Selling furniture Western style

By RICK THOMAS
Couple finds perfect business location in Hayden Creek Plaza


HAYDEN — The wild wild West now includes all the comforts of home — and the look that’s made for country cabins and lodges.
North Country Traders opened Thursday with a selection of rustic decor and furniture.
“It’s North Idaho style, western lodging, Native American,” said Rick Whiteacre, who with wife Jan opened the store in the Hayden Creek Plaza across from the Prairie Shopping Center.
The couple owned a similar store in Placerville, Calif., before retiring and moving to North Idaho, but took six months off to prepare.
“We were bored, broke and fat,” he said.
They’ve concentrated on opening the new, 2,100-square-foot store — about half the size of their former business — but once it’s running smoothly and she can handle it on her own, he plans to resume building furniture in his home shop for sale at the store.
Western, early American, Shaker and Amish styles in alder, maple, hickory and poplar will be his focus. Building furniture has been part of his repertoire for the 43 years he’s been working, along with construction and motorcycle sales.
Good old-growth pine is hard to come by, he said, but he recently discovered the benefits of poplar.
“Everybody told me it’s a good, solid base wood,” he said. “It stains well, and can look like cherry, or anything you want.”
He found pine was just right to make the counter and other display areas in the store, and blended them with more modern glass and aluminum cases to show off their collection of everything from Mexican wool rugs to art, wall decor, tables and a specialty, lamps.
Computer-controlled laser-cut steel carvings adorn the pine accents on the walls, which are lined with products that come 95 percent from the Unites States, particularly the western region.
Coming in about eight weeks is a selection of Old Hickory Furniture, made from hickory saplings into tables, sofas and other items popular in many Montana lodges including Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Inn.
“They’re world famous for their rocking chairs,” Rick said.
While his own creations will be built with no custom orders offered, the Old Hickory line will be available to customer specifications.
The couple were immediately taken with the look of the new Hayden Creek Plaza with its massive stone and log theme, and knew it was the spot for their store the first time they drove by it.
“I said, ‘look at that.’ The rustic style was perfect,” he said.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The store will have a Web site, www.northcountrytradershomedecor.com, but it’s not yet up and running.
Information: 762-2315.