Log and Timber Home Living June/July 2021

A few weeks before this issue of Log & Timber Home Living went to print, my family took a weekend hike near our home in northern Virginia — an area blessed with an abundance of trails ranging from Civil War battlefields to quiet nature walks. On this particular sunny Sunday, we opted for the latter — a lesser-known path called Red Rocks that meanders past the ruins of a late-1800s-era farm and through a forest until you come to a dramatic cliff side view overlooking a lazy bend of the Potomac River. It felt so good to get out of the house. On this isolated trail with very few people around, we could take in deep, mask-free breaths and appreciate the peace of our surroundings, as well as all we had to…

Our pets are a huge part of our families; yet somehow as we prepare to build a new log or timber frame home, we forget to take our fur babies into account. When I’m meeting with new custom home clients, I always ask if they have animals that are important parts of their lives, and about 80 percent of the time, they do. But almost none of them have thought about building their homes with their pets in mind. Just like we’d factor in the humans who will live in the household, there are design and construction tactics we can take in the planning stage to make our pets’ lives (and ours) easier and more enjoyable. Let’s explore key concepts that will help everyone — no matter how many legs they have…

Transforming the blank slate of a construction site into a shipshape landscape begins with choosing plants that fit your area. But when it comes to species selection, we are trained to consider only sun, shade and maintenance needs; color appeal; and geographic compatibility (i.e., no palm trees in Maine or cacti in Minnesota). But what about height and width? These attributes are less commonly considered, but they are just as essential. There are five main plant shapes that play a role: round, columnar, horizontal, weeping and pyramid. Creating a mix of these throughout a property prevents a landscape from looking overly manicured. That may be the aesthetic you want, but most log and timber homeowners prefer a more natural, “in the woods” appeal, and to achieve that, variety is key. Here’s…

In a structure as architecturally interesting as a log or timber frame home, it’s important not to neglect what’s often referred to as the “fifth” wall — the ceiling. After all, what would have happened if Michelangelo left the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel bare? We’re not suggesting that you need to cover your ceiling in frescoes or murals (though that, too, can make quite a statement — see the sidebar “What to Do with Drywall”), but there are a variety of shapes, details and applications you can add above that will both impress and inspire. Read on to learn the ins and outs of six of the most fitting ceiling treatments you’ll find in a log or timber home. Tray. Used as a flat ceiling treatment, the tray is a two-tiered ceiling…

It’s common to see a timber frame or log home ceiling encased in tongue-and-groove paneling or simply painted white. But what if you’re looking for something uncommon for your own home? Drywall is a blank canvas — bring it to life with one of these four exceptional options. Mural. Whether it’s a nature scene like the one found in this cozy cabin or an ornate religious fresco, the bare white walls often found on a log or timber home ceiling deserve a little attention. Venetian Plaster. The difference between Venetian plaster and the ordinary variety lies in the limestone and sometimes even marble dust in the mix. It creates a distinctive mottled look that has a lot of movement without bold color. Like its name implies, it does give a space an…

We all know that building a new dream log and timber home is a big investment, but it’s also a priceless opportunity to choose modern building materials that outperform the dated technology in the used-home market. So, while you’re at the drawing board, why not make life in your home easier and healthier? Whether it’s incorporating greenbuilding materials, aging-in-place products or healthy-home innovations, the greatest driver to introduce upgrades into your home plans is the proof of their return on investment — and we don’t just mean in terms of operational cost savings. For instance, research shows that green building can have positive psychological and physiological impacts on inhabitants and even visitors. As the costs for sustainable building materials and products continue to drop, more buyers can afford to enter the market, continuing…