Designing the Perfect Log Home

Designing your log home means more than picking out a floorplan. It means selecting a log profile and stain color you find pleasing. It means choosing windows, doors and roofing materials that protect as well as look good. It means incorporating all your needs and as many of your wants as you can afford into one plan.

Most importantly, it means designing a footprint that accommodates sensible traffic flow, all of your space needs and your daily habits. Keep the following considerations in mind as you put your design on paper.

Location, location, location!
The characteristics of your building site may play a larger role in your home’s design than you realize. Good home design takes into account:

• Orientation.
  
• Slope.
  
• Views.
  
• Adjacent properties.
  
• Zoning and other regulations.

Treat your logs like a design element.
Choosing your logs isn’t just a materials issue. You also need to think about how they will affect the appearance of your home. Consider:

• Shape.
  
• Diameter.
• Finish.
  
• Color.
  
• Full or half log.

Function, function, function!
Last but certainly not least, your log home must be functional. If you enjoy the outdoors, your home must have storage for your gear and probably a mudroom for changing. If you like to entertain, you may want commercial-sized appliances in the kitchen and a large dining area. How you use your home should be your primary consideration during the design process, but you should also think about:

• Safety.
  
• Practicality.
  
• Growth and change.
  

You may also want to rethink how you install your home’s electrical and water systems. Lower than normal light switches (48 inches maximum), higher than normal receptacles (18 inches minimum) and showers with roll-in edges are all recommended for people with limited capabilities.

Follow your gut
In the end, you know yourself best and that means you are your log home’s best designer. Sure, you need an architect or certified designer to make it official, but no one knows better how you will use your home. Give thoughtful consideration to your home’s design, think about the spaces you enjoy in your current home, talk to friends and family about the things they like best about their homes. Put it all together and you should be able to create the log home you’ve always wanted.