When Paul and Debby Kenney began planning their dream log home while they were dating during the mid-2000s, the couple envisioned a retirement home they could enjoy growing old together, surrounded by picture-perfect views in southern Colorado. “We wanted this to be a home that we could live in as long as we wanted to,” says Paul, who is retired from the U.S. military and his most recent career as a high school ROTC instructor. “We love Colorado, and we wanted to spend our retirement years her…
When you hear the word “roof” probably the first image that pops into your head is the tried and true asphalt shingle roof that is ubiquitous in the United States. When you dream of your log home, you most likely envision a more rustic roof that will complement the wood and architectural style you have selected. The good news is that you can have a beautiful roof that enhances your log home and is also durable, sustainable, and energy-efficient. If you are co…
There’s no question why people are drawn to building on rural property, especially log and timber home owners. What “rural” means can vary depending on who you ask. One person might just mean “not urban” while others might be talking about dense forests or farmland. But most agree on some shared benefits: no two pieces of property are alike, there’s room to spread out without bumping into your neighbor, and you can be miles from the has…
Like many members of the Stock Farm Club on the slopes of the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana, the owners of this spacious house chose a Rocky Mountain Log Home that blends seamlessly with its rocky, wooded environment. The Stock Farm Club, a golf club development owned by Charles Schwab, covers 2,600 acres on the mountainside and offers a variety of home settings as well as a log clubhouse lodge and other amenities. Architect Jeremy Oury of Kibo Group designed the home for this …
For Brian and Tracey Stratton, the log home they wanted was more than worth the wait; rather, it was a goal that they worked steadily to achieve. On a 14-acre wooded homesite in central Wisconsin, the idea took shape, and the result is just what they planned. However, the time table was a bit longer. “We wanted a warm, homey feeling, and I think we succeeded,” comments Tracey. “I also wanted to be able to decorate with antiques, so I did not want too much of a modern look to the house. Another thing I d…
Log homes and fireplaces go together like horses and carriages, to misquote a vintage song. More often than not, the fireplace is the focal point of the home and the primary gathering spot for family and friends. There’s nothing better than sitting in front of a crackling fire and inhaling that wonderful wood smoke. While you are enjoying the warmth and beauty of the fire, the heat in the rest of your home is being sucked up the chimney along with your ha…
For the average individual, buying or selling a home is an event that may occur only once or twice in a lifetime—particularly when the object of the transaction is a log home. The apparently daunting task of securing the best mortgage for the purchase of a log home requires an element of trust in the professionals who provide such services on a regular basis. Taking the mystery out of the mortgage is one of the primary responsibilities of the real estate …
What’s the first thing you think of when someone mentions the phrase “waterfront property”? Does it conjure up images of a quiet, glassy lake tucked high in the mountains? Maybe it makes you think of a busy, babbling river, providing a constant, soothing soundtrack to daily life. Or perhaps the pounding surf and aroma of salty air that only an oceanfront parcel of land can bring? Landmark Builders/photo by Heidi A. Long Waterfront living means something different to everyone, j…
The successful search for a good builder is a key component of your log and timber homebuilding journey. Choosing the right builder to make your dream home a reality is nothing short of essential. One way to find log and timber homebuilders is to reach out to your log home producer. Chances are good that their experience and recommendations will get the builder selection process going in the right direction. “If you are working with a log home manufacturer’s representative, this woul…
Pete Pyles has been in the construction industry for the past 45 years, the last 20 years dedicated to the construction of quality log homes. “I have had a passion for building since my grandfather and father involved me in the art of building construction before I was a teenager,” says Pete. ”I had the good fortune of having quality bred into me while working on some very fine homes as a young person.” Pete and his wife Jackie have built three homes together for themselves duri…
Near the town of Hamilton, Montana, roughly 45 miles south of Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley and Sapphire Mountains converge, and the steep rock walls of Blodgett Canyon soar skyward more than 1,500 feet. In this majestic outdoor cathedral of Ponderosa Pine, swift-running streams, and incredible natural beauty, a family from Minnesota has found its western paradise. Within the Stock Farm Club real estate development, three structures—a house, cabin, and barn—surround a serene courtyard and welcome the …
Northern Colorado’s Routt National Forest might be one of the state’s best kept secrets. The outdoorsman’s mountain paradise remains spared from many of the crowds that enjoy Colorado’s other outdoor playgrounds. The forest, which is split by the Continental Divide, extends over one million acres with seven different wilderness areas and is home to Steamboat Ski Resort. As avid athletes and wilderness enthusiasts, John and Carrie Morgridge were overjoyed to find 15 acres in Routt County available for pu…
