Portemanteau Fireside Lodge

DO NOT buy this unless you are OK with significant cracking in your coat rack. I have ordered 2 of this coat trees. Both of them had significant cracks in them. Don't take the risk. The return process is very painful for a product that clearly has manufacturing defects. Wayfair should replace the picture on their website with the picture of the product I received so the buyer is aware of what to expect when they open the box. I am aware that this is a natural product and will contain defects. The cracking to me is unacceptable and the response from the manufacturer is horrible. It's unimaginable to me that someone would let these coat racks leave the manufacturing facility with this level of cracking/defects. I have attached pictures to illustrate the cracking of each coat rack I received. The pictures with the lighter background are the first coat rack. The pictures with the darker background is the second coat rack I received. As you can see they both have significant cracking. Below I have provided the response from the manufacturer to my inquiry about the cracking. The warehouse advised the following: Thank you for providing images of the customers concern. This is actually normal checking that all Cedar logs will have. With more humidity in the checking will decrease and the drier the air the more the checking will appear. Every Cedar log item will have this and it is normal not a defect. I've provided more information below on what checking is for your reference. “Cracks” in your Cedar item?! Don’t worry it is completely natural and should be expected in most solid wood and log furniture and will not affect the structural integrity of the furniture. Due to the innate characteristics of wood, as it seasons and dries over time, it shrinks and swells at different rates. Because the stress is unequal across the wood fibers, it splits and creates those cracks, or “checks.” Some might see a crack and question the structural integrity of the wood; however, it is actually becoming stronger as its density increases through the seasoning process (less moisture = denser). In log furniture, the checks will not surpass the center of the log and will, at times, have a secondary check. I have several pieces of cedar log furniture and none of them exhibit this kind of "checking." Small, hairline "checks" yes, but as you can see from the pictures of both pieces, the cracks are top to bottom and extend all the way to the center of the piece revealing the coat pegs in the center. This is completely contrary to their own explanation of "checking." I do question the structural integrity of something that has cracks on both side, the full length, and which go all the way to the center on both.

Solid coat rack. The only issue noticed is a crack in the wood that almost extends from top to bottom on one side. Hoping it does not eventually split in two.

Not your typical tree. Very sturdy and thick. I have it in my living room near the matching dining table. It's functional and makes a nice conversation piece.

It is so nicely done!