One would never assume that the country cabin belonging to Mike and Clarice Cryder is a “second” home. It’s lived in, inhabited to the point of comfort akin to a favorite bathrobe and pair of slippers. The mudroom (a spacious slate-floored closet with custom cabinetry) harbors every sort of weather garment and footwear a person could want or, more importantly, need in the mountainous terrain of Red Lodge, Montana. “Our primary residence is in Billings,” says Clarice, “but Mike and I take every opportuni…

There’s just something about Jeff and Robyn Call’s log cabin home that makes people—its owners included—pause and take a deep breath as they cross the threshold. “The smell of the wood and the logs literally takes your breath away; it’s the first thing I noticed when we walked into the home eight years ago,” says Robyn, who adds that the couple considered both ground-up building projects and those that were already constructed during their search for the right second home. In the end, they selected a sp…

Nearly all of the homeowners we interview for this magazine express the desire to share their log or timber frame bounty with family and friends. Some accommodate their guests in an extra bedroom or loft bunkroom, while others take the extra step of creating a guest suite in their home or building a separate guest house on their property. All guests appreciate a well-designed space that reflects the décor in the main part of the home and blends just as seamlessly into the landscape. …

When you plan a home—whether it is a vacation getaway or your primary home—there is a long list of important criteria to consider. Location often tops the list, followed closely by lifestyle. Nestled in a valley on more than 400 acres of rolling, forested hills in southwestern Wisconsin, this stunning timber-style home meets all the criteria for homeowners Mary and Jonathan. It’s within easy driving distance of their primary residence in Iowa, is set on plenty of acreage, and is spacious enough for ente…

After building and living in several different types of home, a Montana couple decided to combine logs and timber in a very innovative way. By mixing timber and stone on the outside and adding a decidedly contemporary look to the interior, they constructed a home that oozes good taste and pride of ownership. Located in Bozeman, Montana, and owned by a pair of young professionals, the two-story, 3,800-square-foot abode was built by Dovetail Construction of Bozeman. Tim Rote, Dovetail’s owner, says his co…

The environment and the family are certainly two causes that are linked together and worth nurturing. This fact is what prompted Hershey and Renée Gillman to build their magnificent Laurentian, Quebec, lakeside retreat. Certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which evaluates the environmental performance of a building, the house meets the highest international rating standards in construction related to health and the environment. This state-of-the art home uses less energy, wate…

A typical Sunday afternoon at Larry and Sandi Lott’s log home feels like something out of a classic movie that’s set in the South. Sipping sweet tea and enjoying a beautiful, 360-degree view of Cyprus Black Bayou Lake, the Lotts, along with their friends and family, relax and unwind on a one-acre peninsula where the couple built their log cabin home in 2009. The Lotts, who are both retired and the owners of several homes, built their three-bedroom Benton, Louisiana, log home with the intention of r…

When the opportunity to build a home in which to spend their retirement years popped up, Paul and Joy jumped at it. With two grown daughters and four grandchildren, Joy and Paul were looking for a place with a quieter pace of life that would allow them to welcome family and friends throughout the year. Known for stunning scenery, the Finger Lakes region of western New York offers an abundance of year-round recreation opportunities. Nature lovers can spend their days exploring one of the area’s 26 state …

With more than 15 years of vacation memories and two previously owned homes under their belts, it seems only natural that Jan and Bob would consider the wilds of northwest Wyoming their home away from home. “We fell in love with the area and kept going back every summer for vacation. Then we were back two or three times during the summer,” says Jan. “Bob was still working and we decided to rent a house to see if he could be away from work. During that visit, we walked around the area…

Watching the sunset from the dock at Averill’s Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork, Montana, is a visual delight in stereo. Whatever alpenglow plays across the mountains and skies reflects below, across the seven-mile breadth of 30-mile-long Flathead Lake. Twin sunsets … but everything here is twice as nice. Another day closes at this historic guest ranch and folks are making plans for tomorrow as they dangle their feet in the lake’s cool waters. It’s a good thing the summer d…