Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2025 i Log and Timber Home Living

Step inside this Scandi-inspired Nantucket home on page 54! When it comes to world travel, I’m not what you’d call “experienced.” The most exotic place I’ve ever been was a two-week trip to Hawaii (nothing to sneeze at), and the only time I’ve ever been out of the United States was a family camping expedition to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. I was five. An intense dislike of flying gets in the way of my international destination goals: Italy, Scandinavia and Costa Rica. Eventually I’ll visit the palaces, hamlets and jungles that call to me, but in the meantime, I consider myself lucky because U.S. architecture is bursting with the global influences of the immigrants who laid the foundation of this country and continue to inspire. In fact, log…

There are periods in architectural history where staircases take center stage. Take Victorian times. Grand stairways, decorated to the nines with turned spindles and intricate woodwork, were representative of wealth and status. We still see evidence of that in homes today: Southern estates with sweeping double staircases centered in a massive foyer; log and timber lodges with elaborate half-log treads and hand-built twig balusters. If that’s your inclination — and you can afford it — they do make a statement. One of the latest ideas to take hold in modern homeowners’ imaginations is floating stairs — unencumbered treads seeming to hover in mid-air without the aid of the stringers, risers and railings you’d find in a standard staircase. They are cool, and I’ve built them, but I have noted a…

Architect: RMT Architects, Builder: Bigfork Builders Timber Provider: Wild Wood Eccentrics IN THE SHADOW OF MONTANA’S SWAN MOUNTAIN RANGE, Old World meets Old West in the form of a reclaimed timber frame barn. Its state-of-the-art construction is cloaked in an ambiance only achieved with salvaged materials and timeless trimmings. Inside, a small kitchen, a bar, a gathering area and a grand fireplace make the most of the 850-square-foot structure. The transportive interiors convey a sense of place through a collection of mixed metals and rugged textiles, finished with nailhead trim and classic Western motifs. Channel the same aesthetic in your own abode with these similar finds. Shop these products and more on timberhomeliving.com by scanning the QR code!…

Design/Timbers: Timberlyne timberlyne.com Builder: Flatout Build Group flatoutmt.com…

If walls could talk, John and Lisa Owen’s house might just confess to having a split personality — and proudly so. At its core, the timber home is a quintessential mountain getaway, perfectly suited to its location mere minutes from Montana’s popular Glacier National Park. From the outside, the natural materials and post-and-beam beauty exude rustic charm, while the interiors unfold as a refined mountain-style showplace. But this is where the expected both begins and ends. Within this framework of a classic mountain retreat, a surprising aesthetic emerges — a playful blend of island vibes mixed with tree house whimsy. Think dude ranch meets Swiss Family Robinson. This unusual fusion was the result of a focused vision, curated over several years. “We’ve been visiting the area for 35 years,” shares…

Rich in charm, whimsy and natural appeal — are we talking about log and timber homes? Yes, but these descriptors certainly also apply to English cottage gardens. Although there’s no authoritative definition for an English garden, there are certain repeating elements that will give it that vibe. The following four essentials set this genre apart, and you can use them in a landscape of any size, from a small plot framing the front of a log cabin porch to a more expansive back yard that trails into the woods. Best of all, due to a heavy use of perennials and little manicuring, they’re among the easiest types of landscaping to maintain. Plant for Density & Diversity Unlike the more formal and often linear French style of gardening, in which plants…

Settled by Germans in 1846, Fredericksburg, Texas, still sports a distinctly Bavarian flair. With evidence everywhere, from menus to the architecture, there’s no denying how the city got its start. Drive 15 minutes southwest to Augusta Vin winery, and you’ll find yourself transported somewhere else entirely — perhaps even back in time. The estate winery, one of several redefining Texas’ Hill Country as wine country, is crafted with a unique Old-World aesthetic that takes root in a hybrid timber-framed clubhouse, provided by Timberlyne. Overlooking 60 acres of vineyards, the two-story structure is a modern interpretation of a cruck frame. This framing style traditionally utilizes long pairs of naturally curving pieces of timber to form A-frames that support the roof structure. Robert Klodginski, manager of design for Timberlyne, explains that this…

