Here are the notes from my reviews of refrigerators. In the end, the GE Profile Energy Star and Maytag Ice20 were my top choices for refrigerators.
Decor & Accessories
Washers And Dryers And Refrigerators… Oh My!
Overall, GE — mostly their Profile line — and Maytag — also sold as Whirlpool — have kitchen appliances, washers and dryers that seem far superior to me than all of the other brands I looked at.
Cleaning Tips For Artificial Plants & Silk Flower Arrangements
Some tips regarding silk plants, faux trees, fake flower arrangements, and artificial plants. First and foremost… here’s how to clean them!
Home Decorating & Remodeling Tip: How To Get The Look You Want
When it comes to finding good help when building or remodeling your home, there’s a fine line between getting a quality result and being able to afford the type of result you’re after. Here’s the secret to finding good, fast, and cheap help.
Some Interesting Things About Composite Decks
What follows are some of the most interesting things I’ve learned about composite decks, along with some of the questions I still have about composite decking materials. Specifically, I’m interested in TimberTech vs MoistureShield composite decks.
How To Cover Scratches On Composite Decks & Patios
If you have a composite deck or patio… over time, scratches are practically inevitable. For the most part, ‘routine’ scratches won’t even be noticeable, but it’s the deeper scratches that you’ll probably want to cover up.
More About TimberTech’s Composite Decks And Patios
As I see it, here are a few of the things that set TimberTech apart from other composite deck companies…
MoistureShield vs ChoiceDek vs TimberTech Composite Decks
Thinking about getting a composite deck? We are, too. Here’s what I’ve learned about the similarities and differences between MoistureShield, ChoiceDek, and TimberTech decks. See which one we are leaning toward right now and why.
Should We Use Composite Decking? Which Composite Deck Products Are Best?
We are considering using composite decking materials for the decks and porches on our new log home. But we’re torn… between looks and durability. Here are our thoughts…
Painting Full Log Walls Inside…The Effect Painted Logs Might Have on the Resale of Your Log Home
The following pictures show some of the ways that you can still have a nice log home without necessarily having ‘shades of brown’ as your primary color scheme. Typically, you’ll see one wall painted to serve as a focal spot or an accent wall. I have no interest in painting ALL — or even most — of the log walls inside our house. Just 1, maybe 2 of the smaller walls instead. Like these…
Should We Screen The Front Porch Or The Back Porch?
So, which is the MOST likely to be used and appreciated?… A screened in front porch? Or, a screened in back porch? What about a partially-screened in Porch? Here are my thoughts.
Tips For Buying A New Refrigerator And Keeping Your Fridge Running Efficiently For Years
Here are some things I wouldn’t have necessarily thought of when it comes to buying a new refrigerator, keeping it running efficiently, and saving money in the process.
I Found Some Uncommon Goods For Log Home Owners!
While searching for unique items made from twigs, sticks and branches, I found the best selection and most unique items at a store called Uncommon Goods. Things made from sticks will add a touch of ‘rustic’ to an otherwise modern log home.
Birdhouses Made From Twigs, Sticks & Branches
Pictures of birdhouses made of twigs, sticks and branches. Plus, detailed directions for building a bird house out of recycled materials like this.
Wooden Birdhouses: Think Of ‘Em As Log Homes For Your Birds!
Log cabin birdhouses you can buy or make yourself. There are lots of pictures of bird houses that resemble log homes here.
Pine Logs And Birch Hardwood Floors Have Light, Natural Stain… What Color Furniture & Accents?
Should you mix things up a bit and use some light brown pieces and some darker brown pieces of furniture and accents? Or should you try to match all your browns with the color of your logs? Here’s my opinion…
Choose Paint Colors For Your Rooms With These FREE Online Color Tools
Now you can experiment with color on your walls, trim, ceilings and accents before even picking up a paintbrush! Try colors made by Glidden, Benjamin Moore, Behr, and Sherwin Williams.
