Amish furniture creators have ensured that we can enjoy solid wood Cabin or Lodge designs that will be enjoyed for generations. Furniture for your personal lodge is crafted by the Amish in cabin friendly organic oaks, cherry, maple, hickory and walnut with a variety of stains.

While typically replicating nature and landscapes cabin style ranges anywhere from a rustic shack interior to the grand lodges of the Adirondacks. The common threads that run through these Rustic Cabin Adirondack Lodge looks are true hardwoods, imagination, simplicity, naturally organic, relaxing, comforting, comfortable, welcoming and timelessness.

By studying nature and pre-existing themes in cabin interiors you can easily recreate the lodge look inside your home with or without the timber and chinking on the outside. No matter where the cabin is in North America there are common subject matter used as accessories:

Wood- trees, twigs, logs, birch, pine, solid woods- these are used in furniture and as trim on things like picture frames, vases, bowls, baskets or accessories

Animals- from moose on land to fish in water to birds in the air- what is nature without wild animals

Tools and Sports- The tools and sporting equipment of the region you are emulating displayed as conversation starters

Although cabins and lodges are found from the top of North America to the bottom each region has its own flavor. Even if you do not live in the geographical area you can create the feel by understanding each of their environments and their history. Here are few themes to get started with:

Native American- all across North America various tribes resided and incorporating the art of the people who truly knew the land it makes for environmentally interest impact in design. This theme can be incorporated with any of the cabins but especially Southwestern

Southwest- If you love the Southwest cabins then here is the opportunity to incorporate clay and Mexican potteries, cowboy memorabilia and leather works like saddles and tack or fringes and suede. Wagon wheels and branding irons bring in the outdoors but set up the Wild West Bunkhouse Lodge theme

Pacific Northwest- Buffalo plaids and lumberjack items bring the logging camps cabin home. Fishing themes work well here on the coast by incorporating poles and creels as décor items

Great Lakes- Quilts and loons, snow themes and pine trees indoors. This cabin allows an excused year round Christmas tree in the living area. Fishing is a theme here near the Great Lakes

New England- Maple sugaring buckets or firkins speaks to the theme of the New England cabin along with the beloved blueberry motifs. Handmade quilts alongside Shaker furniture fits well in these cabins

Adirondack- This upstate New York design began here over a century ago. The idea of the grand lodge and camping retreats was inspired and advocated by the rich and famous such as Teddy Roosevelt. This home must have the famed Adirondack chair somewhere.

No matter if your home is an environment of “roughing it” rustic or chic lodge the Amish hardwoods will endure many years of friends and family

Where and How to Hang Your Wall Art – Part 2

Just like Amish furniture your Amish quilt is meant to be an heirloom that lasts generations if properly cared for. In order to ensure the value of your tapestry quilt will be maintained there are a few simple tips. Select a focal point in your home, perhaps above an Amish crafted couch or buffet. An Amish quilt hung on a wall makes an excellent and colorful headboard choice. Remember, select a spot that will not receive too much sunlight, in order to prevent fading.

No Amish textile should ever be hung with rings because of the weight being unevenly distributed. Much like an old shower curtain, rings can cause sags, creases and tears. Carpet tack strips should never be used because the very sharp edges cut the fibers and eventually rust. Adhesives should never be used when mounting textiles because of future conservation issues with the glue. Metal rods or any metal coming in contact with your Amish quilt should be sealed to prevent rusting. Wood bases or strips should also be painted if they are to touch the textile because of acid deterioration when touching the fabric. Everything touching the textile should be made of acid-free materials.

A very cost effective and simple display option, if you are handy with a needle and thread, is to stitch on casings. These casings made of heavy cotton, linen, or even cotton twill rug binding can be hand sewn across the top of the back and a metal rod slightly shorter than the width of the Amish quilt can then be inserted in the casing. You can hang from two slightly angled nails or two screws in the wall or alternately, the quilt can be suspended from the ceiling via its rod hanging from above with monofilaments. Favored by many museum conservators, a strip of Velcro is hand-sewn to the top back of the textile and the fabric is simply pressed into place. Stitching will not damage and in fact, by distributing the weight evenly across the width of the piece, the casing-and-rod or Velcro methods are the gentlest ways of hanging a quilt. Rigid mountings can be accomplished by mounting on stretchers and even framed. For smaller pieces fabric-covered archival quality foam core board makes an excellent base for your Amish lap quilt or baby quilt.

Now that you have it prepared for hanging it is important to know how to hang. Finding the studs is important for support, especially with heavy quilts. If you are suspending from monofilament, find the ceiling supports. Your tapestry should be a small distance from the wall to help prevent mildew from building up on your wall hanging. Summers humidity, even in air conditioning, can cause mold and weaken fibers, so use preventative measures with quilts just as you would to protect your Amish hardwood furniture.