Planning a Small Handcrafted Log Home | North and South | Summit Handcrafted Log Homes |
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Planning the Small Handcrafted Log Home | North and South:
Jim Koschmann always knew he’d end up owning a log home. As a Wisconsin native, Jim fondly remembers family vacations to the northern part of the state—hunkering down in log cabins situated among clear lakes and thick forests. More than 40 years later, Jim has translated those vivid memories into a Southwestern setting, building a log home in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.“Ever since I was a kid, I wanted a log home,” Jim says. “They just had a warmth and charm that I always remembered.”
As a busy veterinarian working in El Paso, Texas, Jim spent 10 years dreaming about building a vacation house for himself, his wife, Christine, and their grown children and four dachshunds. He regularly sifted through log home magazine and real-estate advertisements. All the while, he collected artifacts from his annual trips to Alaska—tribal masks, mounted fish and art objects—which he hoped to one day display in the house.
Finally, the Koschmanns found a tract of land in southern New Mexico, about a two-hour drive from their west Texas home. The setting— a wild mix of open space and forest—fit Jim’s memories of his upper Midwest upbringing and his regular jaunts to Alaska. “Once we found the land,” Jim says, “it was just a matter of looking at the type of floor plan that would maximize the view of the wildflower meadow and the surrounding aspen trees.”
Jim ultimately chose the Spring Mountain design offered by Boise, Idaho-based Summit Handcrafted Log Homes. Jim liked the modest size of the house (just under 1,200 square feet) because it would minimize maintenance, while the prow-front design and high windows offered ample views of the outdoors and maximized the heating effect of the sun. “It’s a very open design,” he says. “I didn’t want a chopped-up floor plan. This home has a open main living area that allows you to look from the main level up to a high pitched ceiling.”
Working with Mark and Alvin Vaught of Country Living Log Homes, Summit’s dealer in Temple, Texas, the Koschmanns served as their own general contractors and oversaw the construction, which began in January 2003 and was completed in December 2006. The house is constructed with round Douglas fir logs with a latewood finish and an Eastern white pine ceiling. In keeping with their handcrafted nature, the 12- to 16-inch-diameter logs are varied and have imperfections, giving the house a rustic look that Jim and Christine love.
“The Koschmanns were the kind of clients you dream about because they did their homework,” says Robert Lockerby, co-owner of Summit Handcrafted Log Homes. “And they were just super nice people.”
Even though the entire family spends time there, Jim admits to sneaking off to the house by himself whenever he can. “On my day off, I’ll go up real early and spend the day reading a book or painting a duck decoy,” he says. “It’s my safe haven.”
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By Dr. A. Unal on Apr 10, 2008
How much does it cost to build this on my lot (material + labor) except the cost of land?
aynuru@yahoo.com
By Donna Peak on Jun 10, 2008
The short answer is: it depends. There are a lot of variables involved in building these types of homes from the location you are building, accessibility to that location, etc to the kind of log home you choose to build, the size of logs etc. In order to really figure this out it is best to have a reasonably specific plan in place of these items and more. That way you can go to your chosen manufacturer/handcrafter/dealer/builder and get an accurate estimate...