Why is log furniture and rustic decor so popular?

By Tom Heatherington Log furniture and rustic decor in general is experiencing unprecedented popularity with the furniture buying public. Why? Can anyone explain what makes a simple log table more appealing to many of us than a finely carved mahogany table? Is it merely a matter of style or preference? To be certain, some log or rustic furniture pieces do not blend well with every decorating theme, as few of us would place a skip-peeled log chair with a Chippendale kneehole desk, but in many settings log furniture has no equal. In fact, log furniture's popularity has never been as significant as it is today. The 90's and the new century have seen monumental growth in the log furniture industry. In the traditional sense, most furniture is made from wood (which is nothing more than logs that have been "tamed"). However, log furniture is the antithesis of most conventional furniture. Traditional furniture makers favor pristine wood planks without knots or blemishes, while log furniture ...  more