What Is Your Home Style?
These online quizzes are fun… and informative! Really. See what your home and your personal space say about you, as a person. And how much of your individual personality goes into your decorating, organizing, and living spaces.
Log Cabin Bird Feeders
These bird feeders are built to resemble rustic log cabins. They are perfect for anyone who appreciates the fine art of log homes and enjoys living the log home lifestyle — inside and out!
About Teak Wood Used In Furniture & Decks
There are very few differences between the Teak furniture that is used indoors and that which is typically used on decks, patios and porches. Typically Teak patio furniture will have a lighter brown — sometimes reddish — hue. Indoor furniture made from Teak is often stained a darker brown color. We love ’em both. And we plan to buy Teak furniture for inside our log home, as well as some outdoor pieces for our wide and spacious porches.
FLOR Carpet Tiles Available At Target
FLOR carpet tiles are DIY carpet squares that you can mix & match to cover the entire floor in a room, or to create the effect of a rug. FLOR carpet tiles are available at Target.
More Wooden Covered Bridge Pictures
There’s just something nostalgic and picture-perfect to me about rustic wooden things. Who knows, maybe someone out there will think up some fun & interesting ideas for their own log home property after looking at these pictures of wooden covered bridges. Enjoy!
Towel Hooks & Hangers For Bathroom Towels And Robes
When it comes to bathrooms, have you thought of this one already?… A place to hang your towels, robes, or a change of clothes.
Treehouses & Hideaway Cabins You Can Build Yourself
Following are the best books with complete instructions for building a treehouse for your kids — or maybe an escape hideaway for yourself. If you’re still building your new log home, then this might be the perfect thing to do with some of those extra logs, stain and roofing materials!
Lighting Issues In Bathrooms
What is mood lighting? Think of a spotlight… just the right amount of light that calls attention to one particular area or object. Also think: candlelight… light that is soft and warm, not harsh and overpowering. I like to use dimmers to create the effect of spotlights and candle lights, combined.
How To Find The Best Fogless Shower Mirror
Jim shaves his head bald every morning. In addition to a lifetime supply of Gillette Mach 3 razors and replacement blades, it’s a necessity that we have a fog-free mirror located inside the shower itself. Here’s what we’ve learned about fogless shower mirrors…
Looking For Hardwood Flooring? You Won’t Find Floors More ‘Rustic’ Than This!
the folks at Heart Pine Reserve ‘reclaim’ old wood and make it new again. Their current reclamation project is the Old Taylor Distillery in Woodford County, Kentucky. Check out their rustic hardwood floors!
The Great Northern Door Company: A Great Company For Rustic, Wooden Garage Doors
I’d always admired what I call ‘barn-looking’ garage doors — you know, with the criss-crossed wooden slats that give a door that rustic, barn-like look. But I figured they were either a pipe dream, because they’d be too expensive, or that Jim wouldn’t like them. But after seeing the doors available from The Great Northern Door Company, we’re pretty sure we’re going this route now!
Wooden Covered Bridge For Log Home Owners
It makes sense that your covered bridge resemble your dwelling. So if you have to cross water on your property — and you have a log home — perhaps you’ll want something like this.
Yard Art… Porch Art… Who Needs It?
I have to admit that I kind of enjoy non-traditional, outside-the-box types of yard art. Especially if it makes you smile whenever you pass by it. Case in point: This porch pig… and this plump & friendly pig statue… and these colorful swans… Or, what about a garden gnome???
Unique Peterboro Baskets For Toilet Paper & Kleenex Tissue Storage In The Bathroom
This my favorite toilet paper holder for the bathroom. I think it would look especially great in a log home bathroom. Baskets and logs kinda go hand-in-hand, right? Peterboro baskets are the BEST!
DIY Carpet & Hardwood Flooring Options
Two flooring ideas seen on the CBS Early Show seem very easy to do, and they’re relatively inexpensive, too! If you’re on a budget, and you can’t afford solid hardwood flooring or thick plush carpet at this time… these DIY options will have everyone fooled. Check out these tips from Danny Lipford, host of Today’s Homeowner.
