Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2024 i Log and Timber Home Living

Humans are an impatient lot. Our thirst for shortcuts and instant gratification extends to everything from our first cup of coffee in the morning to ever-increasing internet speeds. And while the perfect log or timber-framed home is a goal many of our readers spend years — sometimes decades — planning for, when the decision is made to stop dreaming and start doing, they, too, want it NOW! We have a few ideas to help fulfill that need. For starters, it’s important to think about the construction process even as you are mapping out your home’s floor plan. As our resident builder Dan Mitchell points out, designing and building a home may seem like two distinct roads on the log and timber home journey, but they are linked more than you…

Ranch-style homes have a reputation for practicality — their single-story layouts make them optimal for young kids and aging in place. But today’s ranch homes are more than the prosaic designs of yesterday. With all the same benefits of single-level living, modern ranches are aesthetically and functionally flexible — especially when built with log or timber frame elements. See how these unique designs prove today’s ranches have come a long way from the low-slung, boxy designs of the past. The Bowen Ranch By Wisconsin Log Homes Square Footage: 4,834 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 5 full, 1 half This meandering design strikes just the right balance, lending itself to an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Tom Steber, national home and design consultant for Wisconsin Log Homes, explains it was important to not just have 360-degree…

Let’s state the obvious: To build a log or timber-framed home, you need a plan, and that plan is the direction in which the house will take shape. Without it, your builder will be wandering in the dark. But all plans are not equal. As a builder, some construction docs I’ve received have had the basic elements but are relatively vague, and this leads to a lot of wasted time asking for clarification. When you leave items open to the construction crew’s or a trade contractor’s interpretation, the more chance there will be for issues on the job site. Conversely, the more specific your plans are, the easier and faster the home will be to build. Take time to really think it through from the foundation to the log or…

The difference that good hardware makes is proof that design really is in the details. Take a look around your home, and you’ll find these often-overlooked fixtures are a part of your everyday life — from your front door to your kitchen cabinets to the light switches throughout. Why not give them the attention to detail they deserve? With so many innovative, artistic and downright one-of-a-kind options on the market today, it’s time to make a statement with your hardware. Here’s what’s caught our eye lately. Marvelous Marble Who says marble is just for floors and counters? A new debut from hardware heavyweight Emtek, green marble knobs and levers give doors and drawers the VIP treatment. As part of Emtek’s “SELECT” program, you get to customize each and every part…

Being tasked with creating a getaway cabin that matches the beauty of its surrounding landscape can be a tall order. When that cabin has the jaw-dropping Teton Range as its backdrop, it’s a near-Herculean challenge. But with thousands of builds in a variety of impressive settings under their belts, PrecisionCraft Log and Timber Homes was confident they could deliver. In this case, the task takes the form of a 2,100-square-foot timber frame cabin nestled in a private community in Driggs, Idaho. Known as “Tributary,” the luxury development features an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and wellness center across its 1,500 acres of majestic countryside. The vision for the cabin was simple — a place that takes its cues from every aspect of the region, allowing it to serve as both a…

The workbench is empty, The tools are laid down. The craftsman ascended, His work here is done. The skill he acquired, The love he has shown. He used it for God, And now he’s gone home. The sound of the hammer, We’ll hear it no more. But the sound of his laughter, Now sounds on Heaven’s shore. His mission was clear To all he did meet. His faith unwavering, In Jesus, complete. His message was simple, For all to embrace: Cherish the Lord, And grow in His grace. The workbench is empty, for that we are sad. But for Andy we’re happy, Our brother, grandpa, and dad. In October 2013, we profiled Andy Miller in an article entitled, “The Natural.” You can view that piece at timberhomeliving.com/the-natural…

SEE HOW ONE COUPLE DESIGNED their ideal ranch-style home using a Western aesthetic as their guiding inspiration. Grab the floor plan and all the details at loghome.com/new-england-western-romance. NOT SURE WHERE TO START when designing a single-story home? At timberhomeliving.com/single-minded, find pro pointers for achieving the ideal plan for your needs. ONCE YOU’VE SETTLED INTO YOUR SPACE, you can make a positive economic and environmental impact on your new locale. Learn about alternative food networks and how to create one where you live at cabinlife.com/building-local-food-networks. CAN’T DECIDE between a log or timber home? Learn the key differences and then subscribe to our channel, @logandtimberhomeliving, for upcoming inspiring home tours, savvy building insights and much more! Connect with us on social media and sign up for our newsletters! Looking to buy your…

H. PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes eschews any old ideas about long, boxy ranch shapes with this design. Centered around an elegant entry courtyard with separate “wings” for privacy and entertaining, the footprint takes an H-like shape, which creates a sense of flow throughout the home. The laundry is cleverly placed in the bedroom wing for easy access, while a half bath and closet off the garage on the opposing wing provide extra utility. X. This plan, by Riverbend Timberframing, efficiently separates sleeping quarters from entertaining and living spaces – of which there are many. The foyer opens into a centralized, grand living room for more formal entertaining; off to the side, a cozy den closes off to the rest of the public spaces and makes for a quiet spot to…

