Well here's something I just learned...

Reasons to buy paint-grade exterior doors versus stain-grade exterior doors.

I have thoroughly studied two different composite decking manufacturers at this point:

Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (AERT) -- maker of ChoiceDek and MoistureShield composite decking

Crane Plastics -- maker of TimberTech composite decking

This, as part of my quest to determine whether composite decks make sense or not for our new log home.

What follows are the biggest differences between ChoiceDek (also sold as MoistureShield) and Timber Tech. Those are the brands I like best at this point.

We are actually toying with a couple of "non-traditional" ideas when it comes to color choices for both the outside and inside of our log home.

I'll talk more about our exterior color choices later...

For now, let's focus on some of the color ideas that we are considering for one or two of our full-log walls inside.

What follows are some of the interior color choices we're thinking about... and why we've kind of had a change of heart after considering resale values.

The photo above gives you an idea of what I currently envision most of the interior walls of our log home will look like: 6x12 flat logs, no chinking, dark stair railing, and darker brown accents throughout.

Looking for some colors for the walls inside your home?

Now you can experiment with color on your walls, trim, ceilings and accents before even picking up a paintbrush!

Check out these online paint & color tools...

Blemishes and nail holes in wood trim and log walls are two things that most log home owners are going to want to "hide" at some point -- especially if you're trying to sell your log cabin.

This question actually came to me via e-mail today. Melissa wrote:

I am going to be selling my log home soon and of course I want it to look nice, however I have holes in the walls from moving towel racks etc and I am wondering what is the best way to fill these in so it blends best with the wall?"

The first thing that came to my mind was wood putty, but I have to admit... I wasn't sure if there was something "better" that log home owners (or builders) themselves might recommend.

So I did some research, and here's what I found...

When we first started designing our log home with Honest Abe Log Homes (about a year ago), Jim and I both gravitated toward the D-Log for some reason.

So naturally, we've been thinking all along that our log home would be built with D-Logs, right?

Well, fast-forward one year, and now we're considering a switch to Genesis Logs!

See why below... plus a listing of some of the differences between Genesis Logs and D-Logs.

When building a new home, you are investing a lot of hard work, time, and money.

But have you given any thought to just how long those things that you're installing are going to last? I have.

Recently the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shed some light on the life expectancy of common components inside a home -- everything from appliances, cabinetry, and flooring... to roofing, plumbing, and HVAC.

Have a look...

Sometimes you need to know what the total area is -- in contractor's terms -- before you can estimate the cost of a project.

This is easy to do...

Here's how to determine sizes and spaces -- in contractors' terms -- that can then be used when painting, estimating siding, flooring, etc.