For many people, retirement means escaping the 8-to-5 grind and living life the way they want to. As your life evolves, your needs change. That’s particularly true of your housing needs. If building a log home is part of your retirement dream, there are ways to make sure that your place will age as gracefully as you do throughout your golden years. Size Matters Many homeowners consider trading down to a smaller home once they reach their 50s or 60s. D…
Many log home lovers dream of building a lakefront vacation home. When a Wisconsin couple found a property for sale with two lakes on it, they knew they’d found a treasure. “The property was absolutely beautiful,” says the homeowner. “We wanted to build a vacation cottage that would be large enough to accommodate a big group of family members. And we wanted to be able to view both of the lakes from inside the house.” Northern Wisconsin, a region rich with lakes and acres of forest land, seemed like an i…
Something about this home speaks to you. It reaches out and grabs your hand, whisking you back at least 100 years. The wide front porch beckons you to sit and stay a while, reminiscing about the past. The tin roof alludes to a simpler time and the reclaimed timbers encompass images of an old barn that could easily tell stories of a long ago generation. The door greets you as though you are a long lost friend, coming home after years of being away. Everything about the home …
We all know that as we age, our needs change. That minivan that allowed you to shuttle kids to soccer practice isn’t all that practical when you have just one or two passengers, while a lightweight commuter car might not be the best choice for family weekends in the mountains. What we need in our home as we move through phases of life is no different, and many of us would like to live in our own homes for as long as possible. That’s why it is advisable to work with a home design pr…
Nestled into Gibson Jack Canyon, a few miles from the southern Idaho city of Pocatello, is the artfully designed residence of Silvia and Fernando Grigera. Originally from Argentina, the couple’s home reflects their native roots. “There are some great architects in Argentina,” says Fernando, “Silvia and I have always admired the architecture of our homeland and wanted to incorporate some of it into our Idaho residence.” “You don’t commonly see this type of log and timber home here in the high desert of s…
If there’s one thing that homeowners have learned from TV shows like Property Brothers, Fixer Upper, and Extreme Makeover, it’s that infusing rustic appeal into a new or existing home helps to create a warm, inviting atmosphere where people enjoy hanging out. From exposed ceiling beams to wide-plank floors to shiplap, the types of materials used to create this effect have proliferated over the last few years, making the end goal that much more attainable. Because they assume several di…
A Minnesota couple, John and Jean, enjoyed family ski vacations in Montana for years before they decided to build a dream home of their own in Big Sky country. They looked at many different properties in the area, but always kept coming back to Moonlight Basin, a resort development with ski-in ski-out parcels that overlook huge stands of trees and stunning views of the Spanish Peaks mountain range. “We couldn’t resist the lure of Moonlight Basin,” says Jean. ”Not only are the views amazing, but there is…
Their Scandinavian log home is a wish come true for the McHugh family. Paradoxically, it is also the result of an unfortunate event. A few years back, the cottage the McHughs owned in the Laurentian Mountains burned down. And though the loss was regrettable, this dynamic and enterprising man saw it as a sort of blessing in disguise. It gave him the opportunity for him to fulfill a childhood dream. Kids collect all kinds of things—baseball cards, butterflies, coins, rocks. For McHugh, it was log home mag…
An entrepreneurial couple creates a breathtaking lakefront getaway home through steely determination.
Front doors welcome visitors and reflect the personality of the people who live within the home. A front door can convey serenity, power, warmth, creativity, and so much more. Take some time to determine the statement you want to make and how you want your home to...
