Maintaining your log home is like getting on a physical fitness regimen: to keep it performing and looking its best, you have to take care of it. And like embarking on a nutrition and exercise program for your body, your log home maintenance has to stick to a regular schedule, or the health of your home will suffer, and you’ll have to have to start over from square one—which could be much more difficult than sticking to the plan in the first place. If y…
Using reclaimed and recycled materials when building your home is not just a good way to be kind to the environment—it’s a great way to save money and add visual interest to your home! Reclaimed materials make your home truly unique while keeping materials that still have a little bit of life left out of landfills. There is a difference between reclaimed and recycled materials. Recycled materials are reprocessed and often turned into an entirely different product, while reclaimed materials are reu…
Even the lushest landscape can present unique challenges, so it pays to enlist the help of a pro to ensure your landscape suits your lifestyle. Landscape architects work with you to maximize your property, from analyzing the site to designing patios and decks, selecting plants, and mitigating environmental concerns. They can help you transform your ideas into reality, down to the smallest detail. Choosing a Partner As you would with any professional partner, research potential landsc…
When you think of country style do you imagine large, overstuffed furniture, a riot of floral prints, and accessories on every surface? Those were the signature elements of country decorating decades ago, but the style has come a long way. Modern country style evokes warmth, comfort, welcome, and a connection with your personal history and that of the area you live in. Country décor can wander in many different directions: farmhouse, coastal, cabin, barn cottage, Am…
A log home is not an impulse buy. For some the decision to build a log home was made years before they actually began the process of transforming a long-held dream into a lifetime reality. “One of the first things is to establish how much you want to spend,” says Dave Fullerton, sales manager at Rocky Mountain Log Homes. “Is this a primary residence or vacation home? What genre of log home? Do you want the home to ‘feel’ a certain way? We try to establish t…
For just about anyone who considers building a log home, setting a budget is a necessity. Matching the home to the budget requires preparation, understanding, and, often enough, a reality check. When the time comes at long last to build the log home of your dreams, every aspect of construction, financing if needed, and ancillary expenses such as furnishings, homeowner’s insurance, and property taxes should be considered. It pays to think comprehensively on the front end, determining just how much initia…
Proper estate planning can go a long way in ensuring a smooth transition of finances and property to the next generation. Without this advance planning, the situation can become muddled, frustrating, and downright expensive for your heirs. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take now to ensure the most successful passing on of your legacy log home. Marilyn McWilliams, partner with Denver law firm Moye White, says she’s helped a large number of clients prepare for the future through estate planning. M…
Set in a clearing in a forest in Washington, a traditionally built timber frame home combines classic elements such as a metal roof, wood siding, and stonework and gives them a more contemporary twist. What’s Your Log Style? This California gem is constructed of full, round logs. people who love the look of round logs on the exterior may choose a d-log instead to give them flat walls inside while preserving the rou…
Possibly the most basic element of a log or timber frame home project, as fundamental as the wood itself, is finding that perfect location. Whether on a mountainside, in the deep woods, or beside a tranquil lake, the land is its own design element in the overall appeal and presentation of a wood home. Finding the right lot or acreage presents an opportunity to define the log home project in its entirety. In the right circumstances, the land and structure complement …
“Getting comparative bids when looking at log homes is very important, unless you are very well versed in log home materials and construction practices,” says Tom Kuhns, president at Kuhns Brothers Log Homes Inc., in Milton, Pennsylvania. “In fact, getting bids is actually a part of the learning process. No two log home companies are alike. Each company has different ways of doing things and different qualities and quantities of products so you need to decide what is best for you.”&n…
Did you know that the heating and hot water system you choose for your log home will contribute to over 50 percent of your yearly energy bill? That fact alone—not to mention any cooling costs—should make log home owners take a step back and put some careful considerations into the water and HVAC systems that will go into their new abodes. Fred Ruckel of New York isn’t taking any chances with his new log home. Ruckel, a marketing and advertising professional who also runs the website www.greenlogho…
Fun & Fantasy In a time when everyone, even children, is glued to their phones or tablets, it’s great to see products that inspire kids to play on their own or with a friend or sibling. Everyone needs a bed, but why not go for a fun and funky piece of furniture that your kids will love? The Low Tree House Cabin Bed (left) is made in Denmark of solid knot-free pine and treated with water-based pigments, wax, and lacquer. The personalized storage drawer and pull- out trundle bed make it very practical…
