February 25, 2007
Let's Talk About Tin
According to the poll, a tin roof is winning by a landslide.
Let’s talk about why. I hear a lot of support for the sound it makes during a rainstorm, and the fireproof peace of mind it provides, plus I happen to find it very attractive in a rustic cabin-y sort of way. All pros. But part of my job here is to discuss the cons as well, so that we can help each other make informed decisions. In the case of tin, the cons include:
-Paint Maintenance (or “Paintenance” as I like to say,) because it’s going to fade in the sun.
-Apparently it costs more to insure a home with a tin roof. No bueno.
-I’ve heard a rumor that it’s not friendly to firefighters – being difficult to break into during a fire and trapping heat up in high places. (Any input on this from the fire fighters out there?)
-We all know metal sweats, transferring heat and moisture to the structure.
-Last but not least, I’ve heard that hot tin roofs + cats do not mix.
Now, I’m not dissing the tin. I’ll be putting asphalt and cedar through the same shakedown. Stay tuned.
Can’t wait to hear your thoughts,
Amy
Posted by adevers at 1:12 PM | Comments (143) | TrackBack
February 20, 2007
Floor plan voting
Everyone,
Thanks for all the comments and votes on the floor plan question... I am overwhelmed by the response. I personally wanted Smokeyview because I love wraparound porches, but Greenbriar is a great plan as well.
Honestly, I would be thrilled with any of them. I love cabins.
Here's the final vote tally:
Greenbriar -- 87,813
Smokeyview -- 79,999
Trillium -- 56,471
Let's talk about the outdoor focal point.
What's your choice? -- the fireplace? Gazebo? or water feature?
Thanks.
Ron Lubke
Posted by rlubke at 9:01 PM | Comments (82) | TrackBack
February 16, 2007
Choosing the floor plan
Hi Everyone,
Ok, you’ve got a very important choice in front of you. Choosing the floor plan is arguably the most important choice of all. And you’re being asked to choose without knowing much about the location or the lot it will be on. Hmmm. (Commence head scratching.)
A couple of things to consider… (in addition to all the things you are already considering.)
1. Which floor plan will be the most versatile on any type of lot? In any orientation?
2. When considering a floor plan, don’t forget to consider the ambiance or “feeling” that will be created by the layout and flow of rooms. Because at the end of the day, even if you’ve got a room for every need and desire, it won’t matter much if the place feels tight, dark or cramped.
Echoing Ron, please do tell us why you like the floor plan you like. You may have thought of something that someone else didn’t think of, and sway other voters in your direction…and that is precisely the beauty of this model.
That being said, I would like to put in a plug for Smokyview. Honk if you love open floor plans!! This is the queen of light and space. I am also a fan of how the porch and windows are integrated so that from outside, to inside, to outside again it’s almost one continuous space. Plus, of the 3, I think it will offer the best views of the surrounding landscape. For those of you who may be inclined to think that it’s not cozy, I beg to differ. To me the very definition of cozy is being safe and warm and well fed by the fire, while the great outdoors does its thing (you know, rain, snow, wind, stars, flowers blooming, leaves turning…etc.) I think in the Smokyview plan you will be able to feel like you are a part of the surroundings, while still being nestled comfortably in your home.
That’s my $0.02. Thanks for listening. Now get out there and vote! (And don’t forget to vote once each day until 5 p.m. EST on Tuesday.)
Amy
Posted by adevers at 12:50 PM | Comments (145) | TrackBack
Floorplan voting
Everyone,
We are down to the last days of voting for the floorplans. It ends Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. Eastern.
We have to select the floorplan early so DIY can start building it. Remember there will be a TV series associated with the build airing later in the year.
It's a tight race between Smokeyview and Greenbriar so please vote to help make sure your favorite wins.
Amy Devers will be blogging later today about the pros and cons of each plan, but I wanted to give it a kick start.
What plan is your favorite and why? I have a tough time choosing myself. I'm partial to big porches that wrap around the house so you can avoid the sun in your eyes by going to a different side of the house and still enjoy the view.
I was in North Carolina cabin last summer and the porch faced west so we had a hard time using it between 4 and 8 because the sun was always in our eyes and it was unbearably hot.
So tell us why you voted for a specific floorplan.
Thanks,
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com director
Posted by rlubke at 10:44 AM | Comments (41) | TrackBack
February 13, 2007
Inaugural Blog Entry / Tell Me A Story
Hi Y’all!
