Taking on projects that save money may be an option for homeowners with some log and timber building projects. When the log or timber home they have always wanted begins to take shape, some homeowners bring their own personal skills to the project, pitching in with...
“You will feel like you are on vacation all year long” is how the real estate listing described this property. And even if such a claim may sound dubious, it was no lie or exaggerated marketing slogan. Set in a quiet residential area of Ste-Julie and surrounded by tall mature trees, this pièce-sur-pièce log home does indeed look like a holiday retreat. Intrigued by the catchy slogan, Yves Leblond and Sylvie St-Pierre went for a visit and were immediately charmed by the look and setting of the house. Mor…
Fall is a particularly wonderful season for log & timber homes. The wood takes on a special glow when the light changes from an intense summer glare to a more mellow, lower sunlight. There may be snow up on the mountain peaks, but down below the weather is ideal for outdoor activities or just enjoying the spectacular fall hues. When the trees take on an autumn glow and there’s a hint of snow in the mountains, it’s a prime time for log & timber homes.
The large sprawling farm with fenced, hilly pastures appears to be a large ranch. In fact, it is home to Big Springs Resort, the idyllic site of five log homes built by partners Doug Spurber and Charles Rateliff in 2005. These retired Wal-Mart executives each owned a good bit of land near Gravette, Arkansas, and decided to join forces and create a low-impact cabin community. Rateliff had built a Satterwhite log home several years earlier and knew that this company could delive…
It can’t really be said anymore that Montana is a well kept secret. The state has boomed with tourism and a thriving vacation home industry for well over two decades. Montana’s ski resorts, national parks, and trout fishing industries allocate substantial funds for out-of-state advertising to attract year-round visitors and would-be residents alike. “We got really lucky,” says Jason, one such would-be resident, “when we ventured into Red Lodge for a day of sightseeing.” Jason’s mother had grown up in ne…
They say a man’s home is his castle. Such is the case for Mark Robbins, a Vermont native who after many career years as a pilot was happy to reset roots in northeastern Vermont, also known as “The Northeast Kingdom,” referred to by most Vermonters as simply “The Kingdom.” “My home sits on a prominent feature in the middle of my father’s farm,” says Mark. “It’s well back from the town road and, with its elevation, provides 360 degrees of incredible views and vistas of northeastern Vermont’s mountains and…
For those exploring options in building their forever log home, one of the first considerations involves the three basic rules of real estate: location, location, location. In this sense, the idea relates to more than resale value. Choosing to build in a conventional development or subdivision presents its own array of challenges—usually in conforming to the often confusing and always lengthy list of building restrictions that apply. Of course, such restrictions may well make const…
If you would like to get back to your roots when furnishing your log or timber home, rustic furniture is the way to go. Typically wooden and distressed looking, rustic furniture can invite a sense of simplicity and old-fashioned charm. “Rustic décor seems to relax people,” says Shirley Brown, owner of Papa Bear’s Northwoods Store in Baraboo, Wisconsin. “They feel like they’re in the great outdoors.” Rustic, by definition, is untamed. Furniture pieces look “lived in,” and chipped pain…
After spectacular kitchens and luxurious master bathrooms, the perfect master bedroom is often at the top of any home buyer’s wish list. The options are endless when you are designing a space that suits your style. You can go for a bold wall color that sets off wood accents or stay with soothing neutral and natural tones. The space can be elegant and refined or rustic and cozy. Being surrounded by things they love inspires some, while choosing minimal decorative items appeals to oth…
Modern design’s clean lines and minimalist décor serve to enhance the structure of a log or timber frame home. Each of the great rooms shown here has a distinct personality and style, and the natural elements such as reclaimed wood and stone are the centerpieces of each space. The balance between rustic and modern can be adjusted to meet your personal taste.
An all neutral color palette looks beautiful in a log home. The tile on the walk-in shower ties the golden brown color of the logs in with the stone floor. Extra storage is provided by a distressed dresser and a Victorian coat rack hanging on the wall. The open ceiling allows for ventilation.
More than just a sprawling desert, the Southwest extends from the heights of the Wasatch and Rocky Mountains to the bluffs and mesas and finally to the flatlands of the Rio Grande. Log timber homes in the region were heavily influenced by its Native American and Hispanic inhabitants, but today you’ll find homes of every shape and style in a wide variety of climates.
