A Weekend Home in Western Virginia Photos |
"Home Away from Home"
A Weekend Home in Western Virginia | Log Home Living
 |
| "The house just turned out so well. We love it," says Caroline Hickerson, who opted to haul glacial rock in from Michigan for her Virginia home's three impressive fireplaces. "I give [our builder] Gerry Frank a lot of credit for that. I give Maple Island credit for that. And I guess I get some credit for that, too." |
 |
| The front porch may be lovely, but things get even better inside. Built by Gerry Frank of C'Ville Construction as a weekend retreat for the couple and their two children, the space took just 13 months to complete, but promises a lifetime of enjoyment for family and friends. |
 |
| Caroline and David Hickerson's quest for a one-of-a-kind weekend home led to the construction of this 4,500-square-foot stunner. "The logs were debarked, peeled, scribed and notched all by hand, giving them a more rustic and traditional look, and allowing the true beauty of the logs to show through," says Eric Gordon of Maple Island Log Homes, which provided the Norway pine for the project. |
 |
| "We were very set on getting a handcrafted log home," says Caroline Hickerson of her and husband David's decision to build a weekend retreat on 45 acres near Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. "We liked the fact that the logs aren't uniform and that they're hand-peeled, and we liked the massiveness of the house. It's just so interesting architecturally." |
 |
| As in the rest of her Virginia home, Caroline Hickerson's kitchen boasts natural materials such as custom cherry cabinetry, soapstone countertops and reclaimed heart-pine floors from Georgia. "I wanted everything in the house to be natural, and I really went out of my way to do that," says the determined homeowner. "I didn't scrimp." |
 |
| Hand-peeled full logs and old-timey chinking combine to give the dining room a sense of rustic refinement. "We used a Norway pine that was plantation grown here in Michigan," says Eric Gordon, vice president of Maple Island Log Homes, which provided the logs. "It's a wonderful species to use because it tends to have more knot clusters, which people like in a handcrafted home." |
 |
| "When we started building, we thought we were only going to do the main floor and the upper floor," laughs Caroline Hickerson, whose 4,500-square-foot masterpiece boasts expanses of pine and natural stone in the great room and elsewhere. "And then we ended up finishing the lower level, too. I guess that often happens to people!" |
 |
| The magnificent great room showcases the greatness of the log-home lifestyle. From the gargantuan, hand-scribed Norway pine beams above to the sweeping views beyond, the space offers earthy elegance at every turn. |
 |
| With luscious pine inside and bucolic views outside, the master bedroom needs little adornment. Although built as a weekend retreat, "it's so easy to get to, we tend to go out there a fair amount," says Caroline Hickerson of her log getaway. "I even go there sometimes during the week." |
 |
| A plastic Jacuzzi and drywall in the master bathroom were some of Caroline Hickerson's few concessions to manmade materials in a home that boasts mostly natural products and finishes. "The other bathtubs are cast iron," she says. "Although I wanted as little drywall as possible, I think it's more practical not to do logs in the bathroom." |
 |
| Although the home's original design called for a powder room off the entryway, owner Caroline Hickerson nixed the idea in favor of more openness. "We took it out because we wanted to see the logs as much as we could throughout the house," she explains. "I guess that's somewhat impractical, but it added so much just by not covering up the logs in the foyer." |
 |
| An upstairs guestroom sits poised and ready for visitors. Surrounded by all this striking Norway pine, who wouldn't want to tuck in for a cozy weekend away? |
 |
| Sleek, simple furniture enhances the handsome pine and chinking in the loft. Weighty, hand-scribed logs add snugness and visual impact, as well as the serious "wow" factor that makes falling in love with log homes so easy. |
| Back: Western Virginia Log Home |
| Stay Connected: | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Subscribe
Give a Gift
Subscriber Services
|
Give Country's Best Log Homes as a Gift Subscription 
|
Give Log Home Living as a Gift Subscription 
|
Country's Best
|
Log Home Living
Subscribe You may call us if you prefer not to order online: 800-234-8496 If you are not in the continental U.S. please call 386-447-2398 (International).
You can also write to: |
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
By Akis Ellinas on Nov 19, 2009
Dear Sir,
I'm very interested for the above house can you send me more informatios and what will cost me to build such a house.
Thanks
Akis
By Bill Hanna on Nov 25, 2009
I love the layout but I am thinking of a smaller version, say 2100 square feet. What do you think?
what is the price per square foot to build this beauty?
By Thomas Ray on Nov 29, 2009
Beautiful, in every aspect! Nice work!
By Whitney Richardson on Dec 03, 2009
Akis/Bill--You need to contact Maple Island Log Homes regarding pricing. The company can be reached at 800-748-0137, or visit mapleisland.com
By Ellie L. on Dec 10, 2009
Just beautiful. Very peaceful with beautiful decor!
By TIM SMALL on Dec 15, 2009
LOVE THE HOME. INTERESTED IN PRICING. I AM NEAR BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA. MY EMAIL IS TSC8342@YAHOO.COM
By Whitney Richardson on Dec 23, 2009
Tim--You would need to contact the manufacturer, Maple Island Log Homes, for specific pricing information. The company can be reached at 800-748-0137, or you can visit its web site, mapleisland.com.
By Mimi H on Jan 03, 2010
In answer to the questions about prices, if you're thinking $100 a square foot -- half of what the going rate is in my part of the country, the Northeast -- then this house is $450,000 (4500 square feet). At least. With the high-end appointments probably much more. I confess that I get frustrated by the unrealistic expectations aroused by these state of the art custom homes. Great for dreaming, but for workin' folks -- out of reach.
By jonesp on Jan 16, 2010
Information on the price please. jonesp@mygcsd.org
By Whitney Richardson on Feb 16, 2010
Jonesp--Please see information above regarding estimated price per square foot (which can be as high as $175 in some areas) and company contact information for more specific pricing.