Jason's Log Furniture Reviews

The meaning and delivery method of mail has certainly changed in the past few years, hasn’t it?  These days, handwritten notes sent via “snail mail” are definitely in the minority.  Most people prefer the instant gratification and efficiency of electronic email, texting, or instant messaging.

Even though it’s convenient and easy to send correspondence over the airwaves, the time and thought it takes to compose and send a handwritten note is truly appreciated by a recipient.  People always seem so rushed these days, so it is considered to be quite a thoughtful sentiment to spend the time choosing a card or stationary, generate a statement, and sit down to put pen to paper and write it down.  Some may even fear that penmanship is going to become a lost art, giving way instead to the endless combinations of 1s and 0s that is the language of the computer world.

Also, who doesn’t like to receive mail?  I don’t mean the junk stuff that you get from advertising agencies who just want to scam you or take your money.  I mean, the good stuff that comes from friends and family and helps you feel like they are thinking about you.  Birthdays and holidays aside, a good old-fashioned written letter addressed to you is good for the soul (as long as it contains good news, that is).  However, for those days when there isn’t any “good” mail in the box, the sting can be reduced somewhat by pulling the junk mail out of a handsome and rugged mailbox and post combo that is the envy of the neighborhood.  The Cedar Lake Deluxe Log Mailbox Post is a strong and sturdy post that is naturally resistant to weather and insect damage.  Each of these mailbox posts is about 65” high, ensuring there is plenty of post to put below the ground.  The cedar wood also repels mildew and weakening from the onslaught that comes from being underground.  However, there is no guarantee that a snowplow doesn’t come along and break it off in the wintertime, so be sure to mark it with a red flag that waves high above the snowdrifts.  You want to make sure that both snowplow and mail drivers know where your mailbox is.  After all, you don’t want to miss one single delivery of the “good” mail that comes so infrequently these days.

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I think that we’ve probably all seen “those” commercials, even if you haven’t paid much attention to them.  A certain large group insurance company made quite a number of them, and the central theme was the ease with which even those who were completely clueless about computers could navigate the insurance giant’s website.  Neanderthal cavemen were at the center of the spoof, showing the audience how a wooden-club yielding society was still able to figure out how to use a newfangled computer to place claims and get insurance estimates.

I’m not here to talk about cavemen, insurance, or computers.  But I do want to share an experience that my family had recently.  It brings a chuckle to me when I think about it.

My husband is not very handy.  He is the first to admit it.  Around our house, if there is a home repair project that needs to be done, we usually look up the number of the nearest handyman to take care of it.  Hiring outside help is worth it to us; the job gets done and no one in our household has been stressed out by the process.  We just write a check and are thankful to the fellow that has helped us out.

However, recently every handy skill my husband possesses was called into action.  As anyone who has ordered rustic furniture from JHE’s Log Furniture Place knows, most pieces are delivered to your home requiring some degree of assembly.  This enables JHE’s to keep shipping costs down, which is a savings extended to you through the free shipping of most items.

The project at hand? To complete an outdoor seating group. You see, I recently ordered a Contoured Comfort Log Lounge Chair and matching Contoured Comfort Round Log Coffee Table.  Knowing about the required assembly, and fully aware of my present inability to put these items together because of my very large baby belly, I was pretty concerned about how my husband would handle the joining together of the chair and table pieces.  However, I pressed forward with the order and convinced myself to have confidence in what handyman skills my man does possess.

I’m happy to report that a few days after delivery and only a couple of mishaps later, the completed seating arrangement is set outside of our house and has received the compliments of the neighbors.  My husband did admit to me that he installed a few screws incorrectly and does need to go back and re-install them, but all in all it was a job well done that he was rightfully proud of.

Picturing how it all went down, I can’t help but think of those cavemen, gathered around the computer, trying to figure out how to work that darned computer thingy to make their insurance work for them.  My husband probably utilized the wisdom and maybe even the expertise of some handy guys when he put the chairs together at his workplace, but at least the chair and table arrived safely assembled at our house and he seemed none the worse for the experience.  Assembly so easy, even a caveman can do it.  It sounds a bit like a new slogan.

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Many of us have outdoor furniture situated somewhere at our place of residence.  This can consist of anything from plastic chairs to elaborate log yard swings.  No matter the material or price tag, the reason for the furniture is the same:  to have a place to sit and enjoy the outdoors.  Some of us may prefer to sit in solitude, while others plan their outdoor seating arrangement around entertaining guests and family.

