Log Home Kitchen Counter Choices

When designing a log home it’s important to think of how the design elements within the home will work with the abundance of natural wood tones.  This is particularly true in the kitchen.  It can be a place to fully embrace the look of wood, or an opportunity to showcase various other materials in contrast to the logs.  Here are some of our favorite counter top material ideas.

Man Made Quartz

Modern log home kitchen

This beautiful countertop option comes in a variety of colors.  It’s generally a smooth look with minimal variance.  The solid surface makes it easy to clean.  This look works particularly well with modern design elements, like the stainless steel and sleek cabinets like in the log home kitchen above.  To see an expansive offering of man made quartz countertop colors and patterns, visit Cambria’s website.

Granite

Log Cabin Kitchen

Granite is another very popular choice for log home kitchens.  It has been a trendy choice for many years now.  While it can be expensive, the material is very resilient.  No need to use a trivet to protect your counters, it’d be better to use a trivet to protect your food from getting the heat seeped out by this igneous beauty.

Tile

SouthHamptonMA-06

While not as easy to maintain, tile can offer its own beauty and style.  It is generally less expensive than other solid surface alternatives.  So for kitchen spaces which won’t see daily use, such as vacation home kitchens or bar areas, tile can be smart choice.

Mixed Materials

modern log home kitchen

Of course, there is no reason you have to pick just one countertop material for your log home kitchen!  The log home above has three different materials.  The majority of the counter tops are quartz.  Other sections are wood, such as the butcher block to the left of the prep sink.  The third material is a beautiful slate which arcs along the eat-at counter.  With such variation in countertop material, it’s advisable to maintain the same cabinet design so as to not feel too scattered.

Do you have a favorite material choice which we didn’t highlight?  Feel free to leave us a comment and let us know.

A Kentucky Real Log Home: Contemporary Meets Traditional

While Kentucky is well known for having the best bourbon in the world, it’s also known for having some of the most beautiful country style log homes in the country. If you’ve never heard of Shelbyville, it happens to be smack dab between Louisville and Lexington, in the heart of northern Kentucky. It’s also home for this weeks’ Real Log Style feature.

Log Home in Kentucky | Log Home Construction

A summer day at a Kentucky Real Log Home

Set back from the road, this contemporary log home has a fantastic wrap around farmers porch atop a walkout basement – perfect for enjoying the Kentucky scenery.

Kentucky Log Home | Log Home Design

Another exterior shot of the Kentucky Real Log Home

A bright and sunny summer’s day showcases a log home perfectly (although log homes love the snow, too). A large gable-end truss sits above custom fixed triangular windows. A two car attached garage helps bridge the storage/work shop and the main house through a cozy attached entryway.

Log Home Gazebo | Log Home Pool

Log Home Pool with Gazebo

The heat can be unforgiving in Kentucky and the homeowners of this log home wanted to make sure they could stay cool during the summer months. A gorgeous in-ground pool rests next to a post and beam gazebo in the picturesque backyard.

Log Home Kitchen | Country Kitchen

Log Home Custom Kitchen

Country living at its finest! This Kentucky Real Log Home kitchen is a great balance between classic log home and contemporary styles. For example, full log floor joists above the country style custom cabinets is a unique and a great way of blending old with new.

Kentucky Log Home | Log Home Great Room

Log Home Great Room

Maybe you’ve seen log home pictures in magazines or in other forms of social media, but had a hard time imagining yourself being in one. The photographer of the above photo was able to make us feel like we’re walking into this magnificent great room. Note: how enchanting are those custom triangular windows?

Log Home Great Room | Kentucky Log Home Great Room

Log Home Great Room

Here’s the other view of the Kentucky log home great room. This time, with our backs to the gable end wall of windows, we’re able to see how an open floor plan works beautifully for a log home.

Log Home Bedroom | Kentucky Log Home Bedroom

Log Home Bedroom

Why build a Real Log Home? The photo above answers that question without using any words! Full log floor joists provide an ideal canopy over the stunning master bedroom with walkout deck.

