Innholdsfortegnelse for November - December 2016 i Log and Timber Home Living

Anyone who’s ever had a preteen has learned the art of compromise. “Finish your homework early, and then you can have extra time to play your video game.” “Eat your vegetables today, and we’ll go out for pizza on Friday.” Though there’s a reward at the end, these seemingly painless requests are usually met with a whole lot of resistance, sometimes bordering on defiance, and more than a few choruses of, “That’s not fair, Mom.” But after a little give and take, reason eventually takes hold, and in the end, we each get what we want. It was in that vein that we sent frequent Log Home Living contributor (and mom of four) Stacy Durr Albert on assignment. Her mission? To find out how log home designers help couples, friends and/or partners who can’t agree…

Hope Floats On This year marks the 15th anniversary of Jan’s House of Hope, a home constructed on a 150-by-60-foot barge that was tugged along the eastern seaboard from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Norfolk, Virginia. The 3,100-square-foot, fully landscaped, systems-built house was the brainchild of beloved housing-industry professional, Jerry Rouleau, to honor his wife Jan who passed from lung cancer in 1999 at the age of 50. Though it wasn’t built with logs, Log Home Living was honored to contribute to the project. With eight ports of call, Jan’s House attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors, raising both awareness and donations in excess of $15 million for cancer research. Jerry, himself, passed from his own battle with cancer in 2011, but his love and his legacy will not be forgotten.…

Something to Tweet About (above) A little birdy can hold your guests’ linen napkins for the holiday feast. P. Allen Smith’s petite iron napkin rings are sold in sets of four. Matching place card holders are also available to help you turn up the woodland charm. shop.pallensmith.com, 877-476-6313 Fresh from the Farm (above) A big table means plenty of room for family and friends. March Legend builds generous farm tables from kiln-dried wood treated with natural coatings. Choose from trestle, pendant or traditional style tables in a wide variety of colors or finishes. fableporchfurniture.com; 866-611-5224 From the Top Down Illuminate your holiday gathering with a bold chandelier. The rustic Montecito fixture from Steel Partners is available in architectural bronze, black, mountain brown, old iron and rust finishes. Handmade by master…

Don’t tell Stephanie and Jim Smith about space. For 18 years, they spent summers with their three sons on Wisconsin’s North Lake in their 1960s two bedroom, one-bath cottage. They had one prime directive: Any fights and we drive home. Although Stephanie says they only had to head back once, space in their 7,500-squarefoot home in Brookfield has always been equally compromised by Jim’s extensive collection of 37 pinball machines and 18 upright arcade games. With their youngest son now off at college, the Smiths decided to move permanently to North Lake, demolish the cottage and fulfill a dream of owning a log cabin by the water. It’s a natural dream for the couple who met in 1977 when their families were vacationing on Green Lake and have been sweethearts…

When Brian and Julie Ha n s o n purchased their log home in Flathead Valley, Montana, they knew they eventually wanted to bring the 1990s 2,400-square-foot home into the 21st century. However, their remodeling timeline was sped up when a burst pipe caused flooding that went undetected for more than 10 days. “We were living in Atlanta and got the call on New Year’s Eve of 2014 that a foot of water had been sitting in the home for almost two weeks,” explains Julie. Their unplanned trip to assess the damage confirmed it; plans to rework the vacation home’s layout to suit a full-time residence would now be a much bigger (and higher priority) project. They contacted Les Bernabi of Ciao Interiors to help them with the remodel and…

The idea that opposites attract may certainly ring true in the realm of relationships, but when it comes to home design, incompatibly could be a recipe for disaster. “People often go into a home project with two very different ideas,” explains Jay Parmeter, president of Golden Eagle Log Homes in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. “And, in a log home, every single wall and ceiling has to be talked about, so there is a great deal of thinking, discussion and compromise that needs to take place.” Can’t We All Just Get Along? Whether you’re building a house with your soul mate, a family member or a friend, disagreements are bound to pop up; after all, no two people, nor their needs, are exactly alike. “Each person may love log homes, but for…

Stroll through the aisles of nearly any grocery store and you’re bound to spy a sack of flour, a package of pasta or a box of cereal from Hodgson Mill. But it’s not only their wholesome approach to food that sets them apart — for more than 125 years, this family owned business has strived to produce the most authentic grain-based products possible, and now they have a charming log storefront to match their all-natural philosophy. Set in Effingham, Illinois, roughly a half hour’s drive from the site of Abe Lincoln’s historic log cabin, “The Mill” strives to recreate the original Hodgson Mill pictured on its products’ packaging, though this time in glorious white pine from Jim Barna Log & Timber Homes. This partnership came about in the most unexpected…

My wife, Amanda, and I looked at each other as the excavator plunged into the ground, pulling the first massive shovel of dirt from the spot that would become the foundation of the rest of our lives — the log house we would turn into a home. “Wow, we are actually doing this,” was what both of our eyes conveyed with equal amounts excitement and trepidation, uncertain about what the next several months would hold in store. Looking at the construction project as a whole (the plans alone were 32 pages of elevations, engineering specs, foundation plans, log plans, roof designs, door and window schedules and electrical schematics, to name a few), it was hard to see the finish line. But like any journey, the best way to approach it…

As winter draws ever closer, you may think about settling indoors for the season. But as temperatures start to drop, the pleasure derived from an evening spent around an outdoor fire goes up — even for those in seasonally warmer climes. Truly, it fuels the soul, especially if you’ve gathered around the blaze with friends and family. However, not everyone has a dedicated firepit area (note to your DIY self: put that on your to-do list) that’s ready for cozy winter gatherings. That doesn’t mean you need to skip it altogether, but it does demand a bit more preparation to make sure you stay safe. Here are five tips for your best bonfire: 1 Know the law No matter where your log home might be located, there will be rules…

All U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Hutcheson ever wanted was to provide a safe, permanent home for his family. For many years, Matthew and his wife, Leslie, had to worry about the rent or where they would have to uproot their family next, which put a strain on their health and happiness. After serving our country for almost 13 years, Matthew’s final injury occurred while he was participating in an airborne operation. At 70 feet above ground, Hutcheson’s parachute lost its canopy, forcing him to hit the ground hard when he landed. He eventually was diagnosed with PTSD, TBI and a host of issues with his back. Hutcheson medically retired on September 5, 2007. Thanks to national non-profit Operation FINALLY HOME, along with builder Portico Properties, the Hutcheson family will never…