A working master stylist looking for a simpler life built a small log home that’s so peaceful and relaxing he feels he’s on vacation every day.
Naturalist Henry David Thoreau bemoaned the frenetic nature of everyday existence 150 years before the prevalence of social media and smartphones.
“Simplify, simplify, simplify! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail,” he wrote in Walden: Life in the Woods.
That idea resonated with John David Cruey, who is living proof that choices make the quality of life. “The past few years, I have wanted to make my life more simple and downsize to less materialistic things,” he said. “This is why I chose a smaller log cabin in the woods.”
Childhood memories of vacations in the Great Smoky Mountains spurred Cruey’s search for an ideal tract of land and the floorplan that would fulfill his desire for a restful place in a wooded corner of southwest Virginia. A salon owner and master stylist for the past 28 years, he sought the quiet semi-solitude of a cozy home that allows for convenience to his business and other necessities.
“After a year of praying and making offers on eight acres of land, my offer was finally accepted,” he remembered. “I was now the owner, and I could envision my cabin sitting in this vast amount of trees. My cabin is my full-time residence. It is so peaceful and relaxing I feel like I am on vacation every day. This is ‘no-stress’ and a great therapeutic way to live.”
Cruey set out on his log home adventure in late 2021, and his 800-square-foot cabin was completed in about five months despite a couple of challenges with supply chain slowdowns. He moved into the open floor plan cabin in June 2022.
The critical first step in the construction project was choosing Appalachian Log Structures of Ripley, West Virginia, as a strategic partner. Clifford Parsons from the company stepped into the role of consultant and helped Cruey sort through the floorplan options, then provided him with a preliminary set of plans in the early stages.
Parsons said that after Cruey’s order was placed, he received a full set of construction plans, a construction manual with videos for assembly, an on-site technical startup, and the materials for his log cabin.
A floor plan called “The Cherokee” was selected and a few modifications were made: eight-foot walk-in shower with a bench; large walk-in closet; extended 12-foot roof pitch to encompass an open loft bedroom; and the relocation of the kitchen door to a side wall that allowed for a walk-around deck. The home is built with an Eastern white pine exterior, untreated white pine interior, and vinyl waterproof laminate floors. Shaker wood cabinets are painted gray, and the home’s countertops are granite.
With an extensive background in building, Cruey was familiar with the construction process and visited the site daily. He served as his own interior designer, and the furnishings and accents are reflective of his personality and taste.
“I do have an eye for these types of projects,” he said. “I chose most of the interiors to represent the cabin feel and outdoor look.”
Cruey had nothing but praise for Appalachian Log Structures and the team effort that led to the successful completion of his dream project.
“I have built several homes in my lifetime, and I have to say this process was the easiest and most gratifying of them all,” he said.
Parsons found Cruey to be an ideal client in their cooperative effort. “From the very first conversation, it was apparent that John David loved log homes and that he had a specific vision for this build,” Parsons said. “He was open with his wants and needs, and he was willing to drive more than 2.5 hours to visit our model and offices. He was very understanding of any obstacles that arose during the project. From my standpoint, he was trying to achieve a dream that he had for his cozy cabin in the Virginia woods, and Appalachian Log Structures supplied him with a desirable design, quality products, and experienced guidance for his dream.”
Through patience, persistence, and the assembly of a team that delivered, Cruey has found simplicity—a place that is his own, offering peace, quiet, and perspective on living. His journey toward an understated and satisfying life journey is complete, just far enough from the bustle of crowds and the cares of any given day. Thoreau, no doubt, would approve.
- Log Home Producer: Appalachian Log Structures, Ripley, West Virginia
- Builder: Johnson Brothers Construction, LLC, Tazwell, Virginia
- 1.5 story home
- 800 square feet
- 2 Bedrooms
- 1 Bath