When Alice Royer and her husband John had the opportunity to buy back the 212-acre farm that had belonged to Alice’s family all but 10 years since the U.S. Civil War, the couple jumped at the chance. Alice has vivid memories of spending time on the farm during her childhood, when it was her grandparents’ home, so the land became a piece of family heritage she hoped to share and pass on to her two children, who are now adults. In 2008, the family built a log home on the property, giving them regular week…

Brian Hayes has fond memories of summer vacations with his family at Dale Hollow Lake in Kentucky. Three generations later, it remains a special retreat for him, his brothers, and all of their children. “We all fell in love with the place the first time we went,” says Hayes, of Noblesville, Indiana. “After my brothers and I grew up, we started taking our own kids down there. We’ve watched the place grow from being undeveloped to now being a resort area. Three generations of our family have loved this pl…

Log homes come in many styles, shapes, and sizes. Some are quite humble, others very luxurious. This home, which measures 84 feet x 32 feet, is certainly in the category crème de la crème. It is harmonious and elegant in design, sophisticated in a rustic way, and equipped with amenities that are not often found in a country home, such as an elevator and a fireplace on each floor. And its detached garage is so big and fancy it could easily be mistaken for a country cabin. Built in 2011 near the town of M…

Nestled on an Idaho lake located about 15 miles from the Canadian border, Robert Delsman’s customized timber home truly is his castle. After years of enduring long lines of traffic and congested cities in California, this nature lover moved into his brand new 4,740-square-foot home on Priest Lake in 2013. Since then, he’s enjoyed the tranquility, lake activities, and even the volunteer firefighting opportunity he’s been able to take advantage of as an area resident. Surrounded by the natural beauty of n…

John and Andi Gladstein aren’t kidding when they say they can literally ski in and out of the door of their log cabin home in Big Sky, Montana. Nestled perfectly into a mountainside in Moonlight Basin, and flocked by several thousand acres of raw, beautiful land, the 850-square-foot cottage provides a regular respite for the Gladsteins, who reside in California.  “When we get up here, we either put on our skis or hiking boots—depending on the season—and get out into the wild,” s…

Ken Miller acquired property and built a Town & Country Cedar Home nearly 20 years ago. Later, when he married Julie Krenn, the couple stayed squarely put. “There was a fleeting moment,” says Ken, “when we considered starting over from scratch, but after all that had gone into developing this place, the horse stables, riding arena and guest house, it made a whole lot more sense to stay here and make some improvements.” Why look for greener pastures? The setting—170 acres of rolling countryside just …

In 1977, Pierre Roy was a young man, full of energy, and like many of his generation, he dreamed of going back to the land or at least living in the country. So, after reading an article on log home building kits, he thought, “Why not build a log house?” After all, the article said it was easy. “It was an ideal solution for us because it was affordable and we could do it at our own pace,” he explains. The fact that he had no experience in home construction was not an obstacle in his eyes. Had he known a…

Although Tom and Mariann Nolan owned a vacation log home in Big Sky, Montana, the construction of a new log and timber home taking place nearby  several years ago captured their imaginations. With a style reminiscent of the architecture found in Yellowstone National Park, Bear Basin Ranch seemed the perfect retreat.  “We visited Bear Basin often during the building stage, and we were impressed with the quality and the architecture,” says Tom Nolan, whose primary home is in California…

“I don’t know quite how to put it,” reflects Joy Clayton, her southern voice smooth, mellow, rich … like molasses. “The simple truth is that wherever we are, when Ken and I are away, we just can’t wait to get back to our cabin. No place has ever felt so much like home, so right for us.” That single observation speaks volumes. Joy’s husband, Kenneth Clayton, is a Baptist minister; as such he and Joy have relocated and lived in many homes during their 48 years of marriage, including three years of ministr…

When Niles and Ginger Hushka went in search of all they wanted in a timber frame home with an incomparable mountain setting, they got smart—in more ways than one. First, they surrounded themselves with a construction and design team that provided seamless coordination and a depth of experience seldom found in producing their 4,600-square-foot, four-bedroom, 41/2-bath timber frame home in the Aspen Springs development near Bozeman, Montana. Second, they decided that technology would be a watchword for th…

When you need to get away from the busy-ness and stress of everyday life, the warmth of a log home and its rustic surroundings can be inviting and comforting. Your ideal retreat could be nestled high in the mountains or settled peacefully along a lakeshore. Wherever your imagination takes you, building your own personal getaway doesn’t have to be a difficult and demanding process. “Vacation homes tend to be joyful projects,” says Jeremy Oury, president of Kibo Group Archite…