Log Homes Across the Country (and the World)

There are a lot of ideas that pop up in peoples’ minds when they hear someone mention a log home.  It’s true that many people associate log homes with northern climates in rural areas.  And while we, as a New England based company, do agree that log homes are a perfect fit for our region, we also know that log homes can be built in any part of the country – even the world.  Here are some of our favorite examples on how log homes are a great choice for any region.

California

california log home

This stunning log home has a truly grand exterior.  Details on the home such as the front door, and exterior lighting, exudes a mission style which is a fitting choice for a California log home.

Oklahoma

oklahoma log home

This log home was built on Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees to serve as a gathering place for the whole family.  The sloping site and access to the lake give this log home a real draw.  It was built in a popular development and is right at home next to the other traditional homes (but with much more character).

Wisconsin

wisconsin log home

Home by Independent Representative Starview Log Homes

The log home above was custom designed and features Swedish Cope logs. The large overhangs and logs give this home a very western feel. Greeted by a friendly, custom carved bear pillar this home is friendly and functional.

Alabama

Home by Independent Representative, Lookout Mountain Log Homes

Home by Independent Representative, Lookout Mountain Log Homes

Log homes are just as at home in the South as they are in other regions.  This log home shown above is a great example.  It has many classic log home elements such a stone chimney and lots of windows.

Italy

italian log home

Log homes are at home across the world.  The log home above is a great example of how log homes can be designed to blend well with any region’s architectural norms.

Japan

Japanese log home

Real Log Homes are even at home in Japan.  The traditional building techniques and natural aesthetic are a perfect fit.  You can see how this Japanese log home has been designed with clean lines and showcases simple and restful decor:

Japanese log home interior

We hope you’ve enjoyed this global tour of all the places a REAL™ Log Home is so nice to come home to.  Did we miss your region?  Are you hungry for more photos?  Leave us a comment and let us know.  We’d be happy to showcase your region too.

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!

A Montana Log Home: Real Log Homes Goes Custom

All log homes are not created equal. This week, instead of focusing on the same element in multiple homes, we’re featuring just one truly incredible log home in southern Montana. It’s a custom designed and constructed log home made even more beautiful by the soaring Montana mountains in the backdrop.

Whenever I see the picture below, my initial reaction is always, WOW. The landscape of Montana is the perfect companion for any log home and the home itself captures the true essence of log home living. We’ll begin our tour from the exterior and work our way inside.

Custom Log Home Montana

This custom log home nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain Range is a bit unusual in that it utilizes the gambrel roof line. A gambrel roof is more commonly found in Dutch Colonial homes and barns, but on a log home it offers a refreshing approach that is anything but ordinary. From an architectural standpoint, this log home is a feast for the eyes.

Log Home Montana

Dormers are an excellent way of adding square footage and natural light to your log home. The three gable dormers (also known as dog-house dormers) shown above add significant head room to smaller square footed spaces while allowing plentiful sunlight into your home.

Log Home Farmers Porch

A farmers porch provides the perfect space for shade on this rustic log home. Accompanied by half-log rafters, the wrap around farmers porch (shown above) denotes true country charm and relaxation.

Log Home Great Room

While a great room is only as ‘great’ as the people who come together there, what makes this log home great room is its soaring ceiling height. The full log floor joists (directly above the love seat), while aesthetically pleasing, carry the load of the loft space above. I love that the fireplace hearth is used for the wood stove in the great room, while it’s a true working fireplace on the other side.

Log Home Fireplace

The working side of the stone fireplace

Log Home Dining Room

A bright and beautiful dining nook is the perfect accessory to any log home kitchen.

Log Home Master BedroomWe end the Montana log home tour with the master bedroom with custom furniture. You can see here how the gambrel style roof could make a room feel cavernous, but with double-hung windows on two walls, the master is bright and spacious.

Love any of the photos featured here? Leave a question or comment and we’ll get right back to you! You can also write to us on Facebook.

Interested in building your very own Real Log Home? Contact us at info@realloghomes.com or call us directly at 800-REAL LOG (732-5564).

Getting your Real Log Home Ready For Barbecue Season

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, it’s time to clean your outdoor grills, uncover your pools and make sure your outdoor furniture is ready for your family. The task of getting your Real Log Home ready for the summer season seems daunting, but if you focus on one thing at a time on your ‘To Do’ list, you’ll feel less stressed and get everything accomplished with plenty of time to relax before the party starts.

Easy Flow of Traffic

There’s a reason we call it spring cleaning! We can’t have our family and friends bumping into patio furniture or the badminton set as they navigate around the property. Set aside some time to place outdoor furniture in convenient locations – where people will have easy access to sit down, but avoid tripping as they walk from your gorgeous kitchen onto your outdoor patio. When you walk around your home and yard, think of the most used paths where people will be walking. If your kitchen  leads onto your deck, make sure chairs are pushed away from doors and that doors are able to fully open without bumping into people sitting down.

Cooling Off

After barbequing and playing games on the lawn, a pool is the obvious choice for a quick cool-down during your summer festivities. The patio below offers quite a view of the log home resting atop a hill surrounded by lush vegetation. Be sure to sweep extraneous leaves or dirt off the patio and vacuum your pool so it looks extra inviting.

Log Home Exterior Pool

Comfortable Seating

It’s always fun to have games set up on the lawn when friends and family come over for a summer barbeque, but it’s just as important to make sure you have plenty of comfortable seats to take a load off. From cushioned patio chairs to chaise lounges – there are a number of options that will keep family and friends happy and relaxed.

Log Home Exterior Pool

The home above uses over sized wooden patio dining to create comfort for their guests. Adjacent to the outside dining, cushioned chaise lounge chairs are sprinkled around the amazing in-ground pool. One of my favorite features happens to be the pergola over the patio dining. This creates a great shaded space to escape the afternoon sun while hosting your party. This photo leads us right into our next topic…

Shaded Spaces

Log Home Deck

Hosting a Memorial Day weekend party is usually the kick-off to your summer festivities. During your barbeque, it’s important to remember that while guests love spending quality time with you outside, it’s equally as important to shade them from the sometimes scorching afternoon sun.  Utilizing spaces that offer a respite from the heat, while still enjoying your home, offers friends and family the best of both worlds.

The Real Log Home above demonstrates how you can host guests comfortably at your home, while providing shade from the heat.

The log home below incorporates my favorite summer dining furniture – a picnic table with benches! The wrap-around farmers porch casts constant shade throughout the summer and gives you a relaxing place to watch the birds and enjoy BBQ brisket with family.

Log Home Covered Porch

If you’d like more information on any of the log homes pictured here, contact us!

What are you most looking forward to this summer? Using your pool or simply hanging out on your porch? We’d love to know -leave us a comment here or write to us on Facebook.