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Store spotlight: Bear Paw Designs
Inspired by classic cowboy tradition, Montana's Bear Paw Designs has earned national praise for the craftsmanship of its one-of-a-kind furniture pieces, from bars and buffets to desks and bookcases.
"I've always had an interest in the late 1800s and how the West was portrayed," owner Mike Roths says.
"My wife and I travel to ghost towns and study the architecture and how people lived. Then we try to incorporate that Old West style of furniture into modern living."
Woodworking has been Roths' passion since he was a teenager growing up in central Iowa.
One of his early projects was a set of basswood bear tracks, which he used to create a trail near a popular fisherman's area. The tracks made the front page of the local paper and had bear experts wondering how the creatures got into Iowa.
His stunt left Roths with the nickname "Bear Paw," and gave him the name for his company, which is operated out of a 4,500-square-foot shop in the shadow of Montana's St. Mary's Peak.
Each piece of furniture in Bear Paw Designs is unique and built-to-order from oak, walnut, cherry, and antique barn wood — nothing is mass-produced.
The process from design to completion can take six to nine months.
"I put a lot of time into drawings and designs," says Roths of his creative process. "Many times I visit the client's home, see what their lifestyle is like, and go from there. I hear '‘surprise me' a lot. It's fun when we get to do that, but it's also risky. Fortunately I haven't had to take anything back yet!"
• Info: Bear Paw Designs, 252 St. Mary's Road, Stevensville, MT, 406-777-5388, www.bearpawdesigns.com
Issue: June 2009