Log Home Master Bath | Log Home Bathroom Designs

Log Home Master Bath

A master bath fit for a king (and queen!) boasts gorgeous pine wood floors and expansive vanity. I love how the home owner continued the log floor joists in each room of the log home. Some home owners choose to install sheet rock and have a more traditional ceiling, but you can see the effect of keeping the floor joists exposed – beautiful.

We love hearing from our readers! Leave your questions or comments below.

Also, if you’re interested in building your own Real Log Home, call us today and speak directly with a building professional: 800- REAL LOG (732-5564) or fill out a contact form directly from our website.

A July 4th Celebration: A Lakeside Real Log Home in Missouri

The 4th of July is America’s holiday. It marks that summer is in full swing and we look forward to celebrating the holiday by barbequing, swimming, playing badminton and other lawn games and of course, fireworks. In order to celebrate this great country in which we live, we must find an amazing location to host our annual party! The perfect venue to celebrate America is most certainly a Real Log Home. This week’s featured home is a fantastic lakeside log home located in Shell Knob, Missouri.

A Yard Fit For Entertaining

Missouri Log Home | Log Home in Missouri

The weather is calling for sunny skies in the mid 80s and you’ve got a log home situated on one of the best lakes in Missouri. This is undoubtedly a recipe for any successful gathering – but for a 4th of July celebration, you want to make sure your yard is extra ready. The large and multi-level property is perfect for entertaining the crowds.

Missouri Log Home | Log Home Lake House

A closer view of the exterior of this lake side log home in Missouri demonstrates a home fit for fireworks! With the American flag raised at full staff on the second floor deck, we can’t help but notice the stunning details of the design of this home. Gable end webbing is a beautiful way of displaying intricate detail on your log home.

Outdoor Seating

Whether inside watching the cook work or outside taking in the views, a log home strives to be one thing above all else – comfortable.

Log Home Deck | Missouri Log Home Deck

Patio furniture can be the best addition to any deck. The second floor log home deck shown above is made even more relaxing by comfortable outdoor seating. I love the full log post railings!

Indoor Seating

Log Home Kitchen | Custom Log Home Cathedral Kitchen

Moving from outdoor relaxation to indoor, we find ourselves in the spacious custom log home kitchen. While Aunt Ginny prepares her famous potato salad and your dad puts the finishing touches on the secret recipe barbecue sauce, take in the beauty of what surrounds you. It’s fairly uncommon to have a full log gable-end cathedral kitchen – and this home showcases this uniqueness perfectly.

Log Home Great Room | Log Home Cathedral Ceiling

Adjacent to the kitchen, we’re able to see the soaring cathedral ceiling on display as well as two structural support beams. These beams provide support to the roof while adding full log aesthetics to the interior of the log home great room.

Missouri Log Home | Log Home Den

Lastly, a cozy log home sitting area complete with summer’s favorite furniture – the wicker chair. What the sitting area lacks in square footage it makes up for with its unique vaulted ceiling and full log rafters. Log homes are all about the little details!

We love hearing your thoughts on our posts! Leave questions or comments below.

Also, if you’re interested in building your own Real Log Home, call us today and speak directly with a building professional: 800- REAL LOG (732-5564) or fill out a contact form directly from our website.

Have a safe and happy July 4th celebration!

Making a Colorful Statement in Your Log Home

Using color in your log home sounds simple – of course there’s color in your home – but it’s how you use color that will really enhance the beauty already found there. There are a multitude of ways to exemplify the natural beauty of your log home by using color in thoughtful and specific ways. From kitchen cabinets to accent walls, lets uncover some great ways to add more color in your world!

Pop of Color

It’s a phrase I keep hearing related to design and aesthetic. The rustic Real Log Home bathroom (below) allows the beauty of the wood to do much of the work here. The indigo blue accessories and counter vase add wonderful pops of color against the log wall, antique finished cabinets and claw foot tub.