(Just practicing my Tennessee twang.) I just got back from a whirlwind trip of shooting DIY to the Rescue and a special on the International Builders Show. Now I’m ready to jump in and blog all night with you. I’ve been keeping up with all of the comments and posts and can I just say, “Wow, you are all amazing” and “Thank you so much for all of the very valid suggestions to consider” and “Your enthusiasm is downright contagious, I love it!”
So welcome to the very exciting and interesting drama-action-comedy-adventure that I’m sure this Blog Cabin experiment will be. I think it bears repeating that YOU will be designing this home. While, yes, I am a designer, I am not the designer in this case. Think of me as a liaison, facilitator, curator, consultant, and knowledgeable friend. I’m just here to make sure we can include as many of your awesome suggestions as possible, balance the practical and aesthetic concerns with the parameters of time, space, and budget, and make sure we don’t end up with a Franken-Cabin.
I’d also like to help personalize this, what will become a wonderful home for the lucky winners. But I’m faced with the unique challenge of personalizing a domicile whose occupants are still TBD, and will remain TBD throughout the entire construction process. So what I propose to do is slip little tiny mementos into the structure as it’s being built. They will be invisible when the cabin is finished, but they will be our little secret. Perhaps I’ll burn my initials on the inside of a cabinet, or slip a piece of paper with one of your stories under the floorboards. Nothing too kooky or over-the-top, just a few tiny time capsule-esque clues about the story of how our Blog Cabin came to be.
So in addition to sharing your suggestions and concerns regarding the function and style of the cabin – share your stories! Recount your memories, good or bad, of your life in a log cabin. I’m a particular fan of practical jokes and high jinks, so if you’ve got any tales of mountain madness, by all means pass them on. I may even share them with the viewing public on the TV show, Blog Cabin.
I’ll be checking in frequently with news, queries, topics and dilemmas regarding our beloved cabin. This is only the beginning…
Adios for now!
Amy Devers
Posted by adevers at 3:31 PM | Comments (144) | TrackBack
February 11, 2007
Porches
You all are amazing. I can't keep up with these comments. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Amy will be blogging this week. I can't wait to hear her input.
Seems like everyone loves the idea of a screened-in porch.
Tell me what you would like to see in the porch -- how should it be furnished? Should it have a ceiling fan? Should you wire it for cable/satellite TV (nothing like watching a ball game sitting on a porch)?
Also, tell me any great memories you have of screen porches. I used to love to sit on one when I was a kid and listen to Texas Rangers baseball games (I grew up in Dallas), and also there was nothing better than falling asleep listening to the rain while you sat nice and dry on the porch.
I know I suggested wiring the porch for cable TV, but nothing is better than baseball on the radio :)
Thanks.
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com site director
Posted by rlubke at 9:32 PM | Comments (73) | TrackBack
February 9, 2007
Flooring questions
Everyone,
I am at my last day here at the International Builder's Show, and plan to spend the day looking at different types of flooring.
I noticed there are tons of posts about flooring choices, and I want to get more insight from you all particulary about renewable flooring.
I have heard good things about cork and wool carpeting, but have never used them and personally would love to put cork in my kitchen. I can speak first hand about bamboo it's great. What are some renewable flooring you all are using and would they work well in a cabin?
Thanks
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com site director
Posted by rlubke at 9:26 AM | Comments (77) | TrackBack
February 8, 2007
Green Building
Many people have posted about using Green (environment friendly) products in building the cabin.
I have been at the International Builder's Show this week in Orlando, and I saw many great Green products such as low-flow toilets; HVAC units, gray water solutions.
I would love to hear your ideas on some green projects for the cabin..
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com director
Posted by rlubke at 8:09 PM | Comments (97) | TrackBack
Blog Cabin Update
Everyone,
Thanks for all the comments, I can barely keep up with them all....
Amy will be blogging with us shortly.
I have a few questions:
There have been quite a few comments about adding a screened-in porch. What other elements do you think the cabin should have ? We are open to any suggestions.
I personally vote for a hot tub :)
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com Director
Posted by rlubke at 7:59 PM | Comments (123) | TrackBack
February 2, 2007
DIY's Blog Cabin
You design it. DIY builds it. You could win it!
In the next few days, DIY to the Rescue's Amy Devers will be blogging about the construction
of DIY's log cabin retreat in historic Kinzel Springs, a gated community development on the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
She'll be discussing the design choices that YOU make (go to the poll), the ongoing construction of the cabin and any questions or observations you have. Let's hear from you!
Watson Hawkins
Content Manager, DIYnetwork.com
Posted by diy-admin at 6:20 PM | Comments (183) | TrackBack