Innholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2025 i Log and Timber Home Living

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…

Tucked a mere 15 minutes from the buzz—and bourbon—of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, Jan and Tammy Donelson’s rental cabin, dubbed “Captain’s Cabin,” offers a rare blend of history, privacy and soul-soothing comfort. Surrounded by eight acres of woodland, this restored Appalachian log cabin (circa 1814) invites you to slow down and reconnect with nature, without sacrificing the conveniences of city living. Though it boasts an antique aesthetic, the cabin is perfectly comfortable. After acquiring the house when they purchased the property in 2010, Jan and Tammy set about restoring the space with intention, combining historic details with modern livability. It’s no wonder it’s been the set for movies like “The Love Hunt” and “Hidden Family Secrets.” “Jan, with his architectural and log home background, was able to influence the design,” Tammy…

An outdoor kitchen is proof that sometimes the best things in life really are the simple pleasures, like good food and the great outdoors. (And hopefully, even better company!) Luckily, for at-home gourmands who prefer the open air and an open flame, the capabilities of an outdoor kitchen have graduated from the humble grilling station. Today’s outdoor kitchens rival their air-conditioned counterparts thanks to advancements in technology and material design. See for yourself; here are some of the latest and greatest finds on the market. Keep Drinks Cold — and the Mess Outside Ruvati crafts marine-grade stainless-steel sinks that are as suitable for the back yard as they are for a boat deck. Thanks to a two-sided design, the insulated ice chest/sink combo from their “Merino” collection pulls double duty…

Every now and again, the boom of a cannon echoes across the rolling hills of Dover, Tennessee. It isn’t a historical reenactment from nearby Fort Donelson National Battlefield, as some might expect. The thunderous blast has a much more surprising origin—the front lawn of Rex and Kendra Hawkins’ lakeside getaway. “It’s probably why we don’t have neighbors anymore,” says Kendra with a laugh. The artillery-fire tradition has become the kickoff for the lake’s annual Fourth of July celebration—as well as a favorite (though sparingly used) party trick for the constant stream of visitors who frequent the home set on 260 acres. Having the freedom to fire a cannon at will is just one of the perks of owning a vast stretch of conservation land. Another is having plenty of space…

Kitchens and baths are the two hardest-working spaces in the home. They’re also the ideal spots to take a few calculated risks that will let your personality shine. As anyone in real estate will tell you, kitchens and baths sell homes. Why? Because these fundamental rooms are what excite buyers, and if you’re shopping for your dream log or timber home — or even if you are renovating your current house — you are firmly in that buyer category, but better … you get to choose exactly what you want. We collected nine kitchens and baths that really spoke to us. They address modern trends but with a nod toward timeless choices that will make you happy for the long haul. Vanquished Boundaries In addition to employing streamlined appliances, a…

Catch the previous four installments at loghome.com/rothenbergers The anticipation for the day you can step foot inside your dream home is a familiar experience for all who set out on the log and timber home journey. For some, it’s a matter of months; for others, years. For Steven and Becky Rothenberger, it was decades. After first laying eyes on the perfect piece of property 32 years ago, construction is finally finished and their long-held visions of life in their log-and-timber hybrid home are now a reality. “We had several small gatherings with a core group of family and friends for the first three months or so,” Steven recalls, after the heavy lifting of the move was completed. “We hosted Easter dinner for our immediate family, our son’s college graduation party, and…

There are various ways to answer this question based upon what manufacturer it is and how they mill and produce their log components. Milled logs for log home construction are often referred to by a nominal diameter (such as 12 inches), but their actual dimensions will differ due to the milling and drying process. Here’s how to understand the true or “actual” dimension of a “nominal” diameter milled log: 1 Nominal vs. Actual: The nominal size refers to the rough-cut diameter before the log is milled and dried. The actual dimension is the size after this processing. 2 Milling: Milling reduces the starting size of the logs. Logs can be lathed/milled to a specific diameter, like 8, 10 or 12 inches and so on. 3 Shrinkage: Wood shrinks as it dries,…

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…

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…

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Fate had a double surprise in store for Dan Matthews upon his retirement after 23 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, with not one but two fortuitous twists altering his life’s trajectory. In the first, the booming real estate market of 2021 presented Dan with an opportunity. The real estate agent who had facilitated the 2015 purchase of a house in his hometown of Jamestown, Tennessee, presented him with an enticing proposition to sell. Dan seized the moment, quickly selling the house he'd bought for $162,000 for almost half-a-million dollars. The windfall enabled the nature enthusiast and avid hunter to purchase a rugged three-acre parcel overlooking the Clear Fork River along the western escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau. With the perfect location secured, Dan just needed a place…