It’s a simple fact: With homeownership comes maintenance. It doesn’t matter whether your home is built from bricks, concrete, stone, stucco or wood. But when your home is built with logs and timbers, there’s a misconception that somehow these houses will be harder to maintain. Summer and winter are the harshest seasons. Scorching sun, severe cold and whipping wind that pelts ice, rain and debris onto roofs, windows and walls are no friend to your log or timber home. If damage occurs and is left unattended it can create very costly problems. By inspecting your home each fall and spring and tackling a short, manageable to-do list, your home will be ready for the season ahead. Here’s your honey-do list: 1 Inspect Stains and Coatings The brutal summer sun can break…

YOU’VE DREAMED AND SAVED for your ideal log or timber home. Now, as you finalize your plans, consider these smart strategies for aging in place so you can rest easy knowing you’re all set for the future. Inside the Home Keeping in mind the changes that come with aging, some simple design tactics can make the process easier. An open and single-level floor plan ensures an easy path between essential spaces. If multiple stories are a must, consider adding a residential elevator — or plan ahead for one (incorporating stacked closets which can house a future shaft will do the trick). Universal design practices are key, from curbless showers to wide hallways. Even switching from knobs to lever-style handles and pulls will pay off. (Turn back to page 26 for…

Run your hands along the rough surface of weathered timber, and you can feel the stories of decades gone by. Reclaimed wood and other salvaged materials are brimming with the kind of character and individuality that imbue a new home with a sense of time and place. “Reclaimed materials have a history,” explains Zac Guy, CEO of Appalachian Antique Hardwoods. “People love to connect with the land and history. It creates a deeper enjoyment of your home. Plus, it’s the epitome of recycling.” It’s true — these materials are more than a style statement. Using salvaged supplies conserves resources and keeps them out of the trash. Stylish and sustainable, the choice is a win-win. From unusual origins to creative applications, reclaimed materials can take your custom design to the next…

When Dan and Carolyn Rogers decided to give up life in a vintage, three-story Des Moines home for a charming ranch-style log cabin in the country, they kept their Victorian aesthetic — just not all their stuff. Here’s their story. Carolyn: The story of our log cabin stretches back six decades, when my family first became acquainted with the original (and only) owners of our cabin: Rev. Dick Kiefer and his wife, Shirley. After living in a church parsonage for many years, the Kiefers decided to build a home of their own – a log cabin – on three acres of land a few miles west of Dallas Center that they purchased from another good friend, noted Iowa architect and preservationist Bill Wagner. In the late 1970s, with the help…

Complete your home’s unique design with finishing materials that cement its singularity. Once you have your design dialed in, try these expert ideas for a ranch that truly stands apart from the rest: Make an Impression “In the Urban Oasis, the entry porch has a twisted timber post feature. It’s the small details like that which can really stand out and elevate the design of a ranch-style home to the next level, without overdoing it or being too extravagant.” – Nicole Try Some Texture “We find people often opt for different textures on the exterior, so they might add stone, cedar shakes or vertical board and batten in their home’s gables.” – Tom Mix it Up “On the interior, I’m seeing people use stone and plaster to create contrast with…

AS THE SAYING GOES, OPPOSITES ATTRACT. But in this wide-open entertaining space, one might say they enhance: indoors blend with out, wood harmonizes with metal, and new meets old. To set the stage, living and dining spaces open not just to one another but outside as well, thanks to massive, folding-glass doors that disappear to create a seamless connection to nature. Inside, textured logs stand out in sharp relief against crisp white paneled walls, and a mix of fixtures and furnishings with polished flair add personality and a hint of luxury. We sourced the fashionable finds that will help you re-create the look. Scan here to shop these products and more on loghome.com…

At Druthers Brewing Company, a seasonally inspired menu of craft beers and crowd-pleasing bites awaits visitors at all five of the beer maker’s locations spread out across New York’s capital region. But head to their place in Clifton Park, which opened in 2022, and you’ll see why they describe it as their “most ambitious location to date.” Contained within a Douglas fir timber frame from New Energy Works with 541 timbers from Fire Tower Engineered Timber, the European-beerhall-inspired space is intended to encourage guests to linger. “If you’ve ever seen pictures of Oktoberfest, it’s like that – very open, picnic-style seating and an energetic atmosphere,” explains architect John Paone. “But the design itself also hearkens back to when Clifton Park and the surrounding towns were first developed. It was a…

Across 240 tree-covered acres that stretch into the distance, the timeless beauty of the Ozarks comes swiftly into focus. Memories of their scenic wonder have stayed with Donna Cantrell her whole life, so when she and her husband Hal thought about retirement, they knew just where they wanted to be. Mountain Home, Arkansas, halfway between the towns of Buford and Buffalo City, held a family treasure from days gone by along with the promise of a dream to be fulfilled. On the crest of a knoll, their log home is now situated with stunning vistas of the mountains and wooded surroundings just three miles from the banks of the White River. Also on the tract is a quaint little home that Donna has known since childhood. “My grandfather built that…