Steve Bowers is a rustic furniture maker in Keene Valley. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Black Friday is when people surge out to malls, local stores or online looking for shopping deals. Not all values can be measured by their cost. Another is getting a product that will last a lifetime, perhaps several lifetimes.

Steve Bowers, of Bald Mountain Rustics in Keene Valley, creates products that fit that mold. He is a craftsman who specializes in rustic furniture that often includes tree roots in the design and structure. He makes artifacts for the ages like guideboat maker Chris Woodward of Saranac Lake and luthier Eric Bright of Schroon Lake, known for his handcrafted guitars.

Bowers didn’t start to be a rustic furniture maker. It’s his third or fourth career, one that he picked up late inspired by visits to the annual Rustic Furniture Fair organized by the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake (Adirondack Experience). Born in Maryland, he spent his formative years near Charleston, South Carolina. His first career was owning a landscaping company that quickly evolved into a large garden center as the population around Charleston exploded. By the time he was in his early 30s, he had more than 60 employees and was feeling burned out.

“It was a nightmare,” said Bowers. “I promoted myself to my level of incompetence. I decided I’d better get out.”

His first wife was working for an environmental consulting company doing work like asbestos removal. They trained him on selling the equipment, which led to his taking a job in marketing and sales for a much larger New Jersey-based company.

Rustic table made by Steve Bowers of Keene Valley. (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

“My wife and I started vacationing in Blue Mountain Lake back in ’96 or ’97’,” said Bowers. “The first time we did it, we arrived on Rustic Furniture weekend. We enjoyed the experience and decided to make that week our annual vacation. We also liked kayaking, and stuff like that, so we started looking for Blue Mountain Lake property. By accident, we decided to visit Lake Placid to get stocked with groceries at Price Chopper and returned via Keene Valley.”

They saw a house with a for-sale sign on their way through and, returning the following weekend, bought it.

“Without having spent a night in the hamlet before, we found ourselves moving to Keene Valley,” he said. “It was kind of meant to be.”

Back in New Jersey, Bowers shifted from selling environmental equipment to working as a consultant that helped turnaround failing businesses, work that he could do from Keene Valley part of the time. In his free moments, he started collecting branches and trying his hand at making rustic furniture. His wife found work in the area that included benefits, so Bowers decided to begin his fourth career as a rustic furniture maker. He credits other well-established rustic furniture makers like Barry Gregson of Schroon Lake for providing encouragement and technical advice as he perfected his craft.

“Back then, most of the guys at the Rustic Furniture Fair were my idols,” he said. “Now I know them all very well. When I first got into it, there were maybe twenty very good cabinet makers. Their numbers have diminished because rustic furniture is not as popular as it used to be, and the market has changed completely. Many wealthy people who invested in rustic furniture don’t need them anymore; their houses are full. You have to constantly look for new people who have just moved here — to anywhere in the Adirondacks as word spreads if you have a good reputation.”

Bowers does. He has always been good at research and enhancing his skills. As part of that, he’s well versed in the history and regional trends of rustic furniture and what sets Adirondack rustic apart.

“There are three or four different types of rustic furniture,” he said. “One I call cowboy rustic. It’s like lodge pole pine and big chunky stuff. In the South, where I’m from, it’s mostly bent willow and mountain laurel roots; the branches are very gnarly. Old hickory is another style found over the mountains in Kentucky and Indiana. Adirondack rustic is more creative and into detail than the other styles.”

Bowers credits books by Ralph Kylloe as helping drive and educate people about the Adirondack rustic style coupled with the Rustic Furniture Fair founded by Craig Gilborn, then director of the Adirondack Museum who also published many books on the rustic style. These authors and the fair connected artisans who learned and stimulated each other, resulting in the dynamic style so loved and collected today.

Bowers came into the field with strong artistic roots, having studied architecture in school. With that background, he creates detailed drawings so clients know what they are getting, and they love that he involves them in the process. Ann and Bob Marshall of Keene are such a couple. They had a giant burl and a desire for a table.

“Chip Marshall, who had cut it in half, gave us the burl has a house gift,” said Ann. “We showed it to Steve, and he said this will be great. ‘How do you want me to join the two halves? We can do wood or use stones.’ We went for local river stones and a root base. Steve then put it all together. He’s extraordinary.”

“His design is based on what you’d like to have in that piece of furniture,” said Bob. “He sketches everything out, even make a model in some instances, and then seeks your approval. If requested, he’ll make a few changes until it’s what you want, then goes out and makes it. He’s incredible.”

The Marshalls said they first met Bowers at a rustic fair when they were guests at the Whiteface Lodge. When they decided to buy and renovate a house in Keene, Bowers introduced them to people in the community. They, like others, also noted that Bowers is opinionated and likes to spark conversations, something he’s well known for throughout the community.

“He’s very opinionated; that’s OK,” said Ann. “Everyone’s entitled. We’d recommend him and have recommended him. He’s a good guy and very talented.”

Another patron, Jery Huntley, agrees. She likes that he suggested scaling her chair to fit her — taking an approach much like being fitted by a tailor. Huntley also likes that Bowers takes on apprentices.

“He loves training and mentoring students, so his work has a legacy,” said Huntley.

A father of two daughters, Bowers is especially pleased that his latest intern is a woman as so few have taken up this craft.

“My daughter said, Dad, you’ve got to teach girls, too. So I am,” he said.

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been covering events for the News for more than 15 years.)