Rustic Resolutions

January is almost over but today, some of our friends on Facebook got to chatting about our "rustic home resolutions" for 2013. We wanted to know what room they'd transform with a rustic re-do if they were given the opportunity. We had a lot of votes for a rustic and romantic bedroom makeover or a family dining area that would be perfect for big gatherings throughout the year. One thing we were reminded of was how fortunate we are here at Rocky Top to get to build great pieces of furniture that are at the center of so many wonderful memories for your families and friends!

So, tell us, friends! Which room would you take your rustic re-do if you could get one?

Rocky Top Log Furniture Finishing

Hey, Logheads! Hope you all are staying warm out there! It's down right cold here in Kentucky but we're still at it, building lots of great log furniture and getting read for our biggest year ever! We've had a lot of questions lately about our finishing process so today, we thought we'd share some details with you to answer some of our most-asked questions.

The professional Rocky Top finish brings out the natural wood tones of each piece of indoor furniture and railing. Every knothole, every wood grain, every nuance shines to perfection.Some customers prefer to highlight the natural wood grain of their indoor furniture with a clear finish. For those people, Rocky Top offers a four-step professional-grade finish. The process involves sanding each part of the furniture four times with a fine grade, 300-grit sandpaper and applying a primer, two coats of lacquer and finally a sealer. It’s a lengthy process but the result is a beautiful finish that’s guaranteed to last for years.

The beauty and durability of the Rocky Top finish make it perfect for both high traffic, high-use pieces, as well as showcase pieces that will draw attention. It’s a hand finish with professional strength.

For more information, don't hesitate to give us a call! We're happy to answer your questions!
                                                                                                                                                                         

Versatility of Our Log Armoire

One of the hardest-working and most versatile pieces of log furniture in our collection is our log armoire. With a short and tall option for our log armoires, they provide ample storage and endless possibilities. Our customers have used their armoires for far more than storing quilts and extra blankets! Here are just a few creative ways we've seen our log armoires used:


Freestanding Pantry:

If you don't have a pantry in your home or cabin, you know how frustrating it is to use valuable cabinet space for food storage and bringing in a team to construct one can be costly and time consuming. Our Lodge Tall Log Armoire is a perfect solution! Beautifully-crafted with Northern White Cedar logs, it is both stunning in design and high-functioning.

 This armoire featured in Martha Stewart magazine is great inspiration for your rustic kitchen pantry!

Nursery Storage:

Take a note from Ashley, author of the blog Edge Designs, who used an armoire as the ultimate storage for baby essentials in her nursery. Our rustic, log armoire will last a lifetime for your child!

With a few accessories, our log armoire could be the perfect solution for nursery storage!

Hidden Office Space:

This armoire-turned-office featured in Better Homes and Gardens is a great example of how our log armoire could work for you. We love this idea especially for rental homes because it gives your guests office space that can be hidden easily behind closed doors.

A hidden office, as seen in Better Homes and Gardens

More Creative Uses:
-Create a fully-stocked coffee bar in your guest or master bedroom
-Create a craft closet
-Use it as a linen closet to store towels and extra bedding

Rustic Baby

Hey, LogHeads! Hope you're staying warm! Here at Rocky Top, we're all getting our snuggles in with the newest (and littlest) member of the family...

Thankfully, Stef, who has worked in Human Resources since last March, is happy to share her baby-love with us! With several other babies ready to join the Rocky Top family in the coming months, we've been searching the web for creative ways to celebrate these sweet babies, Rocky Top-style. Here are some of our favorite, rustic gifts and themes for baby showers. Don't forget to follow us on Pinterest for more tips and inspiration!

The Perfect, Rustic Heirloom:
If you're looking for a truly memorable gift to celebrate the birth of a new little one, look no further than our beautifully-crafted log rocking chairs. These heirloom-quality rockers will withstand many long nights and of course, those rough and tumble toddler years!

Fabulous Flannel Mommas:
We love this rustic chic baby shower by Jesi Haack Designs, from the adorable log cake down to the flannel-flare for the momma-to-be.

Rustic Mobile
We're pretty sweet on this rustic mobile, which features an assortment of charming woodland creatures.

 Are you planning a rustic baby shower or creating a rustic nursery? Tell us about it!

