Putting up treatments on a moving door can be tricky.  You don’t want to impede the opening and closing of the door, and ideally the window treatment will allow for views when you want it, and also provide privacy when desired.  A true french door is any door that consists of glass in the center that hinges open. Many times, there are two doors which open to provide a double wide entry, but that is not always the case.  We’ll talk a bit about window treatments for true french doors first, and then we’ll discuss window treatments for sliding glass doors.

Window Treatments for French Doors
(True French Doors)

One of the most simple treatments for a french door is a sliding curtain, be it tab top, grommet top or otherwise, which can be drawn across the doors (shown in the log home dining room photo above).  Shutting these treatments is fast and easy, but it does hinder the ability to go in and out of the doors.  So, if you have a high traffic french door that you’d like to enter and exit with or without the curtains drawn, avoid this treatment.

One alternative window treatment for french doors is the use of roman shades on each individual door (like the log home great room shown above).  With the roman shades all the way up, the view is completely unobstructed.  However, should the log homeowner want some privacy or light control, the roman shades can be lowered completely and they will still not interfere with the opening and closing of any of the doors.

This sumptuous log home bedroom (shown above) has an alternative to the cloth roman shades.  This french door has a traditional venetian blind on it.  It provides much the same function as the roman shade in that it will provide privacy and light control without getting in the way of opening or closing the french door.  On the plus side, slats made of wood or vinyl are easier to dust which is great for allergy sufferers.  On the negative side, depending on the blinds, quickly opening and closing the french door could be noisy, especially with metal slats.

Window Treatments for Sliding Glass Doors
(Not French Doors)

A sliding door is never a french door, despite how similar they can look when closed.  Sliding glass doors do however often serve the same function as french doors, and they require similar considerations when choosing an appropriate window treatment.  So, we will also take a look at some options for window treatments for sliding glass doors.

The sliding glass door in this log home great room (shown above) has a very similar look to the french doors.  And it also has a similar window treatment with venetian blinds over each pane of glass.  (Some sliding glass doors are actually available with the blinds in between two sheets of glass, so they never get dusty or damaged.)  With the countless varieties of positions and angles, the venetian blinds offer a great degree of flexibility in choosing just the right amount of light and privacy.

This log home dining room (shown above) has a wonderful double glass sliding door that opens onto a beautiful patio.  Here roman shades are used again, but this time not on the individual panes of glass, but instead running the whole width of the doors and the sidelights.  Since the doors slide in their tracks, the roman shades have a low risk of getting stuck or interfering with the movement of the doors.

Finally, this log home bedroom (shown above) has a sliding glass door leading to the deck beyond.  The homeowners here chose a grommeted curtain and hung it from a curtain rod running the full length of the sliding door and window.  Unlike with the hinged french door we showed earlier, this curtain is not as likely to get stuck when the door opens and closes.  Therefore, a window treatment such as this works quite well, especially in a bedroom where one wants to quickly convert a window treatment to provide privacy without having too many cords to pull.

We hope you’ve gotten some ides from this posting.  Whether you have true french doors, or you have sliding glass doors, you will no doubt realize the benefit of having extra light and views.  But you’ll also be aware of the desire to provide privacy and block light when necessary.  So, if you have experience with picking out window treatments for french doors, or sliding glass doors, do share with us.  Leave us a comment, or post your ideas on our Facebook page.

As described in our last post, log homes are extremely versatile.  They can be made to look very modern and they can also be made to look very rustic.  The choice is completely up to the log homeowner.  We’d like to share some of the unique ways our Real Log Home owners have brought a bit of the rustic to their homes.

Antlers

Love them, or hate them, using antlers in home decor has been a popular design selection for years (more like centuries.)  Whether you have an entire chandelier made of them, or if you use them as small accents, there is no denying that the use of antlers (real or fake) adds an air of the rustic to any log home:

This log home dining room (shown above) has a lot of rustic style, while still maintaining a well put together feel.  An antler chandelier sheds light on the long farm table.  The chairs also add to the rustic feel of the room with their rough-hewn style.

