Hi, Ron!
Love the cabin! I'm so glad to see that you are thinking of using renewable materials. Yes, I have some experience with cork flooring, and I think it is wonderful. We moved into a house in central New York State (where the winters are c-o-l-d!) years ago and the upstairs was all cork. It was attractive, warm and made the house quieter. I would use it again in a heartbeat. It should work in a cabin. I never saw one bit of wear in ours.

Bamboo sounds like something worth trying, also.

Good luck with the building and designing.
O, one comment: I would like to sign up to receive news about the sweepstakes, but the site is not secure. Can that be addressed?
S

I have't seen cork so I cannot comment on the finish and color to know how it would look in a kitchen. The flooring options offered on the initial page led me to pine only because bamboo does not seem like a cabin type wood. I say to carpet ... NO! Rugs are fine but not carpet.

For all it's good qualities I can't see the cork in the kitchen -- what about stains?

I really like the ideas of using green materals in the home. Anything we can do to help the environment is a good thing.

Screening in the porch of the cabin would help keep the creepy crawly ones out.

Because I am a plein air landscape artist, art for the interior is needed. When you start on the interior, landscape oil paintings would be beautiful on the walls. check out: drsunsetstudio.com

You mentioned wool carpeting......I know that the style right now is for bare floors, but if you have a mountain cabin, you're not always going to have warm weather, and the floors will be cold on shod feet, let alone bare ones. When you get out of bed on a cold morning, there's nothing like a carpeted floor. Wool carpet is extremely durable, long-lasting, and with just a little care, is an easily-maintained floor covering. The cost, I think, made wool carpeting begin to lose favor when synthetic materials became available for floor coverings. I would encourage you to take a look at wool...at least for the bedroom floors, if not to cover the main area.

This all sounds exciting to me. I have had one new home and we built it back in the 70's and things certainly have changed!
I have never heard of bamboo or cork flooring nor have I ever seen it. A cabin sounds country and rustic to me so it would depend on what they look like. I have always had carpeted floors but carpet is not healthy especially with allergies. The home we are in now has ceramic tile in the kitchen and dining room. It is beautiful but cold in the winters.
Our lifelong dream is to own and live in a cabin. We lived in Colorado several years ago and only wish we would have been smart enough at that time to invest in mountain property.
Thanks for the opportunity in "building" this log cabin, it was a lot of fun and my husband even did it. He is always sitting around drawing pictures of what he wants his log cabin to look like.

What type of heating are you considering to use. Especially in the baths. I think the radiant floor heating is what we need for new construction and remodeling. it is the type that makes the most sense since heat rises.also by doing that you could just use small duct work to pump air conditioning into rooms when it is needed. I also would like to see what type of recyclable materials (green) you are using.

I don't know about renewable flooring as such, but we've made extensive use of salvaged flooring in our house.

There are a number of companies that sell nothing but old lumber that has been cleaned and remilled for use in modern construction or restoration work. Since the wood is old-growth, it is superior to most modern wood flooring.

We didn't have to use cork since our maple kitchen floor ended up being refinished but we considered it for the kitchen. The samples we had were sealed cork (to protect them against moisture)and they were very pretty. But I don't have first hand experience with their durability. Radiant heating would be lovely, especially if you linked it to a solar heating unit. The same unit can be used to heat water for the hot water heater and the radiant heat, thus cutting fuel costs.

I kthink it's really important to design this cabin to optimize the views and to make the most of the beautiful setting in which the cabin will be built. Huge windows are a plus and they need to have sceens for the warm weather months. I also think the outdoor patio/fireplace feature would be like adding another room to the structure. The whole point of a cabin is to enjoy the outdoors right??

river rock/pebbles for bathroom and shower floor will give it that cabin feel.

The idea of a country cabin constructed in a cozy corner of charming mountains where "downtime" can be enjoyed from the rigorous daily grind would be a dream come true! What a marvelous project you have began and the journey will be filled with great suggestions and knowledge from bloggers throughout cyberspace! Interestingly enough, I just attended a "blogging seminar" not an hour ago. The main reason I visited this DIY network blog was to get further information for individuals and small businesses concerning blogging. What I found was blogging in action and it is amazing.

To truly blow my mind, thirty minutes ago I received a call from my daughter informing me that our sixth grandchild is on the way -- Cuurently we have FIVE grandchildren, all FOUR and under. I can just envision this cabin with a basement for further storage, game playing, and space to place pallets on floor for children and grandchildren where they could experience the type of family connectiveness that our past generations were able to have. A special place in the mountains where an entire family can "call in the troops" and "make meaningful memories" that can be retold for years to come. I am currently working three jobs to make ends meet and this would be “a little bit of heaven” without having to “pass on”.

Part of me sees this project from an individual aspect where I can see rest, enjoyment, and social and family time; another part sees the challenge of trying to keep the "true idea" of a country cabin while injecting some modern amenities without them being too obtrusive to the plan. I would love to get my hands on this as I do organizing, teaching, and training, as well as dabble in interior design. Since this is such a small space, it needs to be functional inside as well as out. I see some of the outside “grill and eating area” covered to extend the square footage and make it a true extension of the cabin. Another possible phenomenal feature would be two pathways -- a stepping stone trail from the back and covered trellis built outside the dining/kitchen area (make that a French door instead of a window) of the cabin could both lead to a separate garage structure with storage above.