I am one of the fortunate that owns a very comfortable rustic cedar log chair set.  Because they are sitting in front of our new house that sports only grass as its landscape, they look a little out of place and not quite “in sync” with the house.  However, I am not worried because I have devised a plan for coordination.

One of my first orders of business is to treat the chairs with a good outdoor all-weather stain and finish.  Because the Midwest winters are harsh and summers are quite warm and humid, this must be a product that can withstand a wide variance in elements.  I plan to use the same product to treat the deck and privacy fence that runs along the back of our yard.  In order to further the coordination, I may even drop a little split-rail fence in at the corner of the house and finish it with the same product.

Once the wood around the outside of our home is all similar, I am going to turn my attention to bringing the colors of our eventual landscaping and the exterior of the house together.  This can be done quite easily with the addition of accent cushions on the chairs.  JHE’s Log Furniture Place has several options for outdoor cushions and pillows.  However, I prefer the more economical route as I plan to change the pillows with the seasons and I like to do little hands-on projects like this myself.

The first step is to determine the size of the pillows that I desire and figure the amount of material I will need.  Then I will make a visit to the local fabric store and scout the sales for any outdoor fabric in the colors that I desire.  Don’t get locked into what you find on the racks, however.  Also consider using outdoor tablecloths, shower curtains, or any material that is water-resistant.  If you fall in love with a fabric that is easily permeable by water, take heart; it can still be used.  You will just need to make a second pillowcase using a transparent waterproof material such as a clear shower curtain, and ensure it completely encases the pillow inside.

For more information on how to cut and sew your custom cushions, I recommend you do an Internet search and I guarantee you will find more than enough instruction on how to do so.  By creating your own economical custom cushions for your rustic outdoor log furniture, you can feel better about changing the cushions out frequently or replacing them whenever you want to add a different dash of color.  Happy coordinating!

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Landscaping the area around a new home can be a very exciting undertaking.  However, it can also be a very daunting task.  The sod that surrounds our new home is beautiful, bright green and healthy.  It waves cheerily in the breeze as if to say, “Look, I’m so pretty just the way I am…you don’t need to tear me up to put flowers and plants and mulch in my place”.  The lush green carpet seems so content the way it is, I get a little sad when I think about disturbing it.

But then I look at the house.  Its appearance is so cheerless and forlorn without some colorful flowers surrounding it, giving it a personality all of its own.  The hardness of its edges is begging for some soft foliage and pretty blooms in just the right hues to relax and lessen its sharp silhouette.  Gazing at our new property, I contemplate a way to maintain the lushness of the lawn while turning the frown of our house upside down into a relaxed and comfortable smile full of character.

My plan is to incorporate a log furniture seating arrangement on some of the existing grass and surround it with a flower bed full of mulch.  As in the image above, I will place two Contoured Comfort Log Lounge chairs at an angle towards each another and situate a rustic log coffee table in between them. This will allow my husband and I, or one of us and a friend, to sit and relax and enjoy a conversation while taking in the neighborhood scenery.  I don’t have to feel so guilty about tearing up a large section of grass, and still am able to bring in some plants and flowers to brighten the exterior of our home.  I can even situate a rustic cedar garden arch behind the chairs and plant a blooming climbing vine that can inject some cheerfulness and fragrance behind the seating arrangement.  This is a solution that should make the lawn, house, and me all very happy and living in a great state of coexistence.

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Outdoor seating can be a bit of a challenge.  There are many different options available, from single chairs without arms to elaborate gliders with ornate details.  If you are shopping for log outdoor furniture, you have the choice of many different kinds of wood, including pieces with metal accents.  The options can seem nearly endless.

JHE’s Log Furniture Place offers a line of outdoor log furniture that possesses many appealing attributes:  it is affordable, durable, beautiful, and most of all, comfortable.  All of the rustic furniture pieces offered in the Contoured Comfort line are made in the USA by the family-owned company Lakeland Mills.  The wood used to construct the pieces is Northern White Cedar, which is naturally resistant to moisture and insect damage.  The engineers at Lakeland Mills have specially designed the curved and contoured seat slats to provide an exquisitely comfortable seating position.  These chairs are so comfy that you don’t even need a cushion.

This line offers much more than the standard outdoor log chair.  All of the comfort and durability you find in the Contoured Comfort Log Lounge Chair can be found in gliders, swings, loveseats, tete-a-tetes, even tables with chairs and benches.  Pieces are available in a clear finish, a honey-colored cedar stain, or unfinished so you can add a paint or stain that matches your deck, porch, or entry posts.

