Category
How-To

Interior and Exterior Lighting

An effective lighting plan adds beauty, comfort, and warmth to your home while accommodating the tasks of daily life. Balancing efficient light with rustic ambiance requires careful planning, but the results are worth it. Since log and timber homes have unique lighting needs, it’s important to seek advice from a lighting designer with experience. You could ask your home builder for recommendations or locate a Certified Lighting Consultant through the American Lighting Ass…

The Most Popular Log Home Floorplans

Sometimes the hardest part of building a home is figuring out where to start. That’s where ready-to-purchase (or stock) home plans can help. Whether you’re dreaming of a rustic Adirondack, a quaint carriage house, a spacious timber frame lodge, or a cozy traditional log cabin, selecting a good floorplan can help ensure you’ve got all the important features in one package. There are a dizzying array of floorplans available, from spacious estates to intimate cottag…

Alternatives to Wood

Gas   Gas fireplaces are designed to burn either natural gas or propane. They emit very little pollution, need little maintenance, and can be installed almost anywhere, especially in a new home. Gas fireplaces have BTU ratings that measure how much heat is produced by the hour. They are also rated by fuel efficiency; that is, the amount of fuel consumed to generate heat and attain the ideal BTU. Direct-vent and top-vent gas fireplaces have an efficiency rating of 40 to 80 percent, meaning that, at …

Custom Rustic Style

True to its name, M.T.N. Architects has been designing custom high-end mountain-style homes since 1990. With an emphasis on log and timber frame design, the firm works one on one with each client to create a unique, luxurious, one-of-a-kind home. Their clientele and projects span from East Coast to West, in the USA, Canada, and abroad. Lead designer Celeste Raygosa shares her ideas and experiences in the log and timber design arena. How long have you been with M.T.N. Architects, Celeste, and what about …

The Lay of the Land

The adventure of building a log or timber home begins with an idea. Then comes the challenge of making the dream a reality, and the list of items to be completed is long. Among the first and most critical elements in the journey is the selection of a building site. The characteristics of the land are the keys to the building process and to the long-term enjoyment of one of life’s greatest investments. Consider the fact that the to…

Making Your Research Count

Taking the notion of a log or timber home from idea to reality requires a great deal of patience and preparation. Like marriage, the decision to build should not be entered into lightly. So those who are wise choose to begin the process with a hefty round of research. While the reasons for checking things out and asking questions before making decisions seem straightforward enough, it’s actually a process that requires some planning and effort in its own right—particularly today wh…

A View from the Top

Many people dream about a relaxing getaway, and for log home enthusiasts, a home in the mountains may be the ideal choice. Not only do the mountains offer breathtaking views, but often they offer exciting glimpses of wildlife and proximity to outdoor activities such as skiing or hiking. “A mountain home is a place that’s laid back and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life,” says Sarah Smith, marketing coordinator at Blue Ridge…

The Basics of Buying & Building a Log Home, Part 1

You have been dreaming of this home for years. You have collected a binder full of ideas and sketches of what you envision your log home to include. And now you are looking for a building site. What should you be looking for when preparing to purchase property? Here are five important factors to consider when choosing your building site. Where will you build? We all have a general idea of where we want to build our dream home. Maybe you envision your home tucked into trees on the side of a mountain or n…

Adding on with Logs

Growing families, additional indoor or outdoor entertaining space, accommodations for overnight guests, and storage needs are just a few of the reasons that homeowners choose to add on to their existing residences. Depending on the circumstances, the process typically involves an assessment of existing structures, land usage, and particularly the look, feel, and utilitarian result the owner hopes to achieve. Owners of both log and traditionally constructed homes experience ev…

The Thrill of the Hunt

The deep texture and rich colors of reclaimed wood afford distinctive log homes and their discerning owners the opportunity to step out of the crowd. Old-growth timber, recovered from a cabin built during pioneer days or given new life when rescued from a commercial building that was bustling a century ago, adds flair to a log home like nothing else. “The actual industry term that predates the modern ecological push is ‘antique materials,’” explains Allen Halcomb, president of MossCreek, a custom design…

101 Design Ideas

If you are in the process of designing a log home, or just dreaming about it, this room-by-room list is designed to spark your imagination and help ensure that you include all of your needs and wants in your floorplan. Photo by Karl Neumann Great Rooms 1. Position windows to “frame” the picture of your view. 2. Anchor a large living area with a stone fireplace; it will provide a natural focal point in harmony with the outdoors. 3. Use hand-forged log straps to add a custom touch to your home. 4. Give yo…

Gallery of Bathrooms

Shiny metal vessel sinks sit atop a rustic wood countertop in this light-filled bathroom. The sink hardware was mounted on the wall to save counter space. The owners get a nice view of the outdoors in the large mirror while standing at the sink. Double vanities are a nice luxury in a master bathroom. The striations in the stone used on the tub surround mimic the logs on the outer wall. The owners can relax in the large t…