Tips for Furnishing Your Rental Home

From day one, we've prided ourselves on working closely with our customers to build them long-lasting furniture that is both beautiful and high-functioning. That's why for years, owners of rental and vacation homes have turned to us to help them furnish their properties. Our rustic, log furniture is expertly crafted of the highest quality wood and other than requiring a dusting here and there, takes virtually no effort to maintain. If you're interested in furnishing your rental home, here are a few things you should consider:

Provide plenty of storage space:
Make your guests feel at home by offering a place for them to unpack their belongings. Our entertainment dressers are a perfect choice for renters who want to make the most of space in a small bedroom. Our Log Cabin Entertainment dresser doubles as a place to display a TV while creating ample storage space for clothes.

Create gathering places:
When furnishing your rental home, you should always consider where people will gather in each room and even outside. Arrange the furniture so it is warm and inviting and look for opportunities to transform unused space into a cozy place for a quiet conversation.

Try out the beds:
It may sound odd but you should make it a point to sleep a night in each bed in your rental home!

Create a special (and sturdy) place for kids:
Though you should steer clear of breakable trinkets and decor throughout the house as a precaution against busy (and curious) kids, it's also a great idea to create a space made for a rowdier crowd. Our log bunk beds are always up to the challenge!

Photo Friday!

For our first Photo Friday, we thought we'd share one of our favorites! Here's Duncan and Rocky Top founder, Tommy, unloading one of our beautifully-crafted log chests. Send us photos of your Rocky Top furniture or railing and you could be featured here next week!

Answers to Our Most-Asked Questions!

One of the greatest points of pride for our Rocky Top family members is the fact that our beautifully-crafted log furniture can be found in homes and businesses from coasts to coasts. For a business that literally started in a garage, that is an accomplishment bigger than anything we could have dreamed! We are deeply grateful for our friends in far places who can't shop one of our showrooms but still reach out to us for help in furnishing their rustic home or business. If you have browsed our online log furniture galleries and have questions, we hope that you'll call and talk to one of our team members. In the meantime, here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions!

 

1. How durable is Rocky Top's Log Furniture?

 

 

All of our furniture is made using mortise and tenon construction, which simply means that all of the joints are attached by inserting a 2" tenon into the upright. This is a very trusted and traditional method that has been utilized across the world for centuries. In addition, we use top-of-the-line sliders in all of our drawer assemblies. Consequently, the drawers have a 75 pound test capacity and the result is an extremely smooth drawer pull.

 

2. What is checking?

 

 

"Checking" is a natural process that occurs in all cedar logs as they dry. As the wood releases moisture, small surface cracks can result. This "checking" in no way affects the integrity or durability of the wood, and only serves to add a unique quality to each piece of furniture. It also serves to preserve the wood longer, as moisture retention promotes rotting and decay (a common characteristic of pine). Although most call this process "checking", we call it "character".

3. Will my furniture be hard to assemble?

 

In many cases, there will be no assembly required with our products. For the ones that do, Rocky Top provides detailed, step-by-step instructions. In addition, all hardware that is needed (i.e. screws, washers, etc.) will also be provided in order to make assembly as easy as possible.

 

 

4. Do your log beds utilize metal frames? 

 

 

Absolutely not! All of our log beds are built entirely of cedar, including the frame. We feel that this not only enhances the appearance of the bed, but also preserves it from the costly wear and tear of a metal frame.

 

5. What are your terms and agreements for purchases of log furniture and/or log railing? 

 

Rocky Top offers a lifetime manufacturer's warranty on the construction of our furniture. We will replace any part that fails due to faulty materials or workmanship. We do not warrant products that have been modified or repaired in any way by the consumer or anyone other than the manufacturer. Abuse, neglect or improper assembly will also deem the warranty invalid. Due to the fact that all of our furniture and railing is custom made to order, all sales are final. Please be sure to inspect all furniture and railing upon delivery before signing for it. Rocky Top will not be held responsible for any damages that are not noted at the time of delivery.

