An online log home community for log home enthusiasts.

September 2008 Blog Posts (20)

Log Home Contemporary and Modern Design Style

Modern and contemporary interior design styles for Log Homes are defined by clean lines accentuated by sculptural furnishings, art, and bold contrast. Some find contemporary style stark and unwelcoming while others find the underlying simplicity refreshing. Almost everyone can enjoy the uncluttered, relaxing vibe of modern style.

Colors used in contemporary… Continue

Added by Ohio Log Home Restoration on September 30, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Leave It to the Birds

Unfortunately, the deadline for our holiday issues just passed, but I thought these products were worth sharing for both bird lovers and those interested in environmentally friendly outdoor holiday decor: http://www.duncraft.com/Bird-Seed-Treats-C61.aspx. You can get festive and crafty trimming the trees in the surrounding woodlands or simply attract "visitors" with a wreath or two; either way makes for a fun activity. Plus, it's hard to believe the cleanup would be anything but easy,… Continue

Added by Whitney Richardson on September 30, 2008 at 4:22pm — 1 Comment

Wisconsin Log Homes is chosen to participate in “Sweat Equity” television show

The DIY Network’s hit show, Sweat Equity, has selected Wisconsin Log Homes’ interior design team as the experts for a 1970’s log home kitchen remodel project.

Sweat Equity features home improvement projects and samples ways to increase the overall value of your home. Host Amy Matthews helps homeowners tackle the projects themselves with national experts in the worlds of finance, design and home remodeling, giving tips and… Continue

Added by Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc. on September 29, 2008 at 5:00pm — No Comments

6 days and counting...

Our beautiful new home will be arriving in just 6 days. I know it is just the shell and there is still so much to do before it will truly be our home but I can hardly wait. It is also so frustrating - I had surgery on my foot a week ago and will be unable to participate in the actual set-up. I am hoping to get around on our ATV and take pictures with the digital camera. I have also decided that hot fresh baking for coffee breaks and hot lunches will be in order as the temperature has taken a… Continue

Added by Marla on September 23, 2008 at 6:49pm — 7 Comments

Nothing stops the log home faithful-Not even Hurricane Ike

Forget the postal carrier's creed of rain, sleet, snow... whatever. When it comes to braving the weather no matter what Mother Nature can dish out, nothing beats the log home faithful. And I witnessed it first hand at our Log & Timber Home Show in Louisville, Kentucky, a little more than a week ago. On Sunday, the last day of the 3-day event, Hurricane Ike came barreling through the Midwest, making a beeline for Louisville. And yes, when… Continue

Added by Donna Peak on September 22, 2008 at 11:02pm — 1 Comment

My Custom Firewood Handling System

Many years ago when our homes were heated by wood and coal, homes were built to accommodate the storing of these fuels. Many homes had a coal cellar where a truck (or wagon) could dump coal via a chute into a room located off the main basement where the boiler or furnace was located. Firewood was likewise stored conveniently next to the home on a covered porch and many homes had access doors to the outside located beside the hearth or woodstove.

When electricity and natural gas… Continue

Added by Tom Heatherington on September 22, 2008 at 2:46pm — 4 Comments

How An Interior Designer Can Help

Designing and building a custom hybrid home opens the door to many design possibilities that other rustic building styles do not always offer. With so many choices available, it is sometimes overwhelming for homeowners to make comfortable decisions and stay on top of the building process. One of the services that Wisconsin Log Homes offers is in-house interior design services… Continue

Added by Stephanie Hintz on September 22, 2008 at 12:55pm — 2 Comments

Finding A Builder You Trust

The search for a qualified contractor should begin as soon as you have a building site and preliminary drawings, even if you don’t plan to break ground for several months. It may take time to find a contractor who suits your requirements, and once you find the right one, you’ll have to be worked into the contractor’s schedule. Those who are good and in-demand, and those in areas with a short building season, often schedule projects up to a year in advance.

Once you have several names… Continue

Added by Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc. on September 22, 2008 at 11:49am — 1 Comment

Splinter

We all love wood. If we didn't we wouldn't be living (or wanting to live) in log homes. I imagine many of you, like myself, love the look, the texture and the smell of wood. From homes to furniture to small accessories, wood is part of our daily lives.

Well...what about a car made from wood? And not just any old, run-of-the-mill car, but a supercar, something that belongs next to the Lamborghinis, Ferrari's and Bugatti's of this world?

