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| Not all homeowners can say that they were involved with every aspect of designing and building their log home. But Art Carlson, an engineer who was the brainchild behind many of his home’s distinctive elements, can say that and more. “This is my first log home. It’s my dream home—I always wanted to do it,” Art says. Art built his dream-come-true in Ketchum, Idaho, part of the ski-resort area in the Sun Valley region. He and his wife Susan owned a summer home in Idaho for a number of years, but eventually decided to make Ketchum their permanent address, moving from Salt Lake City, Utah. “We left the big city and went seriously country,” Art says with a laugh. While aesthetics were important to Art, his primary focus was on creating an energy-efficient home. He designed a reflective-insulation system featuring radiant barriers and reflective foils, reducing the amount of energy the home uses, and consequently, the cost of his utility bills. “The engineer in me kicked in. There’s a lot of technology in the structure, but it didn’t interfere with the design,” explains Art, who founded RadiantFoil.com in 2004 to provide radiant barriers for buildings. “I did everything possible to limit our energy use. Buried in this quaint log cabin is a high-tech, energy-efficient home.” Art’s influence is in every nook and cranny of his savvy 2,827-square-foot abode. “I touched every aspect of it at least once, including all the mechanicals, heating and plumbing,” he notes. According to Art, the location of his home dictated the choices he made. The house sits on three-quarters of an acre and has a magnificent landscape. “It’s in a mountain setting, and it asks for something that fits in the mountains—something natural. We built a home that looks, acts and feels right,” Art explains. While the project was demanding, Art says it was worth all of the effort. “I’ve received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from people who visit. I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he says. |
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| After careful research, Art Carlson selected Wisconsin Log Homes to supply his log home’s package. Brian Delwiche, design manager at Green Bay-based company, clicked with Art right from the start. “We had a great design relationship. I’d present an idea to Art, and with his background in engineering, he understood the positive aspects,” recalls Brian. Art agrees, saying, “Brian and I talked shorthand. I really enjoyed working with him.” Since energy-efficiency was of paramount importance to Art, Brian made it a priority in the design. “Combining energy-efficient windows and doors with our thermal log-wall system provides a highly efficient home,” explains Brian. “And along with the reflective-foil insulation, Art’s home requires half the supplemental heating and cooling of an average home in the same area.” To enclose the exterior, Art selected 10-inch pine half-log siding, while the interior features an 8-inch pine-plank log style called “Timberlock.” The clear stain lets the grain and knots of the pine show through, boosting the home’s character. In his quest for an environmentally sound home, Art also thought it important to use chemical-free building components. “A majority of the framed structure is comprised of toxin-free materials,” Brian says, “and the interior log and trim are non-toxic, as well.” Brian and Art worked together on the unique floorplan, which includes a master bedroom loft with a spiral staircase to a loft above, a vaulted ceiling with log beams, a narrow-yet-open kitchen and a canopied porch adjacent to the great room. The exterior elevations were designed to embrace the home’s surroundings. Brian utilized stone bases for the log posts at the front and rear porches and added decorative gable braces to draw attention to the front of the house. For Brian, watching the home’s design evolve was a great experience. “The most memorable part was updating the photos as the home was constructed and seeing our progress,” he says. Indeed, it’s a powerful thing to play a key role in helping someone’s dream home take shape. |
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| the floorplans | |
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| the pictures |
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| Small Wonder - Kitchen | |
| Modern Art - Great Room | |
| Bold and Beautiful - Staircase | |
| Au Naturel - Bathroom | |
| Sleep Tight - Master bedroom and loft | |
| To Dine For - Dining Room | |
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