"Anyone who spends time in the Adirondacks can see that dainty antiques and delicate fabrics don't fit in with the rugged trees, bark, and stone that make up the region and the style named after it," Adirondack designer Barbera Dwyer said. She is talking about the furniture and architecture named for our region, which has been popular ever since the early 1900s. From chairs to caskets, the Adirondacks have been a source of inspiration for many designers.

"Adirondack style is simplistic, but is totally unique and I try to capture that," Dwyer said.

"Adirondack style is simplistic, but is totally unique and I try to capture that," Dwyer said.

The style, inspired by the wild forests of the Adirondacks, was not always popular. Prior to 1830, little was known about the Adirondacks. However, after it was explored, it began to attract people who wanted to get back to nature.

Thomas Lee designed the first Adirondack chair in 1903 for his home in Westport, New York. This chair, with its sloped back, inclined seat, and wide arms, caught on. By 1910, Adirondack style was recognized nationally.

The Adirondack style building blocks need to be resistant to the elements, while simultaneously harmonizing with nature. Native materials and the incorporation of natural curves and knots accomplish this. Stick furniture, root and burl, mosaic twig, applied bark, peeled pole and branch, black forest, bentwood, and mission are the types of Adirondack furniture author Craig Gilborn describes in his book Adirondack Furniture and the Rustic Tradition.

Stick furniture is built from specifically selected sticks that are either bound together with nails, wedged, or strung.

Root and burl uses roots from trees and shrubs polished with beeswax, linseed oil, and mineral sprits to bring out their grain pattern.

Mosaic twigs are "bark on twig" creations made from wood harvested in the winter so the bark doesn't fall off. Twigs are selected for tone and straightness. Then they are seasoned for a few months, cut in half, and assembled bark side up.

Applied bark is a technique that traces back to Native American canoes and shelters. Bark is applied to a piece of furniture, often to create scenes.

Black forest pieces typically have a basic form, cut from the trunk of a tree and left to dry for months before the detail is carved.

Bentwood is the free flowing weaving of branches. The tension of the weave holds everything together.

Mission style was made popular because of its simplicity and emphasis on function, raw beauty, and craftsmanship.

Dwyer's said her Adirondack-inspired caskets don't include all these different styles. However, she does design her pieces to use the inherent shapes of locally harvested wood. She points out that many homes in the Adirondacks, while including modern luxuries and conveniences, still have furniture with rustic qualities.

Do you like Adirondack chairs? Let us know!