Consider the roots of log home construction: Wikipedia cites the first were built in heavily forested northern Europe, during the Bronze Age, about 3500 bc. Reflect on the use of raw logs, wind fallen or otherwise crudely harvested throughout the centuries, for tipis, lean-tos, temporary nomadic shelters. We, ourselves, as kids, may have built these primitive fortifications in our backyard woods (my brothers and I did), or on hiking expeditions in the wildernes…
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 Log Cabins in C…
Don and Carrie Mann are in love with life, and it’s a good life indeed. Their menagerie of dogs, ducks, and horses keeps them happily occupied on the home front. A rewarding veterinary practice, airplane for spontaneous getaways, and log home on 12 acres of bucolic central Ohio countryside don’t leave much to want for. “Then there’s Carrie’s goat,” jokes Don, “which tempers the goodness of it all with a little bit of an evil element.” It’s about a 10-minute drive from the center of Moun…
1. Consider flagstone instead of hardwood floors; it is durable enough to last in even the busiest kitchen. 2. Incorporate universal design, with wider access and lower cabinets to make the kitchen easy to use at any age or ability. 3. Add a bar-height island or peninsula to increase seating capacity. An open floorplan allows guests to linger in the kitchen without crowding out the cook. 4. Showcase your design aesthetic in your kitchen. Contemporary stainless-steel appliances or a…
The Midwest, America’s heartland, has everything from open plains to rolling hills and mountains. There are numerous lakes and rivers and acres of pristine forest. Early settlers built log cabins and timber frames using the abundant resources at hand. Today you’ll find everything from an ultra-modern timber frame to a traditional log cabin, built to suit an individual owner’s personal style. In the Midwest it is common to find homes that appear remote but have easy access to large and mid-size cities. T…
These days everyone’s favorite color seems to be “green.” In a log cabin, there’s no better place to showcase the benefits and the beauty of this eco-minded hue better than the great room. Whether your goal is to protect Mother Earth, save some cash on your monthly electric bill, or ensure your home has that natural, rustic touch, these four fantastic options will take your family’s everyday living space from good to great. Reclaimed Wood Think you can’t do…
John and Cindy Fitzmartin had long been impressed with the warmth and ambience of a wooden house. “Ever since watching Little House on the Prairie,” admits Cindy, “I have always considered a rustic cabin charming and inviting, cozy and warm. When John and I were searching for retirement property here in Tennessee, we came across some vintage log homes in the countryside and determined that we would build one, a new one, for ourselves.” The couple was planning to relocate from California to Tennessee bec…
More than a decade ago, spanning 2005 and 2006, an impressive build was taking place on rugged terrain some 35 miles north of Vernal, Utah. A local couple, Craig and Sharon Hart, had commissioned Montana Log Homes of Kalispell and general contractor Mark Feltch to build them a 2,800-square-foot handcrafted full-log ranch house on their 20-acre parcel in Utah’s Diamond Mountain region. “The log work on our end went smoothly,” recalls Brad Neu, owner of Montana Log Homes. “The Hart house is a custom floor…
Rick and Mary Hollstein have very little down time. Owners of a highly successful commercial roofing business, the couple operates at a pace not many individuals could keep up with. “Back in 2003,” says Rick Hollstein, “we decided as a family to look for a getaway home that would make us feel like we were really on vacation, even if it was just for the weekend.” The Hollsteins found and purchased a log cabin on Pine River Pond in Wakefield, New Hampshire. “Quickly hooked on log home living in the north …
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…
Native Georgian Betty Maughon raised her family in a modest ranch house that she and her husband built in 1959. During those years she often dreamed of living in a log home. “I would tear out pictures of log cabins from magazines and newspapers,” says Betty, “in hopes of one day being able to build one. After the kids were grown, and I lost my husband to heart disease in 1996, I thought my log home dream was over … until my son Dan built one for his own family in 1998.” “My wife, Suzann, and I began dis…
A 1,275-acre Townsend, Montana, ranch offers captivating vistas of surrounding mountains, soaring pine forests, and rolling meadows—plenty of outdoor space for its owners to enjoy the fly fishing and seasonal hunting that drew them westward several years ago. Although they were not actually looking for abundant acreage, the site was something special. Mount Baldy rises more than 8,900 feet above the valley floor northeast of Townsend, and the owners chose to build as high on its slope as possible. A 780…