This log home bathroom (above) shows how antlers can be used to simply add a hint of the rustic.  You can see that antlers have been used as handles for the linen closet in this log home bathroom.

Rough, Unfinished Wood

One of the most popular ways that Real Log Home owners choose to add rustic style to their log homes is by using furniture with a rough, unfinished look.

This log home kitchen shows off three rustic bar stools at the island.  The stools themselves look as though they have been made from miniature logs all pieced together (a good fit for a log home.)

This log home office (shown above) has a truly unique desk which adds a unique feeling of rustic style.  The desk has wonderfully shaped legs made of the natural bends and branches of a tree.  The desk top has a fascinatingly organic shape.  Adding to the rustic feel of this office is the desk chair, which has been upholstered with a cow hide back and sides, giving an extra “unfinished” look.

Worn / Antiqued Furniture

Whether or not you live in a log home, adding worn, aged, distressed or antique furniture to your home is a very common decor choice that adds a hint of the rustic.

This log home kitchen (shown above) has an old antique butcher block serving as its island.  You can see the bow in the surface, no doubt from years of exposure to the cleaver.  While the days of butchering may be over for this block, it brings a historic charm to this log cabin’s kitchen.

This log home front porch (shown above) is one of our favorite photos.  It really captures the essence of adding rustic style to a log home.  This old weathered rocking chair looks as though it has a real story to tell.  Was it passed down from generation to generation?  Found by the owners at a roadside flea market?  We would love to know!  That’s just one of the great results of bringing old, worn looking pieces into your home – it instantly gives your log home the look of being lived in.  And after all, what are log homes for, if not to be lived in?

Hope you’ve enjoyed taking a glimpse at some of the ways to add a bit of the rustic to your log home.  Do you have some rustic pieces that you absolutely love?  Feel free to share them with us on our Facebook page.  Click here to visit our Facebook page.

We’d like to highlight some of the details REAL™ log homeowners have added to their log homes that really make their log homes feel extra luxurious.

Deluxe Outdoor Living Spaces

To make outdoor living spaces feel luxurious, many homeowners invest in durable stone hard-scaping to create an outdoor living area that feels like an extension of the log home’s interior.  While the upfront cost of a real stone patio, installed properly with a good drainage base, is quite expensive – it will last for many years.  Simply imagining how enjoyable it would be to dine al fresco on this stone patio (above) has us longing for summer evenings and a glass of chilled Chardonnay.

A Gourmet Kitchen

Let’s face it – cooking isn’t always easy.  But at least with an investment in high-quality appliances and durable and beautiful materials, you’ll hopefully be a bit less stressed about it.  Granted, a six burner professional grade range, with pot filler water spigot (shown in the kitchen above) won’t magically make you into Bobby Flay, but it certainly won’t hurt.  And all the easy to clean counter top space in this kitchen would certainly help for tasks like rolling pie dough or other space intensive culinary endeavors.  We think splurging for a luxurious kitchen is a delicious place to invest.

A Place To Keep Your Four-Wheeled Family

Some of our homeowners have a serious love for their cars.  The homeowner who owns the garage shown above, loved his so much that he added an entire garage wing onto his log home to house his ATV’s and Hummer.  The garage addition is connected to the log home via a log porte-cochère.

A Dedicated Workout Space

Adding a dedicated workout space to a log home has been a popular trend in recent years.  While it’s important to adhere to New Year’s resolutions and all, and this log home gym (shown above) does look very nice and luxurious, we’re still thinking about all the not-so-healthy things we’d like to cook in that luxurious gourmet log home kitchen.

A Master Bathroom for Relaxation

After all that working out in your home gym, it sure would be nice to relax aching muscles in a jetted soaking tub.  This luxurious log home master bathroom (shown above) has just such a tub.  For many years, our clients have found having a separate tub and shower to be a very desirable feature for master bathrooms.  Throw in a double vanity so that you don’t have to share a sink with your spouse, and your master bathroom is on the way to becoming a luxurious relaxation room.