If you are facing a challenge when trying to decide on outdoor furniture for your cottage, look no further than JHE’s Log Furniture Place and the Contoured Comfort line.  With its variety and comfort, you can create a seating arrangement that will please even the pickiest of sitters.  Appealing price tags mean purchasing several pieces is still very affordable for your pocketbook.  Your collection of furniture may even be so comfortable that it will become a popular napping spot for your family.  Best of all, the natural durability of the cedar wood ensures your seating (and napping) arrangement will be a part of your outdoor landscape for a very long time.

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My husband and I are very excited to be new homeowners.  I found a house for us that I love very much and it’s looking like everything is going to come together and we will be able to move in soon.  It is new construction and has just recently been finished, so there have been no previous owners that have put their personal touches on it.  I can’t wait to begin decorating!  The outside of the house is just begging for some well-planned landscaping.

Any decorating venture can be very daunting when you are starting with an empty slate.  This house has a nice yard full of green sod all the way up to the foundation.  To landscape means to cut away the sod and begin a commitment to make outside improvements to the house that will both personalize it and enhance its appearance.  Even the most downtrodden of houses can come to life with proper landscaping.

This house comes with a good amount of character, charm, and good looks already.  I know that I must plan my approach carefully so as not to detract from, but rather enhance, the “bones” this house already possesses.  It is a common plan, two-story with a garage on one end.  The front profile of the house makes it look a bit unbalanced, with two stories rising in the middle, a garage on one end, and nothing on the other.  The open end definitely needs some sort of structure to balance out the house’s profile.

The Westport Arbor is the perfect way to accomplish this task.  Its rustic decor look makes it appear as though it is a natural part of the landscape, and it can be either painted to match the house or left natural to weather the way Mother Nature intended.  The cedar wood of the arbor will last a very long time, probably longer than the hardboard siding on the house.  The arch can either be turned so that it provides a gateway to the backyard, or so that those walking the sidewalk to the front door can see through to the neighbor’s house.  Finally, the flat top on this arbor is a complement to the flat roof over the garage and helps to balance the overall profile of the front of the house.

After the arbor has been secured in the ground at the front corner of the house, I will plant some clematis vines around it to soften its look somewhat.  This one called Franziska Maria will look gorgeous, and it blooms all summer. The rest of the landscape plants will be planted around it, keeping in mind to provide varied height, color, and texture among them in order to keep them interesting and provide curb appeal for all seasons.  My husband will also appreciate low maintenance perennials that require a minimum of trimming, deadheading, and overall care.

Home ownership is a very exciting venture, especially when you can start with a blank palette and add your own colors, elements, and textures.  Strive for balance and interest in your outdoor landscaping.  Combine hard-edged elements such as outdoor log furniture and soften those edges with different varieties of shrubs, flowers, and grasses.  Once you are completed, your home is truly your own and you can sit back and admire all that work with a smile and a contented sigh.

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Do you have any hard-to-buy-for people on your gift list?  I’m sure that we all have those individuals; they either have everything, don’t want anything other than what they already have, or they just go out and buy something when they need or want it.  My parents are difficult to buy gifts for.  They are people who like the simple things in life; if it’s technical or “newfangled”, they’d rather just go without it.

So, for every holiday I struggle to come up with a suitable gift for them.  One day it dawned on me that outdoor log furniture would be a perfect fit for my parents.  They love the outdoors and spend a lot of time working in the yard and on their acreage.  Log furniture is simple and rustic; there are no “bells and whistles” that accompanies the “newfangled” styles of lawn and garden furniture.

I can also picture log furniture in my parents’ backyard sanctuary.  They have planted all kinds of flowers and bushes in the yard, along with hanging bird and squirrel feeders.  The only thing they are lacking is a seating arrangement smack dab in the middle of the yard, situated so they can enjoy all the fruits of their labor up close and personal.  Can you imagine sitting in a chair with a cup of coffee and suddenly being hit in the head by a buzzing hummingbird or find a beautiful monarch butterfly landing on your hand?

When I close my eyes, I can totally visualize my mom and dad sitting in the Contoured Comfort Vis-A-Tete, surrounded by bushes and flowers.  I know this piece of log outdoor furniture would be the perfect present for them, the hard-to-buy for people on my gift list.  The beauty, durability and comfort of this set will completely impress them and I can enjoy the glow of presenting them with something they can truly enjoy forever.  They don’t speak French, but sitting in this vis-a-tete will certainly make them think they are living THE life.  The sale tag is a small price for me to pay and give my parents such contentment.

