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 …
“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…
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…
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…
That storybook log home, complete with the storybook look, is attainable—even for those who have to watch every penny. Materials and square footage are two primary drivers of a construction budget, but that unique dream home can become a reality without sacrificing style or comfort. Effectively managing the bottom line requires an evaluation of wants, needs, and personal preference. Consider the investment in living space. Options include scal…
Half-Mile Farm goes all the way in bringing the warmth and charm of yesteryear together with the finest amenities of today. Amid the splendor of the Appalachian Mountains in Highlands, North Carolina, Half-Mile Farm is the perfect retreat for couples, wedding parties, and travelers who treasure the fine blend of history, modern convenience, and glorious scenery. MossCreek Rustic American Home Design provided expertise to fulfill the vision that brought 19th-century cabins, more than 150 years old, to Hi…
At the age of 13, Sophie Rosenfeld moved with her parents from New York City to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. “My parents, who were natives of Poland, came to the United States in 1960,” explains Sophie, “and lived in a gritty part of New York for 16 years. They yearned to relocate to a tranquil place filled with natural beauty. After some investigating, they chose northern New Hampshire. With its lilac bushes, birch trees, and wondrous mountains, this rural area is very similar to the environme…
Nestled in the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania lies a 23-acre tract of land where Marita Avante and Walter Zimmermann decided to create an oasis, a home that would provide serenity and rejuvenation from Walter’s workdays in the energy industry amid the bustle of Jersey City, New Jersey. The Harmonia Garden Home allows Marita and Walter to display personal tastes while designing residential space that is true to the tenets of Maharishi Sthapatya Veda (MSV) architectural and planning principles. Al…
In 2002, Allen and Terri Johnson purchased a circa 1937 log cabin on the banks of Wilson Creek, a wild and scenic riverway in the Collettsville, North Carolina, area. “We spent six years completely restoring and remodeling the place,” says Terri. “That’s what initially brought us to Collettsville.” The couple sold the little cabin in 2008 and began looking for some acreage in the general vicinity. “Allen and I had come to love the region, with its mountains, valleys, rivers, and waterfalls,” says Terri,…