We hope you’ve enjoyed taking a glimpse at some of the luxurious additions that REAL™ log homeowners have chosen to dress up their log homes.  To show how versatile a log home can be, we’ll be highlighting some rustic log home details in our next posting, so stay tuned, and be sure to subscribe to be notified of updates.

To get you inspired for the big game day, we thought we’d draw up three different plays that will help you design the perfect man cave for your own log home.

# 1 – Views of the TV

Unlike many other occasions for hosting a party, a Super Bowl party is based around watching the football game.  So when laying out your ideal log home man cave, think about how you’ll arrange things so that everybody has a good view of the action.

This log home great room (shown above) has an incredibly comfy looking sectional curving around the wide screen TV.  One thing to keep in mind when choosing a sectional for your log home man cave, is that people sitting in the center of the couch don’t have easy access to a table on which to set drinks or food.  So make sure you have a coffee table in front of the sectional, or a sofa table behind for guests to utilize.

This log home basement also has a great furniture arrangement for watching the big game.  This time, instead of using a sectional, the homeowners bought two separate leather sofas and put them in a horseshoe pattern.  That leads to great sight lines for all.  Good call!

#2 – Comfy Furniture

While good looks are very important, comfort is just as important.  Couches and chairs with deep cushions and padded arms are ideal for kicking back and enjoying a game with friends and family.

The leather furniture in this log home great room (shown above) is a great example of furniture with the right proportions to feel comfy without being too over-sized.  The sunlight streaming through the wall of windows makes the wide armchair look so cozy.  This is definitely a log home great room that’s ideal any time of year, not just for hosting the big game.

#3 – Easy Access to Food and Drink

Just as with any entertaining, providing your guests with food and drink is essential.  And a Super Bowl party in a man cave is no different.  If you’re planning a man cave completely from scratch, consider planning for a small wet bar to keep refreshments cool, and set out snacks.

This log home basement (shown above) has a complete kitchen just off the main TV room.  While an entire second kitchen isn’t necessary, it does make entertaining for a super bowl party much more convenient with extra storage and prep space available.

This log home great room (above) is running both plays 2 and 3.  It has big comfy couches with deep cushions, and it has a bar area tucked into an alcove.  With moves like that, this log home great room is entering the territory of log home man cave.

  We hope you’ve enjoyed reading a bit about laying out the perfect log home man cave.  We’d love to hear your thoughts on how to plan out the best Super Bowl party.  We’d also love to hear who you’re cheering for.  Feel free to leave a comment and share!

This log home bedroom (above) has the extra warm addition of a wood stove.  And of course, some homemade muffins and fresh coffee served in bed also makes it quite difficult to want to leave.  The unfortunate part though in any bedroom; somebody has to get out of bed to go make the coffee.

This California log home bedroom (above) also has the warmth of fire, but this one is a gas fireplace.  And with gas fireplace technology nowadays, you can start a fire with the click of a remote control button.  But once again, somebody still has to get out of bed, this time to go make mimosas!  Just imagine watching the snow fall through those sliding glass patio doors as you’re cozy in bed sipping mimosas and reading a good book as the fire glows.

Of course, if you feel like you have to get out of bed and go outside – having a hot tub right out the door might just lure you out (like in the log home bedroom photo above.)

This log home bedroom (above) has a sunny reading chair to cuddle up in when the snow starts to fall.  The king sized, four poster bed piled with quilts and pillows helps to fill the space in this grand bedroom.  The height of the bed posters works especially well with the vaulted ceilings.

In a log home bedroom you can use many styles of bedroom furniture to make your space feel cozy, from the obvious rustic style log furniture…..

….to more sophisticated and formal furniture:

No matter how you decorate a log home bedroom, and whether or not you have a gas fireplace, wood stove, or no fire at all, we hope you stay warm and cozy this winter.  If you live in a Real Log Home® it shouldn’t be too hard since the log home kits are precisely cut to be air-tight and energy-efficient.  But whether or not you live in a log home, we hope you’re staying warm – and best of luck deciding who has to get up and make the coffee!

