Woodcarvers: Dan and James Furru

Because his beams are used inside and out, Dan looks for timber that is cut close to the heart or center of the tree, which makes the timber less likely to warp. He also looks for consistent grain and knot patterns. A chain saw gives the column its rough shape and a sharp draw knife refines the spiral rope pattern.

They also include Southwest motifs such as lizards into their columns. Dan says, "If architecture has a language, then these are key phrases. I think they say welcome to the house."

History Nuggets

• Columns have long been a part of architectural design, with the most famous being the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian designs from the ancient Greek and Roman periods.
  
  
• Each column style or order is distinct in its construction. For instance, the Doric column is the least ornate, while the Corinthian is noted for its scroll and acanthus leaf capital.