Ageless BEAUTIES
Ageless BEAUTIES

All About the Details

Timber frame homes represent stunning structure and form. They showcase individuality through their details and craftsmanship, inviting everyone who arrives to explore all the nooks and crannies inside. Brian and Cindi Crowe’s home in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, is no different. The details and the craftsmanship are evident upon first glance, encouraging further exploration. “The craftsmanship in this home is amazing and has drawn a lot of people here,” says Brian. “A lot of time and care went into…

Building with Green Materials

T he word “green” has joined the ranks of popular catchwords such as “natural,” “organic,” and “light.” It is used in advertising products and services to make consumers feel good about their purchases. Some companies are guilty of “greenwashing,” meaning they make unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of the product that may be misleading, unverified, or untrue. It is up to the consumer to ask questions like those posed by Brian Milani in “Building Materials for a Green Economy” (www….

A Celebration of the West

When the Jodie Thompson family wanted a weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of their Dallas, Texas-based business operations, they chose the nearby town of Edom and began to consider a spacious log home with plenty of room for entertaining, hosting extended family, and offering the look of a bygone era along with modern conveniences. With more than 2,000 acres in picturesque East Texas, the Thompsons fulfilled their vision of a 6,450-square-foot main dwelling that captures the look and feel of th…

Build or Buy?

Whether you’re building a cozy cabin, a modest retreat, or a big family getaway, the exterior of your home makes a memorable impression that gives people a sense of what to expect inside. “It sets the tone for the whole house,” says Cassandra Christensen, interior designer and project coordinator for Wisconsin Log Homes in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Curb appeal is important to a home’s resale value, too—prospective buyers may decide whether they even want to look insid…

Stock, Custom, or Somewhere in Between?

Building a home from the ground up can be a dream come true: the chance to configure, room by room, the home you always wanted just the way you always envisioned it. You may have a file full of magazine clippings or favorite ideas bookmarked on your computer. But when the time comes to commit to a floorplan, it’s hard to know where to start. A log or timber frame home is a major investment, so it’s worth taking some time to make sure the home of your dreams truly…

A Welcome Change of Pace

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…

Mountain Life

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…

A Lasting Connection

There are different parts of a log home’s exterior that can make a real statement. It could be the log profile or the wraparound porch. Maybe it’s the roofline. But there is one element that is unmistakable: chinking. Chinking is that wide white strip between log courses that characterizes the exterior of some log homes. It is both eye catching and purposeful. “I find that customers are attracted to log homes with chinking for one of two reasons,” says Mathew Ste…

Putting Down Roots

Allen Halcomb began his architectural design career in 1983. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, he works from East Coast to West, as well as internationally. His specialty is working with log, timber, stone, and other natural elements to create classic, timeless designs. If there is one principle his firm, MossCreek Designs, was founded on, and which continues today, it is a dedication to the design of rustic-style homes. Be it a design based on local history and tradition, or a new style altogether, the co…

Never Better

The year 2011 will be critical for housing. It’s no secret that increases in unemployment claims and foreclosures have caused the economy to tumble over the latter half of the past decade, and housing, particularly new-construction starts, has endured the disconcerting aftermath of a lack of consumer confidence.  However, the fourth quarter of 2010 brought with it a slight shift in the economic outlook, and, perhaps, hope. “We all recognize that over the past several years, the h…

17 Kitchen Design Ideas

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…

Log & Timber Homes From Coast to Coast: Midwest

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…