Most Canadian makers can adjust height, width, and depth. Here's what custom sizing actually means, what it costs, and exactly how to ask for it — including the cottage doorway problem nobody warns you about.
When people say they want "custom log furniture," they usually mean one of two very different things. Understanding which one you're asking for will save you time and money.
Size customization means adjusting the standard dimensions — making a dining table taller, a bed frame slightly narrower, or a sofa shorter to fit a low-ceilinged cottage. Most Canadian log furniture makers offer this as a routine part of their ordering process. You're still getting the same design, the same construction method, and the same wood species. The maker adjusts the cut lengths accordingly. This is common, affordable, and usually adds 4–8 weeks to production time.
Full custom design means something different: a piece built from a specific log or set of logs, often with a design that exists nowhere else. A maker might source a particular cedar slab with a natural edge, or build a headboard around a Y-shaped birch fork they've had in their yard. This is rarer, more expensive, and requires an ongoing conversation with the maker rather than a simple order form adjustment. Lead times can stretch to 20+ weeks.
For most Canadian buyers — especially those furnishing a cottage or cabin — size customization is what they actually need. The good news is that virtually every reputable Canadian maker handles it. The question is just how you ask, and what information you need to have ready.
Height is by far the most frequently requested customization for log furniture, and it comes up in two different directions.
Taller-than-standard is the more common ask. Standard dining table height in Canada is around 30 inches. For a couple where one person is 6'3", that can feel cramped after a long meal. Log furniture makers can build dining tables at 32–34 inches without any structural compromise — you just need to pair them with appropriately-sized chairs (bar stools don't work; look for taller dining chairs in the 20–22 inch seat height range).
Chair seat height is another common adjustment. Standard seat height is around 17–18 inches. People with long legs or back problems often prefer 19–20 inches. Shorter users, kids, or elderly guests sometimes want 16 inches. This is a simple adjustment for a log furniture builder — it changes how much leg material is cut, nothing more.
Shorter-than-standard requests come up for cottage lofts, basement rooms with low ceilings, and platform bed setups. A log bed frame that's too tall can make climbing in and out genuinely awkward if your mattress adds another 12–14 inches. Specifying a lower overall frame height (or removing a decorative top rail) is usually a $0–$75 adjustment.
Typical upcharge for height customization: $50–$200 depending on the piece and how far from standard the adjustment is. Some makers include modest adjustments (±2 inches) in their base pricing. Always ask before assuming it's included.
Here's the problem nobody thinks about until the delivery truck is in the driveway: a 10-foot log sofa does not fit through a standard cottage door, around a tight staircase corner, or down a narrow hallway. In a purpose-built house with wide doorways and a straight entry, you might manage. In a 1970s Ontario cottage with a 28-inch door and a right-angle turn from the porch? You won't.
The solution is sectional or modular construction. Many Canadian log furniture makers will build a large sofa or sectional in two or three pieces that bolt together on-site. The individual sections are manageable — usually 4–6 feet long, 100–160 lbs each — and can be carried by two people through normal doorways. The connection points are typically hidden by cushions or built into the back frame design so the seams don't show.
Modular log shelving units, entertainment centres, and bed frames all face the same problem. A king-size log headboard built as a single piece can be 82 inches wide and weigh 120–200 lbs. Built as two panels that pin together, the same headboard ships in two manageable pieces.
Not all makers offer this by default. You need to ask explicitly: "Can this be built in sections for delivery to a cottage with standard 32-inch interior doors?" A maker who has done it before will know exactly what you mean and can tell you whether the design accommodates it. One who never has may not realize the issue exists.
Standard interior door width in Canadian homes is 32 inches (some older homes are 28–30 inches). Standard exterior door is 36 inches. These numbers should be the first thing you measure before ordering any large log furniture piece.
What to measure and record before contacting a maker:
When you contact a maker, have these numbers ready. A good Canadian maker will ask for them anyway before confirming a large order. If they don't ask, volunteer the information — it protects both of you.
Knockdown construction is the most extreme version of this solution. A knockdown piece is designed to be fully disassembled for delivery and reassembled on-site using bolts and connectors. It's more expensive to engineer (add 15–25% to the piece price), but it can get furniture into literally any space a person can fit into. Some very large dining tables and bed frames are built this way as standard practice. Ask specifically if this is how a piece ships.
| Measurement | Standard Canadian Minimum | What to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Interior door clear width | 30" (older homes) / 32" (standard) | Subtract 2–3" from door slab width for trim |
| Exterior/front door | 34–36" | Often tighter than you remember |
| Hallway width | 36" minimum in most builds | Corner turns are harder than straight carries |
| Staircase width | 36" clear (Building Code minimum) | Ceiling above stairs limits vertical angle |
Dimensions aren't just a room-fit concern — they directly affect freight shipping cost across Canada. Log furniture always ships LTL (less-than-truckload) freight, and LTL carriers charge based on a combination of weight and dimensional weight (length × width × height ÷ a divisor). A sofa that ships as one 108-inch piece versus two 54-inch sections can fall into a completely different pricing tier.
This matters especially for buyers in Eastern Canada ordering from BC or Alberta makers (and vice versa). A cross-country freight shipment on a large piece can run $400–$900 one-way. If the piece can be shipped in two manageable sections rather than one oversized single piece, the freight class may drop and the cost with it.
Remote cottage delivery adds another layer. Many LTL freight carriers will deliver to a civic address in a rural township but won't go down a private lane, a logging road, or a seasonal access road. Some carriers won't deliver north of a certain latitude at all during winter. If your cottage is in Muskoka, the Kawarthas, the Laurentians, or anywhere in Northern Ontario/BC/Quebec, ask your maker what delivery options they've used successfully for similar addresses. Some makers have working relationships with regional carriers who know cottage country.
White glove delivery — where movers bring the piece inside, place it, and remove packaging — is available in most major Canadian cities but is patchy in cottage country. If you need it, ask the maker explicitly before ordering, and get the carrier name so you can confirm coverage for your address. Don't assume it's available just because the maker offers it as an option.
The single biggest mistake buyers make when requesting custom sizing is being vague. "A little taller" is not useful. "32 inches from floor to tabletop" is. Makers work in exact measurements, and if you don't give them a number, they'll give you their closest standard and call it custom.
Here's what a good custom sizing request looks like:
"I'm interested in the Aspen Dining Table. Standard is 30" height. I need 32" height for a tall dining set. Room dimensions are 14' × 12'. My doorway clear width is 31". Can this be built at 32" height? Can the table be built at 88" length instead of 96" to ensure it fits through the door? What's the upcharge and lead time?"
A few practical notes on working with Canadian makers:
The Canadian log furniture market is mostly small shops — often one to three craftspeople. That's actually an advantage when it comes to custom sizing. You're talking to the person who will build your piece, not a call centre. Be specific, be patient, and you'll usually get exactly what you need.
Also worth reading: How Log Furniture Delivery Works in Canada — what to expect from freight shipping, white glove service, and remote cottage delivery.