As seen in the 2009 July issue of Country’s Best Log Homes magazine.
Story by: Cynthia Ward Vesey

This gorgeous Real Log Home was built in Kentucky by couple Sandra and Tim.  Where Tim prefers more traditional log home styling, Sandra is drawn to more modern elements. “I didn’t want  a typical log home with a real ‘country’ look. I wanted it to be more modern,” she explains. Because of their different tastes in decor, the couple, who have been married for 16 years, often had to compromise. “I wanted areas of drywall to add a little color, but Tim wanted all wood,” notes Sandra. While wood is the dominant component of the home, Sandra added her personal touch by brightening the kitchen with white cabinets.

Years of marriage and the ability to give and take came in handy with the furnishings as well—Tim chose the country-style bedroom set, while Sandra picked out the great room’s leather furniture. Tim also chose one of the more dominant accessories: an eye-catching, enormous elk-antler chandelier. He actually bought it before they started building. “When they brought it in on the back of a semi, I knew I was in trouble,” Sandra says.

The house is sited on nearly 70 breathtaking acres, with a view of a sparkling lake teeming with fish. “The house was built around the water,” says Sandra. The 2,400-square-foot home (not including the basement or garage) features contoured white pine logs, which are 8 inches in diameter and notched with a V-shaped groove.

The homeowners were really drawn to an open floor plan and insisted the kitchen, dining and living areas all be open to one another.  You can see the first floor plan here.  The first floor of this log home is 1,564 square feet (you can click the image to see a larger image of the log home plan).

The second floor houses an open loft space, as well as an additional bedroom and storage space.  The upstairs bedroom has an en-suite bath.  The second floor is 858 square feet.

If you enjoyed this log home plan, and seeing the photos of this log home, please feel free to leave a comment for us, or share this story with your friends and family via Facebook or Twitter.  If you have any questions about this log home, just let us know by emailing us at info@realloghomes.com or calling us at 1-800-REAL LOG  (732-5564)

As many of you may have experienced during the holidays, poor planning can lead to stress, and according to a Scientific American article we just read, stress could possibly lead to more gray hairs.  So dodge the grays this year, and get a plan!  From planning for visitors, to planning your dream log home, don’t leave anything to the last minute.

Here are three situations that the log home lover should plan ahead for:

1)  Having guests over to your home (this may be fresh on the minds of many)

1. If you live in a log home, then you’re going to want to show it off to friends and family!
2. Decide ahead of time who is staying in what room, and make all the beds 1 day ahead of time (set the clean towels for guests in their respective rooms so there is no confusion as to what towels are for them).
3. Plan any necessary menus and get your groceries the day before, or morning of your guest’s arrival (make sure to order any specialty items like large roasts so you’ll be sure they are available for you).
4. Know what serving-ware, stemware and table linens you’ll be using ahead of time and make sure they are clean and ready a day ahead of time (nobody wants to be ironing a table cloth instead of greeting guests).

2) Maintaining your log home

1. It’s difficult to perform maintenance in the winter, but the spring is a great time for staining logs and caulking any large checks.  Schedule any log home maintenance now so you won’t have to worry come spring time.
2. When fall comes again in 2012, make sure you clear away debris, leaves and branches from around your home’s foundation before they get buried by snow.

3) Planning to build a new log home or addition

1. The planning process can take a fair amount of time as you work back and forth with our design department to customize every aspect of your log home.  So if you are hoping to build a log home in 2012, plan ahead and start the design process now. (In 2012 design deposits start as low as $1,000)
2. Start the design process early and keep the experience enjoyable and stress free.  You should never let yourself feel rushed into making compromises on your dream log home.  After all, a Real Log Home is built to last a lifetime – so plan ahead to make sure it’s built just the way you want it.
3. Get your permits, financing and building partner lined up well in advance of when you’d like to break ground.  Real Log Homes can help you find a local partner who is familiar with permits and financing in your area – just call them at 1-800-REAL LOG (732-5564) or email them at info@realloghomes.com

So while it may seem like a simple and straightforward resolution, planning ahead takes energy and commitment, but it is so worth it.  Fight the procrastinator within, and free yourself from the unwanted stress (and gray hairs) that come from poor planning!  Happy New Year!