LOG AND TIMBER HOMEOWNERS LOVE HARDWOOD FLOORS. They also often love dogs. And while we put our pooches on a pedestal, we don’t appreciate the little biological snafus they have in the house. They wreak havoc on those floors. So how can you get pet stains out of your hardwood? The truth is that the less time it has to soak into the wood fibers, the better chance you have to remove it. Urine contains ammonia, which will react to the tannins in the wood — particularly oak — and darken it over time. The longer it’s there, the harder it will be to eradicate, and boards may need to be replaced. But before you rip out your hard-woods, there are a few DIY remedies to try. 1 Look to…

Passive house design is revolutionizing the concept of energy-efficient living. Originating in Germany, this innovative approach to residential construction reduces a home’s energy consumption by up to 90 percent, resulting in buildings that are both environmentally responsible and cost-effective to own. According to Lindsay Schack, founder and principal architect at Love Schack Architecture (loveschackarchitecture.com) and a certified consultant for the Passive House Institute US (phius.org), high-performance windows, continuous insulation (preferably made from sustainable materials like straw or cellulose) and a tightly sealed envelope, when combined with the ideal location, work in harmony to capture and retain heat from both the sun and internal sources. She says these elements significantly reduce the need for artificial heating during the winter, while in summer, they offer cooling through strategic shading and balanced natural…

We’re all looking for ways to save money on energy. Those who are truly energy-conscious are also on a quest to reduce consumption while they shave their expenses, while a third tier have their sights set on protecting the planet in the process. One building material claims to solve the equation for all three: structural insulated panels. “Structural insulated panels’ claim to fame is their energy efficiency — that’s the really big deal,” says Sean Metts, a sales consultant for Eco-Panels of Tennessee. “They have a lot of strength and stability as well, but it’s their ability to make sure you’re not paying an arm and a leg for energy down the line that makes them a highly desirable building component.” These panels, called SIPs for short, have been recognized…

Want Log & Timber Home Living to spotlight your home? Contact Katherine Owen at kowen@aimmedia.com. Step inside the creative renovation of reader Dwight Kroll, who transformed a 1980s, 1,200-square-foot cabin into a 1,900-square-foot studio and bunkhouse. DWIGHT: I live in central California, and I used to do a bunch of rock climbing, so I would often travel up into the Western Sierra. From my drive along the highway, I watched this log cabin being built. It was a little place built by Real Log Homes, and it really caught my fancy. One day as I came around the bend, I was surprised to see an open house sign there. I pulled up and walked in. I thought, “This is my place. I’m going to buy this,” even though I didn’t…

BUILDER Patriote Home From thick Scandinavian forests to the rugged North American terrain to the alpine villages of the Swiss Alps to the mountains of Japan, log and timber frame structures are building traditions that have stood the test of time and distance. Though they’ve evolved with modern engineering and construction advancements, the essence remains unchanged — utilizing natural materials in ways that harmonize with the environment. As global influences continue to shape the log and timber industry, traditional craftsmanship is being reinterpreted through cutting-edge design and innovative technologies. “Good layout and design are universal,” says architect Matt Franklin of M.T.N Design. He explains that while international aesthetics don’t necessarily present additional challenges from a floor plan perspective, the real determining factor is in the building’s exterior. “You want to…

For decades, the possibility was tantalizing: Steven and Becky Rothenberger had dreamed of designing their own log and timber hybrid home since their early 20s. Thirty-two years later, having secured three perfect acres in Pennsylvania, they were finally ready. But first, like any site, it needed to be primed. Luckily, the Rothenbergers knew just the guy for the job — and he was close to home. Seth Rothenberger, one of the couple’s two sons and owner of nearby SR Excavating, Inc., stepped up to tackle the sitework, excavation, installation of septic and propane systems and tanks, trenching for electrical wiring, driveway cut, backfill, final grading and more. As a young business owner — and someone who would get to enjoy future family gatherings at this forever home — Seth was…

From the beautiful beaches knitted with sand grass, to its marshes, bogs and a cadre of rare and endangered animals, Nantucket Island is a remarkable habitat. In fact, half of the island is protected in a land conservation program for the preservation of its natural splendor. But in the spaces in between, the island also plays host to another kind of habitat — a setting in which cobble stone streets lead to seashell driveways and weathered getaways clad in cedar shakes. Tucked in among these icons of New England architecture, Eliza Silva’s home speaks to both this classic vernacular and a conservationist mindset. Constructed with a unique, high performance thermal envelope developed by New Energy Works (NEW), a timber frame designer and manufacturer based in Farmington, New York, the roughly…