Designing Archives – Log Cabin Homes Magazine

The Cabins on Curly Creek

by Debra Grahl | photography Roger Wade Studio | styling Debra Grahl | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, Designing, Entire Home, How-To, Planning, Room-By-Room

Rebbecca Abair recalls having a passion for designing unique spaces and landscapes her entire life. “As far back as I can remember,” Rebbecca says, “I have been fascinated with small spaces and always pictured myself residing in a little log cabin in the woods.” Her father, a talented design and construction visionary in his own right, taught his little girl how to do roofing, mix concrete, and build all manner of things, from furniture to structures. To date, Rebbecca has designed and built eight diffe…

A Powerful Package

by Mike Haskew | lead photo Rocky Mountain Log Homes | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To, Planning

For many, building a log home is a dream come true, an opportunity to settle into a long-sought lifestyle combining the finest in comfort with the pristine beauty of nature. Making the most of this building project that may occur only once in a lifetime means research, quality shopping, and informed decisions. No aspect of the decision-making process is as challenging as that of balancing comfort, décor, and cost. Therefore, the inclusion of amenities is the subject for detailed discussion. Partic…

Smaller, But Still Great!

by Log Cabin Homes Magazine | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, Entire Home, How-To, Room-By-Room

This living room, just steps inside the front door, is waiting for a family to plop down, put their feet up, and warm themselves by the fire. The cathedral ceiling prevents the large fireplace from overwhelming the space. Numerous windows keep the space filled with natural light.

Form, Function, and Beauty

by Laura Cleveland | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To

The Arts & Crafts movement began in England, the most industrialized country at the time, in the mid-19th century. The founders believed that industrialization was the cause of most societal problems, beginning with the lowest rung, the workers. At the time, manufactured goods were shoddy in both quality and design. Proponents of Arts & Crafts principles believed that good design leads to a good society and that workers should take pride in the…

A Home Away from Home

by Bridget McCrea | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, Designing, How-To, Maintaining, Planning

You’ve set your sights on your ideal second home, and it’s time to bring your dreams to fruition. You’ve picked the site, purchased the land, and decided that a log home will be the perfect fit. In your mind’s eye you see your friends and family enjoying the home for years to come, frolicking in the lake that it overlooks and exploring the wilderness that surrounds it. To make sure that vision becomes a reality, there are a few steps you’ll want to take during your second h…

Style & Substance

by Laura Stapleton | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To, Planning

Once upon a time a house was deemed a necessity for protection from natural occurrences, such as the weather or wild animals. It was a simple structure; something that would be built quickly with supplies available in close proximity to the building site. Today a “home” still protects you from the elements and the occasional wild animal, but it has evolved, morphing into a statement about each individual homeowner and his or her personal tastes. Fro…

Beauty and Function

by Diane Hintz | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To, Planning

I recently had a major operation that resulted in several months of recovery in my home. Although I’m in my 50s, after I had surgery I felt like I was 100. I couldn’t walk beyond a few steps, go up or down stairs, or see very well. I slowly recovered and now I’m doing well. During my recovery months I had a glimpse into what life might be like when I’m much older. The experience changed me in many ways, including how I’m going to design my log & timber ho…

Easy on the Environment

by Jennifer Donahue | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, Energy Efficiency, How-To, Planning

You hear a lot of lingo when talking about the environment and building: LEED certification, efficiency, green building, eco-friendly, sustainability. It can be overwhelming! But the simple truth is that making sensible choices in your home’s design can lead to lifelong benefits. A home that’s easy on the environment will also have lower annual operating costs, higher resale value, will consume less energy and water, and be a healthier place to live for years to come. Here are some areas of the interior…

Forever Classic

by Esther & Franklin Schmidt | photos by all photos Esther & Franklin Schmidt | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, Designing, How-To, Planning

Probably more than any other style of house, a log cabin conjures up a sense of homestead and history, a place in which family can live over decades and generations. Logs, with their organic feeling, exude a sense of a handmade construction and are a huge draw for people who want a long-lasting home. These days, when people decide to build a log home, either as a primary or secondary residence, it is most likely the feeling of timelessness that draws them and resonates. Not all log construction is equal…

Looking Up

by Jennifer Donahue | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To

Often, homeowners spend so much of their creative energy on floors and fixtures, walls and windows, that ceilings become an afterthought. But ceilings can make a big impact on the overall look and feel of a room. The right ceiling can brighten up a dim space or lend a den-like coziness, depending on the material you choose. Many homeowners are mixing up ceiling materials from room to room, to give each room its own character. “I’ve seen clients use anything from drywall to metal,” sa…

Purchasing Lights & Appliances

by By Karen Doss Bowman | Jul 9, 2021 | Designing, How-To, Planning

When selecting lights and appliances for their new abodes, many log home owners are taking the “green” route and ferreting out options that are not only more environmentally friendly than the more traditional selections, but that also incur cost savings over time. Some of those savings come in the form of fewer replacements, while others show up as cost reductions on those monthly electricity bills. One of the easiest ways to ensure that the appliances and lighting in your new home are green is b…

Living is Easy on the Water

by Bridget McCrea | Jul 9, 2021 | Building, Designing, How-To, Planning

When Rob Wrightman sits down to talk with clients about designing and building a new, waterfront log home, one of his first tasks is to explain how such abodes have more than one “face.” Whereas a log home in a more traditional setting usually has one showcase side for passers-by to admire and comment on, the waterfront log home has at least two. “This is a very important point when building on the water,” says Wrightman, CEO a…