Log Homes

Log Home Kits vs Handcrafted Log Homes: Why We Chose A Log Cabin Kit

One of the hardest decisions Greg and I had to make was whether to build a handcrafted log home or a manufactured log cabin kit. 

If we waited another 3-4 years, we would have the money to build the custom log home -- which is generally more expensive.  But ultimately, our need to have our log home dream now and the discovery of the affordability and flexibility of the log cabin kit sealed our fate.

Continue reading: Why We Chose A Log Cabin Kit

Looking For Green Log Home Products & Building Supplies?

Finalists for the "Green Log Awards" were recently announced.

The GREEN LOG Home & Lifestyle Awards were created in response to the growing demand for green building solutions.

The goal of the awards is to locate and shine a spotlight on those companies and individuals who are enabling healthier homes and lifestyles. -- GREEN LOG Home & Lifestyle Awards

What this means for people like you and me is... a great list of environmentally-friendly log home products and suppliers!

So, if you're trying to make your currently log home more "green" or you'll soon be building your very own green log home, here are some companies that will make your life easier!

Continue reading: Green Log Home Products

Concrete Log Homes: An Unusual Type Of Log Cabin

I subscribe to a bunch of different log home magazines. And, I'm given quite a few, as well. (Since we are still quite early in the log home building process, magazines are especially helpful at this stage of the game.)

If I hadn't read it for myself, I would have never known that there were so many different types of log homes these days. I mean, I may have heard some of these terms tossed about among those in the industry here & there, but I never really knew what they meant... until now.

I'll talk more about the others soon, but first I'll start with concrete log homes.

Continue reading: Concrete Log Homes?... Yep!

Log Cabins On U.S. Pennies And Stamps

I found this interesting...

Despite the fact that the Log Cabin Society of Michigan has been trying (for the past 10 years!) to get a log cabin featured on a U.S. postage stamp -- no no avail -- the U.S. Mint has decided to put a log cabin on the U.S. penny!

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Celebrity Log Homes: Pictures Of Log Cabins Owned By Celebrities

I've always wondered which celebrities owned log homes. So I did a little digging and found some interesting ones.

Some of the following celebrity log homes are considered vacation homes or part-time residences... but how many celebrities actually live in just one home year-round anyway?

Check out which celebrities own log cabins...

Continue reading: Celebrity Log Homes

All These Delays & Changes May Actually Be A GOOD Thing...

My motto has always been: Change Is Good. But never has that seemed more true than now.

You see, it's been about 2 years since we started the process of building our log home. We had the land picked out, the bank picked out, the GC picked out, the builder picked out, the logs picked out, the floorplan designed the way we wanted it, and we even started clearing the land.

Then why isn't our log home done yet? Why haven't we even raised the first log yet?

We've been forced into a slight holding pattern right now due to all the banking & loan issues going on these days. Now is not a good time to get money -- especially large amounts of money.. Especially for home loans.

So, we are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, I guess. And we have to wait it out a little longer until banks are willing to lend money like normal again.

In Everything Bad, There Is Something Good
Fortunately, this gives us plenty of time to take a step back and reflect on where we are and how we got here -- in terms of planning and building our new log home. And I have to say, I'm honestly quite glad that the process of getting everything in order to build our log home has taken so long this far.

What I mean is...
If we had built right away (back in August of 2006), and gone with our first gut instincts on the details including:

• where to build


• what we want the house to look like


• where we want the windows


• ...etc, etc. etc.

Then we wouldn't have truly ended up with the log home of our dreams! (Which is right around the corner... I'm sure of it.)

Continue reading: Log Home Building Delays

Outdoor Dog Furniture For Your Log Dog

Log home owners with dogs may be interested in incorporating some "log" features into your dog's lifestyle too. For example, outdoor dog houses, porches, barns, and beds for dogs.

Check 'em out...

Continue reading: Dog Outdoor Funiture

Indoor Furniture & Accessories For Your Log Dog

If you've got a log home and a dog, then you might be interested in some fun furniture and accessories that both you and your dog will enjoy.

Here are some indoor pieces...

Continue reading: Indoor Dog Furniture

Fun Decorating Ideas For You AND Your Dog In Your New Log Home

As you know, I'm a dog person. We currently have one dog (a Black Lab), and we are finding that we've had to rethink a few things in our new log home in order to accommodate our dog. Just small things... like ways to incorporate his food & water station, types of hardwood to use on the flooring, and the easiest way to bathe him.

The aim is for the dog to have a place in the house (just like he does now), while not wrecking all of our favorite features of a log home. (He's a very big, very active dog.)

Anyway, here are some fun ways that I've found to include dog-friendly features into your new log home.

Continue reading: Log Home Dog Features

See What Your Log Home Would Look Like With Different Colors Of Stains, Chinks, Decks & Trim

The Weatherall company provides a number of log home products, include stain and chinking.

In 1982 the Weatherall Company became the first company to develop an all-acrylic, elastomeric chinking for log homes. This revolutionary new product was known as Weatherall 1010 Chinking. Shortly thereafter Weatherall Company developed a new log finish that was compatible with the chinking. Next a unique backer-rod was engineered to complete the first true Log Home Sealant System-a total system that would provide the ultimate protection against the harsh elements of weather: sunlight, moisture and wind. Source

Now, they're offering a fun (and FREE!) downloadable program that lets you see what your log home would look like with different color schemes.

Continue reading: Log Stain Color Choices