Pictures Of Stone Accents Used In Log Homes
The following log home pictures will show you various ways to enhance your log home with natural stone.
Pictures of Log Home Kitchens
Following are a wide variety of photos taken inside log homes. This set of photographs will give you some design and decorating ideas for your own log home kitchen.
Wildwood Furniture Company
Several pieces of furniture which appear in the HGTV Dream Home Of The Year for 2007 were actually created by Wildwood Furniture Company. They offer handcrafted mountain and cabin custom furnishings. All furniture is designed and built in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
The Best Hardwood Floors If You Have Dogs
We have two 80-lb dogs AND we’re building a new log home. You can bet we’ve done some homework about hardwood flooring at this point! Here’s what we’ve learned about dogs and hardwood floors.
Tips For Dog Owners With Hardwood Floors
In the process of trying to find ‘the perfect’ hardwood floor for our new log home, I found the following tips and opinions helpful.
2007 HGTV Dream Home… Check Out The Rustic, Timber Frame Accents!
The 2007 HGTV Dream Home will be featured on television January 1st, following the Rose Day Parade. The interesting part to me: While not exactly a ‘log home’… it’s a rustic lodge home, with a number of heavy timber accents and timber frame characteristics.
Carpets Of Dalton & The Designer Dream Home In Georgia
The carpet outlet itself actually features 4 different major interior stores — side by side — for a total of 750,000 square feet of showroom! This means you have a wide selection of flooring, furniture, and home products right at your fingertips. My favorites are: Carpets of Dalton and the Designer Dream Home. Here are highlights…
Wicker Furniture That Doubles As Pet Furniture
Check out this dog crate that’s disguised as a fashionable piece of furniture! Got cats?… There’s a matching kitty litter box table, too!
Jentle Pet Bathtub For Dogs + Super Luxurious Bath Tubs For Big Dogs
Here’s a luxury bathtub for dogs that features whirlpool jets and ergonomic design. Your dog will love it and so will your back!
Extra-Large, Extra Cushy Dog Bed Made Of Logs
This XL dog bed would look perfect inside a log home. It’s from Lonesome Cottage and is available with or without the ‘dog mattress’. Here’s why I love it…
Lonesome Cottage Furniture Company
The two guys who were at the Log Home Show were adept at thinking of everything we hadn’t thought of, and they showed us every way possible to incorporate their furniture into our life. Overall, we appreciated that they were also very knowledgeable and helpful at the same time. FYI, the wood used for Lonesome Cottage furniture is Northern White Cedar. The company is based out of Minnesota.
Rocky Top Log Furniture & Railing
when we were in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for the Log Home and Timber Frame Show, we stopped by their showroom. Here are the best things about Rocky Top Log Furniture & Railing, including our favorite pieces of furniture from them.
Keepsake Imports Hand-Crafted Rustic Wood Furniture
All of the pieces of furniture at Keepsake Imports are made from old wagon wheels and ox horns, as well as other everyday items commonly found in Thailand and beyond. For over ten years, Keepsake Imports has been working hard to design, create and manufacture awe-inspiring furniture and accent pieces for timber frame homes, log homes, and cabins.
What’s Your Style? Decorating With A Theme In Mind
Are you going for classic and rich looking? Modern and hip? Smooth edges & curves or sharpe edges and fine lines?
What about rustic? Have you considered themed housewares? You’ll probably want to decide fairly early whether you want to decorate your log home in a particular theme or not. We did.
Moving Into The Home We Built: Photos Of The Painting & Decorating Process
After we built our traditional brick home in Franklin Tennessee, we had to decorate it. We knew we wanted some color, and we knew we wanted to step outside of our comfort level a bit. So we did! The following photos highlight the steps we went through to paint and decorate our new home… […]
