Handcrafted Log Furniture Makes Mountain Woods Furniture Stand Out
By: Western Retailer July/ August 2009
written by Melissa Dressler
Manufacturing aspen and pine log furniture since 1991, Mountain Woods Furniture is known for their award-winning, rustic log furniture for the living room, dining room, bedroom and office. The company has since added a second aspen line and a new reclaimed wood line, The Wyoming Collection to its rustic furniture line-up. From humble beginnings of one person, Mountain Woods Furniture now occupies a 22,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Laramie, WY. Today, experienced and skilled craftspeople use old-fashioned building techniques to create their high-quality products. As a founding member of the Sustainable Furniture Council, owners Mike and Dee O’Connell value and incorporate sustainable practices into every aspect of their manufacturing business.
While the manufacturing of products made by Mountain Woods Furniture is very labor intensive, the results and client retention rate are worth the efforts. All of the wood for the aspen and reclaimed lines is purchased from local suppliers, which helps keep the company’s carbon footprint low. Once the wood is in-house, the aspen logs are peeled by hand with a draw blade. “We don’t have automatic peelers because it takes off too much of the character that lies just under the bark,” Dee said. “We have individuals whose jobs are to peel using the draw blade.”
From there, the wood is finely sanded and utilized for the appropriate project. “If we are doing a custom piece, or a piece that requires extra gnarly wood, the builder will choose which wood he wants for that project,” Dee added. The wood is then run through milling equipment or saws and assembled to create the specific product.
“Our product quality and shipping capabilities are what makes our company unique,” Dee said. “Being an American manufacturer of renewable wood products feels great. We take the environment into account in all of our decisions, and our retail partners enjoy the added benefits of marketing a sustainable, made in the USA brand.” In order to reduce waste from the manufacturing process, Mountain Woods Furniture invested in piping laid throughout their flooring and uses 85 percent of their wood byproducts to heat the facility. “We are always looking for ways to operate efficiently — which affects all of our bottom lines,” Dee added.
Attention to detail is another important aspect of the service and products that Mountain Woods Furniture provides. “Our customers say it is our service that makes us unique,” Dee said. “Our clients are always pleasantly surprised by our attention to detail as well as to the attention the product gets on their showroom floor. It seems to be a product that is very comforting to people — and they truly enjoy having it in their home.”
Mountain Woods Furniture supplies rustic furnishings for retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada. They also do a great deal of custom work and have created many unique items for various celebrities over the last 18 years. For more information on Mountain Woods Furniture, visit their website at www.mountainwoodsfurniture.com.
