Innholdsfortegnelse for January/February 2019 i Log and Timber Home Living

Tour this cute log cabin on page 40 dpeak@aimmedia.com Small things are kind of irresistible. Baby shoes, puppies – even mini muffins. We can’t get enough of them. Somehow, the emotional tug tiny things have on us is stronger than their full-sized counterparts. Even tech industry giants are all about the little stuff. Case-in-point: Microprocessors the size of your fingertip power everything from your ever-smaller smart phone to your ultra-thin laptop. However, as guest columnist Alex Charvat points out, housing has, by and large, ignored the downsizing crusade. In the 1970s, the average size of a house in the United States was roughly 1,500 square feet; then it steadily increased year after year. By the mid-2000s, the average size of a new home was nearly double what it was four…

Q: We purchased a 500-square-foot cabin along Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, which has a liquid-propane heater from the 1960s. When we had our inspection, I got a headache from the fumes it emitted! The previous owners said it was inspected recently, but I can’t stomach the smell. What alternatives do I have to heat a tiny log cabin? A: One way to go is to simply replace the LP gas system you have. Liquefied petroleum gas or liquid petroleum gas is also known as LPG or LP gas and is commonly referred to as propane or butane. “They still make room heaters like that, freestanding or wall-mounted versions, and the replacement would probably be quite a bit more efficient today,” says Mike Luongo of Caldwell, N.J.-based Total Home Supply. “That’s a…

Even if your log home’s landscape boasts that slightly overgrown, English-garden look, it’s likely you’ll have to address pruning at some point. Bushes can get, well, bushy; and well-established trees can benefit greatly from some occasional maintenance, especially if branches start to block paths or threaten power lines. Simply using pruning shears or a hedge trimmer anytime you have a free moment isn’t an ideal tactic, though. For example, pruning in the middle of summer, particularly when a shrub or tree is blooming or lush with foliage, can cause disease or pest issues because it leaves it open to infection or infestation. A plant needs to “heal” from the cuts. Follow these tips for when to prune, along with other strategies to keep your trees and shrubs growing strong: •…

In and Out Inspired by the outdoor furnishings used at a top New England bed and breakfast, this outdoor bench is crafted with acacia wood and features ample storage underneath. Pretty enough to bring inside and perfect for corralling shoes or bags in a mudroom. Choose gray or white finish. Decormarket.com; 516-945-8000 Workhorse Trunk, coffee table, storage … the McKittrick wood trunk does it all with style. Brass nailhead trim and a rich walnut finish allow it to go anywhere from living room to bedroom to study. Just lift the lid to stash spare blankets, board games or out-of-season clothing. wayfair.com Rest and Recharge The Ediline nightstand has a secret inside: The drawer features two standard electric outlets and two USB ports to charge all your electronics while you sleep.…

This is a love story. It’s multi-generational and multicultural. It spans decades and continents. But at its core is a little log house that brings family together and provides shelter and comfort. By most standards the house is humble. When it was originally built more than 30 years ago, it was just under 1,000 square feet with four corners and a single ridge beam. Michael Grant, the founder of Modern Rustic Homes located just outside of Atlanta, was introduced to the quaint cabin by Joyce and Oscar Carrasco. Oscar, a recently retired United Methodist minister, and Joyce, a retired teacher from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, were transitioning from busy parsonage life in northern Illinois to North Georgia, but their journey to this place in life began long before.…

StoneMill Log & Timber Homes hit a milestone this month, as they celebrate 45 years of business as a national log and timber frame home provider. Established in 1974 by John R. Sterchi, Jr., the company remains family owned and operated from its original four-acre headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. The original StoneMill log homes take after the traditional dove-tailed, chinked style commonly found in the Great Smoky Mountains. While timber frame and hybrid homes are offered today, hand-hewn craftsmanship remains the company’s signature style. The company also offers buyers additional services, including a complete design-build solution. “We realized we needed to go beyond delivering a quality set of plans and erecting logs,” states Rob Cantrell, StoneMill’s president. “All aspects of design, fabrication — even trucking — are handled inhouse. Creekside…

We live in a time when information has all but replaced money as a person’s most valuable asset. It’s no surprise that when someone asks us for our name, our phone number or – the granddaddy of all – our email address, we protect our personal info with gusto. We want to know why they want it and what they plan to do with it if we give it to them. So it stands to reason that when a builder starts to ask you personal questions, especially related to your finances and budget, your instinct is to be guarded; play it close to the vest; take care not to over-share. But, there’s a danger in this approach that’s just as real as broadcasting your Social Security Number on social media.…

“Good things come to those who wait.” This was definitely the case for Paul Perron, owner of this Scandinavian-style log cabin and a living embodiment of the maxim. “I always wanted a log cabin, but I also wanted it in the right location. It’s not something you build just anywhere, like next to modern houses, for example,” he explains. Paul was looking for a secluded spot with no neighbors in sight; somewhere close to a main thoroughfare for easy access, flat terrain to build on and a sizable lot with a private road — quite a tall order! The existing private road was essential; being a real estate agent, he knew how difficult it would be to get a road-construction permit from the municipality. His profession should have made his…

