Log & Timber Home Living magazine is the ultimate guide to log, timber and hybrid homes. Expect expert advice on everything from floor plan design to materials and maintenance, as well as inspiring home tours, decorating ideas and more!
THIS TIME LAST YEAR, as we were putting the finishing touches on our annual kitchen-and-bath issue, I wrote my editor’s note about how I was in the early stages of a kitchen renovation of my own. At that point I was still interviewing contractors and collecting inspiration for the design elements and materials I hoped to see in my finished project. Ultimately I hired a talented, experienced and, above all, conscientious designer/builder in Will Current, owner of Buckeye Cabinet & Supply. (His company’s name only scratches the surface of what he can do.) Like any builder worth his salt, he suggested imaginative ways to maximize my space and save money where he could. Will loved to explain the “nuances” of the process, which became a running joke between us. All…
UNSURE HOW TO BALANCE YOUR KITCHEN between rustic retreat and modern marvel? You don’t have to choose! Get the best of both styles at loghome.com/log-home-kitchen-renovation. BATHROOMS MAY FEEL LIKE AN AFTERTHOUGHT compared other key rooms in the house, but they deserve just as much care and consideration. At timberhomeliving.com/bathroom-design-sins we outline common bathroomdesign missteps and how to avoid them. ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR KITCHEN’S LAYOUT PINNED DOWN, the fun really begins. Visit cabinlife.com/rustic-kitchen-designs for design inspiration that will transform your space into a culinary masterpiece. FROM A TIMBER-FRAMED FIRE TOWER in the Rocky Mountains to a rustic log lodge in Vermont, our Youtube channel, @logandtimberhomeliving, offers an inside look at real log, timber and hybrid homes. Check it out to see how other homeowners have created innovative, attractive kitchens and…
Perched in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, readers Mike and Lisa’s highly personalized timber frame home fuses ancient techniques (like shou sugi ban) and contemporary style (like custom steelwork). Here’s how they achieved hybrid harmony. Lisa: My husband and I recently moved into our new timber frame home on a ridgetop in southern Pennsylvania—the culmination of years of planning, designing and building. When we first saw this property, we saw the potential of the great mountaintop view, so we purchased the land, built a long drive up to it, cleared the lot and designed a timber frame home to fit the existing foundation. Mike: I’ve always admired timber houses, so I thought we’d either want post and beam or some kind of timber frame design. Lisa: We went out…
Although your garden and lawn will be resting for the winter, that doesn’t mean you have to do the same. In fact, the “off season” is the perfect time to do some serious planning, especially if you’re interested in trying a new growing approach or expanding an existing garden. Case in point: create what’s called a “kitchen garden.” Unlike basic vegetable gardens, kitchen gardens are specifically designed to support your cooking and baking endeavors for years to come, with selections that include fruits, vegetables, edible flowers and herbs. French gardeners call this a jardin potager, which means a “garden for the soup pot.” “We can borrow from the French for our modern gardens and create beauty for the soul as well as food for the table,” says Jennifer Bartley, author…
If your house is located off the beaten path, as log and timber frame homes frequently are, the subject of water is a vital conversation to have with your design/build team. More often than not, having a rural piece of property necessitates drilling a well. Usually it’s not difficult to locate water underground; the real issue is how much you find and what kind of production you can expect from that tap over time. Supply and Demand Here in my region of Sevier County, Tennessee, some wells produce only one to three gallons of water per minute, and that water will most likely be held in the well cavity itself. If you are a couple of empty nesters or if your house is on the smaller side, a flow of…
Designing a home for entertaining is all about balance. “It’s important to design spaces that are both functional for the host as well as inviting and comfortable for guests to create lasting memories,” explains Mathew Sterchi, the vice president of sales and marketing at StoneMill Log & Timber Homes. Key elements include open layouts, smooth transitions from the kitchen to gathering areas and dedicated prep zones. Outdoor spaces, smart technology and folding or sliding glass doors are features that only enhance a home’s hosting capabilities. But it’s also about connection. How can a home foster something so personal? Plans should encourage conversation, according to PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes’ lead architect Matt Franklin. “Think of spaces as pools in a stream where you can jump out of the flow of…