Accent Walls

Accent walls can create the illusion of space by drawing your eye to the point of color. In the Real Log Home hallway shown below, the home owner chose a cheerful green to display at the end of the balcony. The effect creates depth and interest and helps to display the beautiful custom Adirondack-style railings.

Bold Patterns

When you think of color in your home, you can’t overlook how much life a great pattern can add to a room. In the photo below, we actually have dual patterns working together to create a visual masterpiece! The boldness of the rug paired with the patterned wallpaper makes this dining area a joy to walk in to.

We can’t forget about bedrooms when it comes to adding color! I love the patchwork patterned comforter and window treatments here.

Colorful Kitchens

The log home kitchen (below) demonstrates that you can use your decorations to add splashes of color in your beautiful kitchen. I love the way this kitchen plays up all things blue! The candlesticks, tiled floor and framed photograph adds an array of different shades, shapes and styles.

The log home kitchen below is one of my absolute favorites! There’s something about red stained cabinets that really take this kitchen to a whole new level of fun! I love the way the color offsets the wood and allows the sun to do its job by enhancing the beautiful cabinets.

We hope we’ve helped to inspire some colorful choices in your log home! If you have questions about any of the log homes featured here, contact us at directly at info@realloghomes.com, call us 800- REAL LOG (732-5564) or ask us on our Facebook page!

A Floor Plan for Family Gatherings

The days are getting shorter, and it’s a sign of many things to come – big family gatherings for the holidays being one of them.  And what any host of a family gathering knows is that hosting a family gathering or a party is both exciting and daunting.

If you love to have family over for Thanksgiving, or have friends over for football, then it’s a good idea to consider how conducive your log home floor plan will be for entertaining.  Will it have enough open space to accommodate an extra long table for turkey dinner?  Will the space be open enough so that the cook never feels like they are missing out on the party?  These are important questions to keep in mind when planning your log home floor plan.

The AuSable Log Home Front Porch

The AuSable Log Home Front Porch Welcomes Guests

We have a floor plan here from a log home built in Indiana that is ideal for entertaining.  It’s called The AuSable.  The home is 2 stories – a main level, and a walk out basement.  It has 3,200 square feet with 2 or 3 bedrooms and 3 and a half bathrooms:

Main Floor Log Home Floor Plan

The AuSable Main Level Plan

Log Home Floor Plan of Basement

The AuSable Basement Plan

With plenty of open space on the main level for large dinner gatherings, this plan has a lot to offer.  And as many Thanksgiving gatherings go, the young family members often congregate in their own space.  This log home floor plan is perfect for that since it has a large rec-room in the basement.  Since the basement is a walk out basement facing a lake, the space feels open and airy.  Check out these photos of this log home:

View of log home from inside front door

View of the log home from just inside front door

As soon as guests step through the front door they are welcomed in by the warmth of large logs and inviting spaces.  The dining and living spaces are of course, created with furniture placement instead of walls.  This open floor plan makes the home feel light and spacious.

The AuSable Log Home Kitchen

The ideal kitchen for entertaining in a log home

The kitchen in this log home is a real dream come true for any host or hostess.  Its large angled island allows guests to visit with the chef, but not get in the chef’s way. Although with the size of this kitchen, if guests do slip in to fetch drinks from the fridge or use the sink, there’s plenty of room for everyone.

AuSable Log Home Basement

The basement rec-room is ideal for football parties

The basement in this log home is just as suitable for hosting a wine and cheese tasting party, as it is for being a “man cave” during football season.  The floor plan for this basement is quite flexible overall.  There are rooms that can be used as bedrooms, or as storage.  And, having good storage space is vital to keeping a home clutter free so that when guests arrive they feel welcome and ready to celebrate!  If you would like to see more photos of this home, or learn more about the floor plan – please email us at info@realloghomes.com and/or visit www.realloghomes.com.