“If we build it they will come.”
When Karen talks about her new home on the shores of Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland, one of the first things that she will tell you is, “Never in a million years did I expect to build a log home.”
When Karen and George, a retired general from the U.S. military, purchased the land that they wanted to put their vacation home on, the surroundings just called out for a log home.
“The woods were like a virgin forest and only a log cabin belonged on the site,” Karen says. She specified a soft patina look on the logs to help the new home blend into its surroundings. She had definite design ideas from the start, and she found a contractor to help her make it happen. Karen, with a Merchandising degree from Penn State and 10 years of experience as an interior decorator, helmed the overall design strategy for the home.
She succeeded in creating a home that has both stature and style. She cleverly arranged the layout to enable them to have the best of both worlds with a little forethought. If it’s just the two of them, all the space that they want to use is on the main level. If their three daughters and eight grandchildren are there, the home comfortably accommodates the entire family.
The couple entertains frequently, so the kitchen boasts a six-burner Wolf Range, and the dining room has a table that Karen had made for the dining area. Equipped with two leaves, the table expands. If the group is larger, she brings in a made-to-order game table that is a match in width and style for the dining table and she can comfortably seat 18.
The rest of the home has little features that display similar planning. Rather than put in a ‘Jack and Jill’ style bath between two guest bedrooms, Karen had vanities made from reclaimed barn wood installed in the guest rooms. These private sinks enable guests to have their shower and retreat to their rooms to finish preparing for the day. She brought that design idea back from her European travels.
Her master bath has some additional features. The shower and tub sit between adjoining areas that each holds a toilet and a large vanity and dressing area. “We each have our own space,” Karen says.
The great room offers a wonderful view of the lake. The lake is a constantly changing vista that visitors are in awe of as they enter the great room.
There is a casual elegance to the home that displays care and planning. The mix of styles is seen in the glass topped sofa table with deer antlers for legs. Oriental rugs grace the floors and overstuffed sofas and chairs beckon the visitor.
Karen found the mantle for the fireplace in Pennsylvania. Purchased from a friend of George’s, an elk head is displayed on another wall. Karen appreciates Amish craftsmanship. It is on display in many of the custom wood pieces in the home.
The couple hired Rob Leuba from Concepts Associates Inc. (McHenry, MD) to build their home. Rob and his partner, Pete Brosnihan, have owned and operated Concept Associates Inc. for more than 27 years. Rob recommended Beaver Mountain Log & Timber Homes (Deposit, NY) to craft their new home.
Although Rob had never dealt with Beaver Mountain Log & Timber Homes, he wanted a supplier located in the East. Rob had visited the Beaver Mountain website, and he could see that they offered a quality building system.
For Rob it was a question of distance, time, and service. Beaver Mountain was only six hours away. In business for over 29 years, Beaver Mountain has a well-deserved reputation for excellent customer satisfaction, making the choice of log home producer easy.
George made it clear that Karen was totally in charge of the home building. Rob recalls George saying, “She has followed me all over the world for over forty years, so all of this was her call.” “Karen knew what she wanted, but was open to some modifications, so it was easy to work with her,” Rob recalls.
When the foundation was being laid, the former general visited on a cold, wet day in November and personally introduced himself to every worker at the site and shook their hand. He didn’t care if you were wet or dirty or the foreman or the go-for guy, he treated everyone the same. Rob and his crew were very impressed and tried hard to please the couple and build a home that was everything that the couple wanted.
The home sits on the point of the lake and if you approach after dark, the house is ablaze with welcoming light; if you approach during daylight hours, the welcome is more subtle, but a feeling of arriving might best describe the aura of the home. “Come in and stay awhile.”
Karen and George love their log home and frequently spend time there. Karen has all wood on the interior side of the exterior walls, but she had some interior walls done in painted drywall. She says that it accentuates the wood to have color contrasts. Her décor choices for convenience and minimum fuss make it the perfect retreat from the more formal Washington lifestyle that the couple is very involved in.
Karen chose pieces for the home with care to ensure a traditional and sophisticated look that is displayed in her use of color and textures to bring the warmth of the countryside into the home. In a sense the home also represents Karen’s Field of Dreams. She told George, “If we build it they will come.” She was referring to her children and grandchildren and she has been proven right.
They both derive a great deal of pleasure from watching their grandchildren interact and the cousins are getting to know one another better. It’s exactly what Karen pictured when she and George decided to build a vacation home. Furnished with care and charm, the home is a tribute to craftsmanship and style.
Worries and stress vanish when they are here. “There is nothing better than a cup of coffee on the deck in the absolute quiet before the day begins,” Karen says.
The homebuyer, contractor and log home producer have joined forces to make an idea come to life. Life is good at the Lake!
- Log Home Producer: Beaver Mountain Log & Timber Homes, Deposit, New York
- Builder: Concepts Associates Inc., McHenry, Maryland
- Square footage: 5.551
- 2 Story
- 3 Bedrooms
- 4.5 Bathrooms