Joe Harmon designed and is building… Continue

Added by Shad on September 21, 2008 at 9:05pm — No Comments

A Design Story: A Timber Frame Home Designed to Compliment an Already Existing Pool

As a log home company with a focus on custom design services, we get to interact with some truly phenomenal people who come to us with their own unique design inspirations. Recently, we started sharing some of our most unique design stories at our Floor Plan Blog but thought some of the log and timber home enthusiasts at loghomeu.com would enjoy these stories as well. In the story below, our clients' names have been changed for privacy… Continue

Added by PrecisionCraft on September 19, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Blast from the Past

All this talk of autumn has me anxious for the holidays that will likely be here before I know it. This Thanksgiving will be a huge one for us, with a large group of family friends joining us and doubling our normal six-person setup. Although not spent in a gorgeous log home--or even at my parents' waterfront lake house in southern Virginia, unfortunately, because of all the extra guests--the holiday is sure to be a festive one regardless, complete with my mom's fabulous Thanksgiving table… Continue

Added by Whitney Richardson on September 19, 2008 at 11:21am — 3 Comments

Autumn in the air

It's this kind of weather that makes me really appreciate living in Northern Virginia. I grew up in Arizona, and while a good part of it was in Flagstaff (which sits at 7,000 feet above sea level and does see its share of snow) there really wasn't the changing of the seasons that we get here.

As I rode the motorcycle in this morning, I was glad I had the full-face helmet on. It was definitely chilly! Now, in the early afternoon, it's gorgeous. Knowing the seasons are about to change… Continue

Added by Shad on September 17, 2008 at 12:58pm — 1 Comment

Decorating for fall at the log home!

Has anyone else started decorating their log home for Autumn? I'm sure I'm like the other "mid westers" as we love seeing the leaves change, it's football season (private note to Shad - I'm not sure what the Detroit Lions are doing would be called football!). And I think the log home is just the perfect place to get in the fall mood! I've been shopping a little crazy (my husband is cringing and asking how many "fake" pumpkins can a girl buy? And… Continue

Added by Shelley Martinez on September 16, 2008 at 8:12pm — 8 Comments

Another Reason to Work with an Architect: The Value of Site Inspections

On-site inspection and verification of the construction process is an invaluable service architects provide clients during the construction phase of their custom log homes. Incorporating site visits and construction inspections as a standard practice is like an insurance policy guaranteeing the builder is building your home in compliance with your plans and specifications. Custom… Continue

Added by PrecisionCraft on September 16, 2008 at 3:32pm — No Comments

Dream-Home Inspiration from Thoreau

In an ongoing attempt to educate myself by reading classic novels I somehow missed in school, I chose to spend a good chunk of my summer reading Walden, Henry David Thoreau's manifesto on living simply. Given that the book's subtitle is "Life in the Woods," is it any wonder that I constantly found myself comparing Thoreau to all the log-home dreamers I've encountered in my two years working on Log Home Living? There was one passage, in which Thoreau describes his dream home, that I felt… Continue

Added by Clare Martin on September 12, 2008 at 12:24pm — 2 Comments

52 Ways to Save Money when Building a New Home

As we all know, building a new home can get expensive if you are unaware of ways to keep your costs down. First-time home buyers, along with high-end luxury home buyers, all want to know how they can get the most home for their money.

To educate our customers about the many cost-effective options available to them when designing and building their dream home, the Wisconsin Log Homes team came up with a report, "52 Ways to… Continue

Added by Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc. on September 12, 2008 at 10:54am — No Comments

"Top 10" Design Tips for Log Homes

The team at Mountain Architects have put together a Top 10 list for log home enthusiasts. Take a look at what they say are the top 10 most important factors to consider when designing custom log homes (or timber frame homes):

1. Set a Realistic Turnkey Budget. Establishing a realistic budget at the beginning stages of the home design process is critical. It is equally as important to find an architect that is willing and able to work… Continue

Added by PrecisionCraft on September 10, 2008 at 1:04pm — No Comments

Wildlife Learning Center in NC

The grand opening of the new Valerie H. Schindler Wildlife Learning Center at the North Carolina Zoo was held August 19, 2008 in Asheboro, NC. The center was built using full log materials supplied by Appalachain Log Structures of Ripley, WV. The 4600 square foot building features a D-log profile and will provide affordable accommodations for college and university students who participate in apprenticeships, internships and residencies at the Zoo . It… Continue

Added by Rob Romine on September 10, 2008 at 10:57am — No Comments

Help Wanted

As much as I hate to admit it, summer is officially over in just 13 days. But, with the changing of the seasons comes three of my favorite things: the brisk fall weather, college football and the beginning of a new year.

That's right, in the world of magazines, we start the new year in September. And a new year means an opportunity to add fresh ideas and stories to the pages of Log Home Design and… Continue

Added by Sara Brown on September 10, 2008 at 12:02am — 1 Comment

Designing Hybrid Style

Written by Dave Janczak (founder/owner Wisconsin Log Homes)

After visiting their parent’s home land in the late 70’s, an enthused couple asked us to build them a European style cottage. Inspired by the combination of stone, log and timbers, the couple took advantage of our Thermal-Log™ Building System since it could incorporate the necessary design options they… Continue

Added by Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc. on September 2, 2008 at 5:00pm — No Comments