Rustic. Comfortable. A perfect fit at Miller’s Rustic Furniture
By Mark Weaver
Settling into a hefty man-sized log frame rocker on the front porch of Miller’s Rustic Furniture is a little like bumping into a weathered old cowboy outside the general store. Just when you’re expecting something rough and abrasive, the cowboy tips his hat, and with a slight bow steps back and holds the door for a lady. Like the cowboy, this furniture may have a rough look, but it has a gentle, comfortable manner.
“The number one thing for us is to have rustic furniture that’s comfortable,” said owner Joe Miller. It’s been a few years since he and his wife, Miriam, opened their store. It’s that distinctive combination of a rugged look and a comfortable seat that makes the furniture at Miller’s Rustic Furniture stand out from the crowd of wood furniture stores. Located just down the hill from the tiny village of Saltillo in Holmes County, this simple store is perched at the edge of the Miller homestead. Its rambling front porch is crowded with chairs, swings, and tables, all looking like it would be right at home in front of a log cabin in the mountains.
Most of the store’s outdoor furniture is made with hickory and red cedar. The porch swings, chairs, rockers and tables have a massive, solid construction designed to withstand decades of weather and hard use. It’s enough to give a log cabin feel to the front porch of even a simple structure. But comfort remains a priority. Miller explained, “On all our log outdoor furniture, we use curved slats for the seats instead of straight slats like most outdoor furniture would.” The smooth finish on all the components adds to the comfort.
Inside the store, their version of the classic hickory rocker is featured. Made with an upholstered seat and a fabric back, these chairs are really made for relaxing, and probably napping too. “An ordinary hickory rocker is comfortable if it’s made right,” said Miller. “But there’s nothing like a padded seat.” The fabric on the seat and the back can be anything the customer chooses. There’s an array of dining room tables and chairs, as well as bar stools, with and without backs, all with the distinct look only found at Miller’s Rustic Furniture. The rugged log frame combined with comfortably shaped seats and backs, and a smooth durable finish, makes this furniture a perfect fit for a cabin, or an excellent means of bringing the rustic look to any home, all without sacrificing comfort.
The hickory log frame bed looks right at home under a mounted trophy elk. The entire bedroom suite is a blend of a rough hickory frame with smooth tops and drawers. The indoor furniture is typically made of hickory, pine, and some rustic cherry. Big bar stools would sit comfortably in a beautiful kitchen or withstand use and abuse in a hunting cabin. Dining room tables with rustic cherry tops are surrounded with uniquely rugged and comfortable chairs.
There are a variety of truly one-of-a-kind end tables and coffee tables. With a solid wood top cut in a single piece from a massive log, these tables have no legs, but instead a base constructed of old tree roots that have been weathered for maybe a century or more. No two are alike, and they fit perfectly in this unusual store.
New to the store is a line of upholstered living room furniture, made with the distinctive look of the hickory log frame. It’s a perfect complement to the log bed and rustic dining room furniture, but without sacrificing comfort. A platform rocker and matching footstool makes a perfect pair. The deacon’s bench and hall tree would furnish a foyer beautifully.
“We started with just log furniture,” said Miller. “But then we added hickory, and we really just look for anything unusual. We come up with a lot of our new designs.” With those designs in hand, Miller visits one of his local furniture craftsmen, and works with him to create the piece he envisioned. Miller and his wife are adding smaller pieces such as magazine racks, floor and table lamps, end tables and coffee tables and other small stands. These are easily loaded in the back of a car or minivan for the customers who want to take it home right away. Shipping can be arranged for any larger items.
On the wall is an array of metal art designed as welcome signs, candleholders, coat hooks, or wall décor. Like most things at Miller’s, this art can be custom made, using the homeowners name in a sign, or a favorite scene or animal as inspiration for a silhouette. With the same equipment, they can provide a custom design in a wood plaque as well.
It’s a rare furniture store where a full-size black bear trophy guards the store from a ledge in the rafters. But there’s a lot about Miller’s Rustic Furniture that’s unique, and with this unusual array of rustic and comfortable furniture, it’s not surprising to find something unusual tucked away in any corner, even in the rafters.