In this, our digital age, we expect our technological advancements to pack more features in ever-smaller packages: smaller phones with better cameras, smaller cars with better handling, ultrathin laptops with lightning-speed processors and minute batteries with 10-year life spans. We’ve come to expect products to be loaded with bells and whistles without taking up much space; well, that is until we consider our houses. Around 1970, the average home size was 1,500 square feet. Fast-forward 50 years, and it’s nearly doubled. Houses have increased in size every year for decades, despite the proclivity to downsize elsewhere. However, there’s been a recent backlash toward that trend that’s been dubbed “the McMansion,” and you can sum it up in two words: tiny houses. There are references to tiny homes throughout history, but…

APPEARANCE – One of the most important aesthetic considerations for log and timber home owners is stain color and tone. By choosing a high-performance finish like Lifeline™ Ultra-7, you are ensuring that the finish will look as beautiful years after application as it did the second day it was applied thanks to a balanced formula of transparent iron oxides, fungi and algae inhibitors, and an advanced polymer resin. LONGEVITY – Lifeline™ Ultra-7 is the most durable exterior stain that Perma-Chink Systems has ever developed. After multiple exposure tests in harsh-weather areas across the country (think snow country, the sunny southeast and extreme mountain locations), Lifeline™ Ultra-7 stands out as THE top-of-the-line, long-lasting finish. The secret behind its durability is Lifeline™ Ultra-7’s state-of-the-art resin that creates a flexible and tough seal…

Bergen County, New Jersey, is rich with historic and natural treasures that keep families, history lovers and outdoor enthusiasts coming back for more. One hidden trove, a 40-acre, non-profit nature park nestled within the town of Oakland, features Mother Nature’s finest. Bois de Chiens (translation: Woods of Dogs) is owned and managed by Laurence Levine. Since 1985, the private property and its prodigious grounds have charmed visitors attending wedding receptions, conferences, research expeditions and meditative retreats. At the core of Bois de Chiens is a sense of camaraderie and friendship — not unlike the property’s very own Irish pub, which was designed to replicate a London landmark Laurence used to visit. The pub, built by tradesmen from Belfast, is complete with four beer spouts, a stained-glass shamrock and an Irish…

Jeff and Malea Higgins adore the Montana landscape — so much so they pulled up their Indiana roots and moved to the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. The views, the wildlife, the people – they love everything about Big Sky Country, so the Higgins settled in the mountains above Stevensville, a sleepy little hamlet that just happens to be recognized as the first permanent settlement in the state. “We chose this property because it had the right combination of existing buildings, a perfect spot for our cabin, a fantastic view and an affordable price,” said Jeff. With property in hand, it was time to decide what kind of home would suit it. A log cabin fit the bill perfectly, so to put this plan into action, they contacted the company now known…

Perched on a bluff high above Tennessee’s Dale Hollow Lake is Jim and Diana Copper’s second house by Honest Abe Log Homes, the first having been on their cattle farm in rural Illinois. The Coppers chose Honest Abe’s award-winning Cambridge plan for their 2,800-square-foot new home. “We loved the Cambridge plan because it had the two-sided, two-story stone fireplace with gas logs that opens into the living room and on the other side into the dining room,” Diana said. “We also loved the high ceilings with heavy timber roofing and natural lighting provided by the window configuration.” Jim said that he chose Honest Abe’s Genesis log style because it is square inside and out and could be chinked to look like the log homes built by early Tennessee settlers. Diana…

NAHB 2019 Jerry Rouleau Award for Excellence in Home Design, Home of Distinction, Log Home 3,001-4,000 sq. ft. When considering building a log home, everyone is looking for something a little different. However, the reasons for choosing a log home are often the same. Whether you’re looking for a rustic, traditional lakefront retreat or a small cabin hidden in the woods, you desire the tranquility, warmth and stillness that embody log home living. True North Log Homes inspire this lust for luxury and peace and deliver the world’s most technologically advanced and maintenance free log home available. A log home stands the test of time—with a “Zero” Air Infiltration Warranty, True North Log Homes take that to a whole new level. Last year the family-owned and operated company swept the…

Homes by PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes SEE THE BASE FLOOR PLAN FOR THIS HOME ON PAGE DREAM HOME 6 Great things can absolutely come in smaller packages, and those packages can be completely customized to meet your unique needs. A growing group of people, from minimalist millennials to retiring baby boomers, are looking for smaller living spaces, without sacrificing style and luxury, or limiting their options. Enter PrecisionCraft’s new architectural series: Cabin Refined™. The Cabin Refined™ series of conceptual designs offer clients cozy-sized layouts, with the distinctive design style for which PrecisionCraft is already known. This includes luxurious details like large-scale elements, unique shapes, and mixed materials. PrecisionCraft’s in-house architectural firm, M.T.N Design, incorporates these details and many more as it creates completely custom layouts for every client. EAGLE…