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The temperatures are heating up all over the country!  My family, caught in the bitter winter-versus-spring temps wars in the Midwest, are finally enjoying some nice, almost summer-like days.  The warming was not gradual this year, but rather has been very up-and-down.  It was even snowing in some parts of the Midwest just last week!

As the thermometer’s mercury starts to rise and stay put, all of the summer paraphernalia comes out of hiding and puts on its bright face for what some may say is the best season of the year.  Grills get uncovered and find their place of prominence on the deck, swimming pools lose their winter jackets and are filled with fresh clean water, and outdoor furniture is donned with colorful, comfortable cushions.

For some, the addition of those cushions means a yearly trip to the lawn & garden center of the local discount superstore.  While those cushions may be bright and cheery with a pleasantly low price tag to boot, purchasing an entire set of cushions for your outdoor furniture with the onset of every summer can be a pricey proposition.  Of course, if you purchase your lawn chairs and accessories from that same superstore, you might also have to throw some hardware into that purchase in order to replace some pieces that didn’t make it through the previous outdoor entertaining season.

However, if you make a little up-front splurge on some high quality outdoor log furniture from JHE’s Log Furniture Place and pony up the money for some equally durable all-weather cushions, the only spring trip you will have to make is into the garage to get the cushions out of storage and onto your outdoor log seating arrangement.  The rustic log chair and country swing can winter outdoors, and when the spring temps finally get their act together, you just need to add the cushions.  Then, the only reason to make a trip to the superstore is to get some charcoal or gas for the grill.  Bring on summertime!!

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Rustic Natural Cedar Deluxe Garden Double Glider, Model #805

What can be more enjoyable this time of year than the beauty of new spring blooms? After a long, bleak winter the bright and cheery colors of blossoms can bring quite a smile to our face. It’s a sure sign that summer is on its way and we can put the coats and sweaters away in the back corner of our closet, not to emerge until the autumn winds blow again.

Spring is a celebration. It’s like new life, every year. Baby animals are born, trees bud, grass greens, and flowers bloom. Like any celebration, we want to mark it with a party. A garden party is the perfect way to ring in the season. There is nothing like sharing a warm, sunny spring day in the midst of spring blooms with your best friends.

The Garden Double Glider by Cedar Looks is like a party in one package. With comfortable seating for four and a removable center table, it is perfect for a garden tea party. It even comes complete with a top canopy to shield you from the sun, if you so desire. Set in the midst your garden, with an arbor full of clematis blooms in the background and some planter boxes full of pansies nearby, along with a vase of freshly cut tulips on the center table, your friends will be completely impressed while they take in the scenery.

This spring, throw a garden party for your friends. Whether it’s to reminisce or to welcome the spring blooms in your flowerbed, there will be no better time spent with your loved ones. Think of how relaxing it will be, gliding away the day while chatting and sipping beverages. You will want to sit and celebrate until summer comes sliding in!

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Lakeland Mills Cedar Log Tete-A-Tete, Model # CF1119

Last year I acquired a Contoured Comfort Log Chair from JHE’s Log Furniture Place. I have been very pleased with it; from the moment it arrived at my door, it has been an easy-care chair. I unpacked it and found it fairly easy to assemble. Proud of my fully constructed chair, I set it in an honored position on our covered front porch. It had the corner all to itself, receiving a fair amount of afternoon sunshine, and I arranged some potted plants and a footstool around it.

This chair arrived without any finish on it, and I chose to leave it in its natural state. This year I want to add a mate for it. The only problem is my one-year-old chair, even though it has been somewhat sheltered under a roof and close to our house, has started the natural graying that is part of the cedar wood’s aging process. A bright shiny new chair would not look the same as my original one, given the difference in Mother Nature’s weathering effects.

However, I have discovered the fountain of youth for outdoor log furniture that has not had a finish applied to it. Make a solution of baking soda and water and soak the weathered chair down with it. Let that solution soak in for a few minutes, then use a power sprayer to wash the weathering right off the chair. Be careful not to take too much of the outer covering of the wood off, just enough to get rid of the gray. (If only it were that easy with human hair!)

Once the chair is dry, it should look much closer to what it appeared when it was brand new. You can choose to apply a finish or allow Mother Nature to take over and weather all of your pieces at the same rate. If you repeat this process a number of times, remember that the fountain of youth is a wonderful thing but you cannot cheat Mother Nature too many times before you compromise the integrity of the wood. In lieu of constant pressure washing, a good quality clear finish is the best way to protect your chair, swing, or bench and keep it looking brand new.

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