While all stains and finishes are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “green” stains have exploded onto the market during the past decade, offering an attractive alternative for environmentally conscious homeowners. These water-based products often perform as well as their oilbased counterparts. However, interior designer Stephanie Hintz of Wisconsin Log Homes points out that some oil-based stains also are kind to the earth. “I…
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…
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…
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…
For Fred and Natasha Ruckel of New York City, the dream of owning a log cabin began one day when they were driving down the interstate. “Natasha and I saw a log model home off the highway,” Fred recalls. “She said that she had always wanted to have one, and so did I.” With floorplans completed and log package purchased, they bought land that offered great scenery and a perfect spot to site the home. But, this is where the dream ended and the reality took over. “We had cleared…
If you’re like most log home enthusiasts, you’ve invested months—even years—researching, designing, and planning your log home. And unless you’re a first-time homebuyer or have exceptionally deep pockets, you will have to sell your existing house to get the down payment for your log home. You should have a plan in place for selling your current home that’s just as well thought out as your log home plan of attack. Where Do You Begin? First, decide whether you want to enlist the services of a real e…
By this point, you have checked off many of the steps toward living in your log home. Buy land. Check. Purchase log package. Check. Hire builder. Check. The next item to mark off your list is perhaps the most exciting: Build your log home. “Once you start construction,” says Michael Morrison, vice president of Suwannee River Construction Company in Wellborn, Florida, “the clock starts ticking and you need to stick to your plan, because prior planning prevents poor performance.” The following steps outli…
Seasons come and go. The sun glares and sets. Rain, wind, and winter snow are continuing possibilities. Since the elements take their toll on any structure, consistent maintenance means good looks, savings in time and money, and fewer headaches for the log or timber homeowner. But questions persist as to the best approach. “I like to look at it as being an investment and not a cost,” observes Tony Huddleston, senior vice president of sales and operations at Per…
Bedrooms 1. Add a fireplace for those frosty winter mornings when you’d rather linger in bed. Consider electric, pellet, or gas options. 2. Make your bedroom a refuge by using plenty of soft surfaces—rugs, curtains, pillows—to ensure peace and quiet. 3. Create a bunkroom for kids with tree-trunk supports and branches throughout to make it feel like they are sleeping in a treehouse! 4. Tuck an office nook behind a sliding barn door or heavy curtains. 5. Buil…
After years of dreaming, you’re finally ready to make your dream home a reality—but between the first steps and the day you walk into your newly finished home, there are myriad options to consider and decisions to make. If you’re like most of us, you have a scrapbook (or the digital equivalent) of ideas and examples of the house of your dreams. Ideally, you’ve also got a realistic budget in mind and a mental list of wants and needs. Now it’s time to put pencil to p…
This home is perfectly oriented toward panoramic views on three sides. A private top floor deck allows the owners to enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. The stone foundation and pillars anchor the home to the ground…
In many homes, the kitchen is the hub of the action—where we start and end our days, where families gather to reconnect over a meal, and where friends are sure to congregate at any gathering. In a log or timber frame home, it’s the natural place to marry a cozy rustic ambience with modern convenience and function. “Trends are driven by a number of things including lifestyle and efficiency,” says Elle H-Millard, industry relations manager and trend specialist for…
