Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Log and Timber Home Living

As springtime temperatures begin to warm, your outdoor space begins to call. But winter can be rough on decks, so before you have that early morning coffee or host your first barbecue of the season, make sure it’s in good working order. Whether wood or synthetic, decks are exposed to the elements in more drastic ways than at other times of the year. Snow, freezing rain and ice can wreak havoc on materials, meaning they’ve been subject to an increased risk of expansion, contraction and movement from fluctuating temperatures and standing moisture, which can result in potential damage. Let’s review a few of the main issues to look for with wood decks, as well as what needs to be done to shore them up. Ensure Structural Soundness A deck is…

Theodore Roosevelt, often referred to as the “conservation president,” played a pivotal role in shaping the National Park Service. He championed the preservation of America’s natural treasures, signing legislation to establish the first five of the 63 national parks and creating the first 18 of what has grown to more than 100 national monuments under the Antiquities Act. As railroads spread westward, bringing with them adventurous recreationists, the need for lodges and public infrastructure arose, giving rise to National Park Service (NPS) Rustic. The Ahwahnee in California’s Yosemite National Park, pictured here, is a shining example from those early days.…

In the early 1990s, Steven and Becky Rothenberger first laid eyes on the land they’d eventually call home. At 20 years old, they had big dreams, but financial strides don’t necessarily come easy for young couples in love. As the years came and went, they never gave up on that ideal plot of ground. It would take 32 years for them to acquire and build on the perfect three-acre tract they found in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. “We found out that a local builder had bought the property just after we looked at it. He was going to build his own home on it, but he never did,” recalls Steven, whose degree in architectural design and experience with project management would one day prove invaluable. “Through the years, numerous people tried to…

Mother Nature has prowlers — even home invaders—everywhere. As a homeowner you need to police your property, keeping your eyes peeled for clues that your home may be under attack. Some bandits are easy to spot, like raccoons and woodpeckers. Others are a little more stealth. There’s a common six-legged villain that many a log and timber homeowner dreads the most: carpenter bees. We’re not only going to help you sniff out the perp, we’ll show you how to put ’em away for life. The Suspect Bees come in all shapes and sizes, from small-but-pesky sweat bees to bulbous-but-good-natured bumblebees. Carpenter bees are among the brutes of the group — big, noisy and kind of intimidating; yet to humans, these bees are mostly harmless. The males have no stinger,…

THE ROOSEVELT By MossCreek Aptly named, the Roosevelt evokes the spirit of parkitecture with clarity, blending rustic charm and modern functionality. “The Roosevelt Lodge is a tribute to the legacy of national parks today. Log, stone, timbers and glass create a home that embodies the heart of the American outdoors,” notes MossCreek President Allen Halcomb. Outside, the exterior’s distinctive mix of heavy-timber details, stone, wood board-and-batten siding and square, chinked, dovetailed logs create a harmonious connection to nature. Inside, the single-story design features three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and all the must-haves for a modern-rustic getaway, like an open-concept kitchen, a spacious dining room, a great room with a cozy fireplace and a loft overlooking it all. Don’t miss the dual stone chimneys which anchor the home and tie it to…

For Steve Hendrie, arriving at his log home in the West Virginia mountains feels like a sweet reward. Not only is he reunited with his wife, Karen, who relocated to the home full-time after her early retirement, he’s also immersed in the wonder of nature — rolling hills, dense forests and sweeping valley views — during his three-hour trek from his full-time residence in Hershey, Pennsylvania. “There is a part of the drive where you hit the open highway coming into the mountains, and as soon as I hit that spot, I just feel lighter, every single time,” he says. “It’s the juxtaposition between being busy at work and then pulling into the driveway and being in the woods, surrounded by the quiet and just being at peace.” “Once you’re…

Meet Jeff Miller, a log and timber frame enthusiast and self proclaimed “out-of-the-box-kind-of guy,” who dreamed up a soaring timber frame tower and then made it happen atop a mountain in South Dakota. Here’s how. JEFF: A few years ago, I ended up buying 160 acres with a big mountain on it — it’s just beautiful. In addition to that, it’s got some 1800s-era gold mines across the property. With such a place, I wanted to do something pretty unique and just started dreaming and drawing it all out on a napkin. A friend of mine, Brad Dewitt, used to build log homes. Over the years he actually built two homes for me, and we got to work on them together. He’s now in retirement in Arizona, but I…

WHEN THE OWNERS OF THIS TIMBER FRAME MASTERPIECE quite literally hit the jackpot, they put their winnings toward a grand prize: peaceful timber-frame country living in Kelowna, British Columbia. The couple worked with architect Kevin Halchuk of KH Designs, Inc., Heritage Construction and interior designer Whitney Smith to conceive a home that’s a showcase of craftsmanship, creativity and contemporary style. Rustic-industrial furnishings mingle with plush, colorful textiles for a space that’s as comfortable as it is good looking. Re-create their great room’s look with these similar finds. Shop these products and more on timberhomeliving.com by scanning the QR code!…

It’s not just the spectacular scenery that takes your breath away in U.S. national parks. The grand historic lodges inside the park boundaries (and sometimes just outside) offer unparalleled views and access to nature, that’s for sure. But they’re also quite the spectacle in their own right. (Plus, they’re way more comfortable than camping.) As detailed in Drawing Board on page 22, the “parkitecture” aesthetic, with roots stretching back roughly 100 years, remains a beloved architectural style for public and private spaces in and near wild places today, with examples dotting many popular trail maps. Some structures are original icons of the era, others are creative, modern interpretations. New or old, these bucket-list destinations, from lodges to visitor centers, epitomize the ethos of this style and immerse you in the…

Builder: Bigfork Builders bigforkbuilders.com Architect/Interior Design: Locati Architects locatiarchitects.com 1. A bump-out is the perfect spot for a daybed/reading nook — an escape within the private retreat. 2. Old-growth pine trees were individually sourced for the logs — a process that took builder Brad Reedstrom a full year. The result was worth the effort, as you can really feel the gentle hug the rich wood provides. 3. Sumptuous bedding is the key to any good night’s slumber. At first, the touch of animal print may catch the eye, but it’s the silver sheen of both the headboard and the fabric that adds a hint of glitz, elevating the moody room. 4. To enhance the cozy vibe and keep the logs the focus of the space, the lighting is minimal and…

When Tony and Paula Shannon first laid eyes on the lakeside lot they now call home, Paula saw it for what it was — a wooded, overgrown thicket languishing from decades of neglect. But, in his mind’s eye, Tony could see through the tangle of trees and brush to the land’s true potential. Past the dense vegetation lay the promise of premium lakeside living on the shores of Georgia’s highly sought-after Lake Lanier. “No one else was even bothering to look at it,” Tony recalls. “We had to wait months until wintertime to even get down into the property,” adds Paula. Their patience paid off. Once they were able to navigate the terrain, the couple loved what they saw: sweeping views of the water and a gentle slope to the…