'd share a few more of our favorite railing projects. If you're interested in getting your project started, be it a deck, porch or staircase, check out our "Getting Started" page where you'll find great tips. When you're ready, we'd be happy to assist you in making sure everything goes smoothly!

Which project is your favorite?

Rocky Top Log Railing Reveal

Hey, LogHeads! Are you ready to be inspired? Okay, check out this STUNNING deck designed with Rocky Top Log railing!

This breathtaking home belongs to Jim and Marsha Gamin of Packwood, Washington where it is nestled in the Cascade mountains, beneath the majestic Mt. Rainier, just 22 miles from the White Pass Ski Resort. Their new deck, which measures approximately 800 square feet, gives them a beautiful panoramic view of the landscape and is the perfect place to watch elk, wild birds and bald eagles. "It's Heaven," says Marsha. "Peaceful and tranquil."

 When it came time to turn their dream-deck into a reality, the Gamins turned to Rocky Top for our premium and carefully crafted Northern White Cedar log railing. "Out of all the other websites, Rocky Top had the BEST website when we were doing our search," Marsha says. "We wanted the best product for our deck and felt Rocky Top was the perfect fit."

"Our plan came out exactly the way we expected it to and it's spectacular," she adds. "The Rocky Top team did an excellent job to ensure everything came together and we enjoyed every part of our experience from working with Keith in sales to Chad, who made sure our specifications matched the final drawing, all the way through to the delivery of the log railings. We had awesome customer service from start to finish!"

If you're inspired to build your own dream deck, Jim (who built the deck along with his grandson), suggests careful planning to ensure building codes are met. "Get your plan down on paper and measure, measure, measure!" he says. "When it came time for us to build, Rocky Top had exactly what we were looking for...the cut of the logs, shape and of course, the Northern White Cedar was exactly what we wanted. For us, Rocky Top is #1 for bringing your deck from dream to reality!"

Thanks, Jim and Marsha for sharing your home with us! We wish you many happy years there!

LogHeads, for more on our railings please go here.

Hey there, LogHeads! Just in time for your mid-afternoon slump, we thought we'd share this behind-the-scenes video that highlights some of the design and building process that takes place at our Bryantsville, Kentucky manufacturing facility. Did you know that we're a family-owned and operated business with a team of 40 people? You'll get a peek at some of our team in this video, too, and over the next several weeks we'll be introducing them as well! Pretty soon, you'll feel like one of the family. So, grab a snack, kick your feet up on your desk and take a few minutes for yourself.

Rocky Top Log Furniture Labor Day Sale!

Hey, LogHeads! Hope you've enjoyed your holiday weekend. Just a reminder to stop by our showroom today to get $200 off any three-piece bedroom set!

Rustic Fall Bedroom

Happy Saturday, Friends! How are you celebrating the holiday weekend? As much as we love summer, it's hard to hide the fact that we're looking forward to fall and all it promises. Football, sweater-weather, vibrantly-hued trees and opportunities to soak up all of the season's splendor. Just in case you've been bitten by the autumn-bug too, we thought we'd spend the next few days sharing some tips on transitioning your rustic home from summer to fall, starting with your bedroom. So, grab a cup of coffee, lay out your favorite sweater for a little inspiration and let's think fall!

For every season:
One of the greatest things about Rocky Top's expansive collection of rustic, Northern White Cedar log beds is how beautifully they carry a room from season to season, and that is so important when choosing the right furniture for your room. The bestselling Rocky Timber log bed, with its classic design and earthy, natural character, would compliment virtually any color palette and works well as the "bones" of your room on which you will build over the years.

Fall in love...with new bedding:
Okay, we've talked about how the right furniture is like the bones of a room (and as any good Southern woman will tell you, you should never underestimate good bone structure) so now we should talk about building upon the bones, or rather dressing them. The LogHeads Grizzly collection would transition easily from summer to fall by simply changing the bedding. For summer, you could  achieve a rustic look with antique quilts in cool colors then simply swap out the bedding in fall for something warm and cozy. Don't forget to incorporate throw pillows and throws to add texture!

Take a hike:
An easy (and inexpensive) way to transition your room from summer to fall is to rely on found, natural items from around your rustic home. Get creative with sticks, leaves, pine cones, walnuts and more. Create a simple display for your found items by hanging a grapevine wreath from your local crafts store over your bed. When you get home from a hike, simply arrange leaves, berries and other items in the wreath for a pretty, rustic look.

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Warm up:
The key to decorating for fall is creating warmth. An easy way to add warmth to a room is playing with lighting. Add lamps to your bedside tables with shades that meet the eye when you sit down and if you haven't done so already, consider installing a dimmer so you can manipulate the light to create a mood in the room. Candles are an inexpensive way to add warmth and also add a beautiful, earthy fragrance.

There you have it! A pretty (and simple) fall bedroom makeover. If you're feeling inspired, come visit us in the showroom on Monday and take advantage of our Labor Day sale to get $200 off any three-piece bedroom set!