You made your decision; You’re finally going to build that log house. Not just any log home, but that special creation you’ve had in mind for so many years. She has walked on those hardwood floors, looked out from behind those huge windows, cooked dinner, snuggled up by the fire, and even slept in that special house, using that vivid imagination of hers. Oh yes, you have been dreaming of your log house for a long time and you have finally decided to make your dream come true.
Do you have land? Before you spend too much time exploring the floor plan possibilities, you need to know where that home will be built. Not all floor plan designs are suitable for all construction sites. For example, a walkout basement typically requires a home to be built on a slope or recessed into a hillside. Also, some plans are designed to take advantage of the home’s location in relation to sunlight, so even if you already own your land, you’ll want to know where and how your home will sit on your property. Once you have an idea of where those records will be stacked, it’s time to figure out what that stack should look like.
Now the fun begins, and the first order of business is choosing the right floor plan that is consistent with the home you have envisioned in your mind, and the property it will be built on. Chances are, she probably didn’t accidentally open a magazine and stumble upon a floor plan that has haunted her dreams all these years. Choosing a plan and refining the design to meet your needs will require some research, self-introspection, and creative inspiration.
In general, almost any residential plan can be adapted to a log home, but there are substantial differences and considerations that need to be addressed. An example of this is the dimensions of the room in relation to the diameter of the logs you will use. A custom hand built house with 20″ diameter logs will have a different footprint than one that requires 6″ milled logs. If this is your first time dealing with a log home builder or architect, be sure to compare ‘apples to apples’ when discussing interior dimensions. If you want a room to be 14′ wide, make sure your designer knows that you want the interior of the room to have 14′ of clearance and not measured from the center of the corresponding logs. Using the example above, your 14′ room could be reduced to 12′ if such assumptions are not understood.
A floor plan is about the layout of space, or more specifically, the space you want (or need) for family members, guests, pets, entertainment, and basic household operations (i.e. cooking, eating, laundry, etc.). store, etc). Plus, it’s easy to overlook the space requirements for many things we take for granted, like hobbies, displaying collections, and other family activities. Try to anticipate as many of your family’s needs as possible and expand your floor plan to accommodate their wishes.
Once you’ve identified this all-encompassing ‘wish list’, you’ll almost certainly find yourself over budget. If money isn’t an issue, no problem, but if that Lotto jackpot has eluded you thus far, there are things you can do to get that budget back in line. The most obvious and often least expensive way to double your floor space is to make use of the basement. A properly designed and finished basement is the perfect place for an additional guest bedroom, home theater, hobby or game rooms, additional bathrooms, laundry room, or a home office.
One of the best tips on using a foundation for additional living space is to raise the ceiling. Adding an extra foot (or more) in ceiling height to your basement is much less expensive than adding an extra floor or expanding the overall floor plan, and the extra height will eliminate that cramped feeling you get with so many basements.
Adding or expanding dormers is another way to capture the space of a second story or loft that is framed by a sloped roofline. You’ll be amazed at how a well-placed dormer can make a small loft seem so much larger and provide vertical walls to accommodate seating, bookcases, or tables that don’t normally work with a conventional knee wall.
It’s also a good idea to keep a list of things you don’t like; things you may have seen in a magazine or noticed when visiting other log homes. Some of the most frequent complaints heard about log homes, especially older models, are lack of storage space and small closets or bathrooms. This is usually the result of poor planning or not taking into account the diameter of the log walls and the lack of attics in most log houses. Refer to your list when discussing the details with your designer, and remember that in most cases, you can’t build a closet or bathroom that’s too big.
These are just a few ideas that can help you choose and refine a floor plan that fits your lifestyle and the needs of your family. Your log home company or his architect will have many ideas that you may not have considered, so encourage them to offer suggestions. Explain what you are trying to achieve and let your experience and knowledge guide you, but in the end, this is your floor plan.
Helping people design the log home of their dreams was the inspiration behind Log Home Directory’s “Floor Plan Showcase.” Visitors now have the opportunity to explore up to ten floor plans from each featured log home manufacturer without visiting dozens of different websites. These leading manufacturers display their most popular floor plans with descriptions, photos or renderings, and links to additional information on their individual websites.