P.S. – Share with us some of your tips for being a good planner, and any other New Year’s resolutions you’ve made and want to share.  Just click “leave a comment” below.

This first fireplace (above) is from a western style log home built in Montana.  If you look closely, you’ll see that the fireplace tools are suspended from an antler to the right of the fireplace.  That’s a fitting detail that matches well with the elk mounting above the fireplace.  The masonry for this fireplace is also only built up to where the half log mantle is located. While some fireplaces have stonework that continues up to the ceiling, this limited use of the stone creates a more intimate look and feel to this log home great room, since the eye isn’t drawn up into the open cathedral space .

This stone fireplace has stone work that extends up beyond the mantel, but because it is not on the gable end of the room, it doesn’t extend to the fullest height of the ceiling.  A small alcove to the right of the fireplace is perfect for storing wood where it is easily accessible, warm and dry.  This mantle is also made from a rustic half log, and has been decorated with greenery and stockings all ready for Santa to hurry down the chimney.

This log home great room has a lot of windows, which give the room an open and airy feeling.  The cathedral ceilings also add to this feeling of openness.  And the stone fireplace soars up into this open ceiling space providing a feeling of grandeur.  While this look is beautiful, it is an awfully long descent for Santa.

Finally, lest you think that stone is the only thing to make a fireplace out of, here is a warm and inviting brick fireplace from a New England log home.  A functional and fun mitten drying rack sits on the hearth to the left of the fireplace.  A wood storage box has been built of wood and sits to the left of the hearth.  Atop the wood storage cubby is a charming moose candle holder.   This log home den would be an ideal place to cozy up to knit some gifts, or to sit and enjoy the company of family at Christmas time.

We hope you’ve enjoyed a few of our favorite log home fireplaces, be they tall or short, stone or brick.  Because no matter the style of fireplace, or the size or material, the really important component to a cozy holiday is the joy felt from gathering with family and friends.

This particular home was built by JR Thompson, of Mt. Lassen Log and Timber Frame Homes to serve as their model home.  And it truly is a model for how comfortable and warm a log home can be.  The 3 bedroom log home is based on the Real Log Homes standard floor plan “The Richmond” – click here to see the Richmond plan.

The great room for this log home has a wall of windows that lets light in, brightening up those gloomy days of winter.  A gorgeous stone fireplace has a rustic half-log mantel which blends well with the elegant, rustic  style of this log home.

The dining room is open to the kitchen and the great room, making it a great place for entertaining as guests can flow from one space to another.  A beautiful Navajo style rug helps to define the dining space, as does the dropped ceiling height over the dining area.  The centerpiece is a tasteful arrangement of holly leaves and berries, perfect for a Christmas supper table setting.

The deluxe, gourmet kitchen makes entertaining easy too.  With a double oven, deluxe stainless appliances, and a six burner stove top – you’ll want to host Christmas supper every month of the year.  Hanging lights over the bar top counter seating area illuminate and define the border of the open kitchen.  The granite counter tops are a beautiful warm shade that works very well with the color of the log walls and wood cabinets.

As if the warmth of this log home wasn’t obvious enough in the day time, at night the home truly glows.  You can clearly see here how nice the wall of windows in the great room would be at providing great views and lighting.  Covered porches flank the great room allowing outdoor access from the master bedroom and guest bedroom alike.

With so much charm, excellent design, and style in this home, we could go on at great length about its features, but you can probably see what we’re talking about in the beautiful log home pictures we chose.  So, the only thing left for us to say is – let it snow!

1) Nature Prints

Vermont Real Log Home Den With Audubon "Canvas Backed Duck" Print

Log homes are truly natural homes, right down to the core.  What better place to showcase nature prints than in a log home?  Anything goes, from botanical prints to wildlife plates.  Some of the most collectible prints are Audubon prints by John James Audubon.  Original prints can cost thousands upon thousands of dollars, but luckily you can order reprints at very affordable prices.  See a gallery of Audubon reprints for sale here.