 

6. Should I finish my cedar log furniture or railing? 

 

 

 

The choice is left up to you. Many of our customers enjoy the natural look of our Northern White Cedar furniture. However, should you decide to finish your furniture we recommend water based products. Outdoor products, if left unfinished, will weather to a smoky grey color (should you decide to finish your outdoor furniture we recommend a finish with a UV protectant). Rocky Top does offer a finish for all indoor furniture, most are already included in the price of the item. The finish is a catalyst, industrial type (with a low sheen) that cannot be bought in stores. Your furniture will go through an intense 4 stage finishing process, and the result will protect your furniture and enhance its natural grains.

Please contact us for a quote on finishing your furniture.

Game Day Entertaining with Rocky Top

With Super Bowl XLVII on the horizon, we thought we'd share some of our favorite game day essentials, our power-house log entertainment centers. Stunning in design, these entertainment centers are built to last and withstand even the rowdiest of game day parties. Our log entertainment centers and log tv stands offer numerous options for storage and presentation. Our larger entertainment centers feature adjustable shelves and swinging doors. The 2, 3 and 4 drawer options offer ample storage for a DVD player as well and photos or decor. Each is also available in a wide variety of texture and color options. If you're looking for something more rustic and gnarly, our Logheads rustic entertainments will fit the bill! Shop the entire collection here!

Three Drawer Log Entertainment System

LogHeads Rustic Entertainment System

Log Boot Benches: The Rustic Mudroom Must-Have

Rustic style is all about embracing the beauty of nature and bringing the outdoors in but let's be honest, we don't want to bring it all in, right? And with all of the mud, snow and dirty salt that gets tracked into our homes during the winter season, it goes without saying that a mudroom is one of the hardest-working and most deserving of attention rooms! Here are some tips on preparing your mudroom for the winter season:

We were "pin-spired" by this photo we found on Pinterest! (Photo source.)

 1. Choose a sturdy, timeless bench.

Rocky Top offers a wide variety of indoor log benches in both cedar and rustic looks. Each bench features time-honored mortise and tenon construction, and a natural aromatic scent. Each top is sanded smooth the the touch, making for a splinter free surface. Choose from multiple log bench options, perfect for any room in the house. 

LogHeads Grizzly Rough Sawn Log Boot Bench

2. Create a space to store essentials.

Our short log armoire won't overwhelm a small space but provides lots of storage for hats, coats, gloves and more. Each cedar armoire features extra smooth drawer slides and solid wood construction.

Cabin Short Log Armoire

 3. Get hardworking tools for your hardworking mudroom!

From hooks to baskets, there are a variety of small but useful essentials you'll need in your mudroom. Here's a list of a few:

-Consider keeping a small water cooler in the mudroom so kids don't have to come all the way inside for a drink of water if they are playing in the snow.
-Install plenty of hooks to everything from coats to the dog's leash.
-Create a place to store wet umbrellas.
-Purchase a boot tray to store wet boots.
-Keep a ready pile of towels to dry wet hair or clothing.
-Create a space for extra firewood so you won't have to leave the house during the night.



Do you have a mudroom? How do you keep it organized?

New Year's Resolution: Get Organized!

We're only a week into the new year so if you haven't gotten a running start on your resolution to get more organized, Rocky Top can help! Whether you're looking for more storage for your bedroom, a way to manage a busy family room or the perfect desk to tame your cluttered office, we've got you covered! Here are just a few high-functioning pieces that will tame your rustic home:

Bedroom Storage Dilemmas:
Our Walnut Log Mission Dresser features six, sturdy drawers with ample space and double doors that hide addition storage in the center of the dresser. The artfully-crafted dresser is made of stunning, Eastern Black Walnut and is sure to be a treasured piece for generations to come.

Family or Entertainment Room Storage Dilemmas:

Our 70 Inch Entertainment Dresser features eight side drawers with three more hidden behind attractive doors. The generously-sized dresser is crafted of Northern White Cedar logs, which have been hand-peeled and sanded to be smooth to the touch. This piece is sturdy enough to endure lots of wear and tear in a high-energy family room.

Office Storage Dilemmas:

Our Executive Walnut Desk brings beauty and utility to your workspace with it's stunning craftsmanship and natural character. The desk features two over-sized drawers for larger office supplies or files, two medium-sized drawers and a long, thin drawer. It's spacious top provides plenty of workspace.

 What are your style resolutions for your home?