2) Decorative Fireplace Screens

Decorative fire place screen with fish and pine tree motif

There’s not much that can make a log home feel cozier during the holidays than the glowing warmth of a fire.  You can spruce up the fire with decorative screens which are true works of art.  Just make sure you know the correct dimensions of the fireplace before buying this as a gift for someone.

3) Cast Sculptures

This cast elk statue in a Real Log Home great room has resulted in countless inquiries over the years as to where the owners purchased the statue. It's actually an antique.

A well designed piece of sculpture can be a timeless and cherished gift.  These can be purchased from local artists, or acquired through antiques dealers.  The right piece can make just the right statement.  Here’s a lovely example of a new statue available from Black Forest Decor.

4) Fire Pits

This Real Log Cabin built in California has a simple, yet inviting fire pit

While the weather outside is frightful, one thing to take away the chill is a fire pit.  Fire pits are perfect for family gatherings at any log home, from lakefront log homes to log homes in the mountains.  Warm up, and enjoy the s’mores!

5) Fine Fragrance

Candles and soaps are old go to gifts, but you can make them truly special with unique natural botanical fragrances.  Some of the best fragrances can be found at Archipelago – who uses natural fragrance oils, and soy based wax.  Their fragrances are truly heavenly and would be a welcome gift in any home.  (We particularly love the Havana fragrance –  A blend of Bergamot, Tobacco Leaf and Ylang Ylang)  Gift cards are always great too, since you don’t always know what smells people prefer.  Shop their site now: www.archipelago-usa.com

Candles from Archipelago not only smell great, but are beautifully packaged as well

6)  Birch Bark Décor

The mirror in this California Real Log Home has a charming and rustic bark frame.

Birch bark is not only lovely to behold with its random striated patterns, but it’s also a versatile design material.  We just love the natural look it provides.  And the color – ranging from creamy white to ashen gray – can provide a nice contrast to the darker wood tones often found in log homes.  If you love being crafty and have some birch bark at your disposal, try your hand at making some items yourself.  Or shop for birch bark home decor at  www.cottagesurroundings.com/birch-decor-accessories.html

7) Lovely Quilts

The owner of this Real Log Home has a wonderful collection of various quilts large and small

Giving the gift of a quilt is a timeless choice, especially if you have a quilt lover on your gift list.  Not only can they be beautiful to behold, but are functional as well.  If you don’t have the time (or talents) to make your own quilt, consider ordering a custom quilt for that special log home enthusiast on your list.  Visit www.vermontquilts.com

8 ) Flat Panel TV Frame

This flat screen TV transitions from being a beautiful framed piece of art, to a place to watch the game, with the push of a button

This gift is great for couples who might disagree about where to place the TV.  One may want the big flat screen TV to be the center of attention – the other might not want the TV to be the focus.  This gift – which unfortunately can be quite costly – is just the right solution.  You can frame the TV and turn it into a painting, which slides back to reveal the TV.  Or frame it as a mirror, with a special type of 2 way glass that reveals a crystal clear TV picture when you turn the TV on.  Read all about framing your TV at: http://framemytv.com/

9) Rustic Lighting

This antique blown glass drop pendant light has an aged feeling, with bubbles clearly visible in the glass, and a worn look to the wrought iron.

From lamp shades made of mica in the craftsman tradition – to old wrought iron lamps – rustic lighting fixtures, and especially antique finds, are a wonderful gift and a beautiful addition to any log home.  Shop some new rustic lighting here: www.blackforestdecor.com/brstla.html

10)  Gifts For The Bird Lover

This bird seed feeder from Gardner's Supply is in the shape of a charming little log cabin

With so much to love about log homes, it only stands to reason that the birds would love a log home too.  This adorable bird feeder is in the shape of a small log cabin, and can be re-coated with seeds over and over.  It’s a fun gift idea for the bird lover on your list.  Read all about this bird feeder gift here.