One thing I know for sure, anyone would thoroughly enjoy this blog cabin! Thanks for your hard work and allowing everyone input through blogging.

i think radiant flooring is wonderful...waking up in the midle of the night to go potty is when im most happy

You just can't beat the warmth that heart pine flooring expresses. A nice stain helps the color to mellow into an aged look in about 4 yrs.
The screened porch is a must. We used to eat most of our meal on the porch of our summer log home.

I live in Georgia and have spent many vacations in cabins in the Smokey Mountains. NO to wool rugs. Bare plank floors are more the standard in cabins with very large rugs that range from hooked rugs, rag rugs, etc. No to bamboo as this is not a natural product of the area. The cork floor in the kitchen might be okay, but again-not natural to the area. I am against anything that you have to haul long distances to the job site. There are so many wonderful, natural materials that can be used for the cabin that are readily available in the area. If you want to go green, then spare the effects on the environment of shipping long distances.

Hi Amy,
Love this project...Have dreamed of a Log Cabin for 30 years, Your coices are awesome. I know this will turn out to be Beautiful.

Dear Ron, I bought a house in Lake Tahoe, CA 24 years ago that had Wool carpeting in the home that was about 5 yrs old at the time. I enjoyed the look and feel of the carpet under my bare feet, for several more years. The problems I encountered while I live in this home, is that the soil here is very fine and silty, also the pine trees produce a heavy yellow pollen each year, it was difficult to keep the carpet free from dirt and frequent cleaning eventually undermined the backing of the carpet. When we remove the carpet there was about an inch of sediment between the carpet and the padding which was a horse hair felt, I was told at the time. I have since replaced twice, good quality and less expensive carpets of different fibers and backings and appreciate the insulating factors over a wooden or tile floor, especially when temps drop below freezing. The synthetic carpets do not hold up as well as wool, they Ugly Out quickly, but I have not have the sediment problem. Since the Blog home is in the mountains, the dirt and silt might also be a problem there. I am considering an all wood floor with a radiant heating system in my next flooring change, but want to see better technology using renewable energy. Tahoe

Hi Ron!
How about a Cabin with Solar panels? Would be a great energy efficient way to have the electric you need and stay environmentally green!

I have a topic not directly related to flooring... Have you thought of an wheelchair accessible cabin? Two years ago my husband and I had our honeymoon in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. 7-months ago he was paralyzed. I would love to surprise him with a trip back to a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, and eventually possibly building an accessible cabin. Would you concider one of the cabin designs to be accessible or at least with some universal design thought put into it? Thank you.

We're getting ready to start our new home near the Smokies which is where we presently live in a log home constructed by my husband and myself. I've been studying a lot of different materials and ways to build green. Some of my favorites for this area are cork or bamboo flooring. Recycled glass tile, recycled cotton insulation, and recycled paper countertops. When it comes to HVAC the AC is not necessary in this part of the country but a whole house dehumidifier is during the summer unless you like mold. Heating depends on where the home will be located but I feel the only choices are solar, wind, geothermal or a combination of these. Radiant floor heating is great as long as it's powered by one of the above.

I don't understand why people are not voting for the stainless steel kitchen. It is so much easier to clean and much better for all or you professional weekend chefs! Also what's a log cabin without a rustic staircase? It gives the home such character!

Wood floors are the only way to go in a log cabin. I would put the under floor heat in as the floors will be cold to the bear feet. In our home we have just put in a new bathroom with tile and have the in floor electric heat instaled myself works great.

Absolutely, a screened in room is a must. We live in an area with a lot of misquitoes and flies and our screened in room is a blessing.

Re: the Kitchen choice for the Blog Cabin, The Modern/Contemporary kitchen is so beautiful that I can't see why others are choosing a Country style, which has a worn-out look. The Modern/ Contemporary Bathroom seems to be popular, so the same choice would make sense for the Kitchen as well.

I'd like to ask "What is Grey Water? that was mentioned as a possible green choice?" Thanks.

Joyce

I'm happy to hear you're considering eco-friendly design elements. Not only will it be great for the Earth, but it will really connect the nature outside with the concepts inside the cabin.
In regards to flooring ... I have heard wonderful things about using cork and bamboo (which, by the way, is naturally bacteria-resistant). And radiant flooring would be wonderful! Wool carpeting is a great, nontoxic, biodegradable floor cover that is naturally fire-resistant, absorbs contaminants in the air, and lasts longer than normal carpet. Imagine carpeting that purifies your home's air! Also, look into FLOR carpet tiles: many are made from recycled or renewable materials in an energy-efficient manner, and the company makes it easy to clean permament stains - you just order a new tile.

I wouldn't use cork flooring, even sealed, in the kitchen. Sealed cork might not have trouble with stains and moisture, but damage from pets, dropped items, children ( or grandchildren ), and the high level of foot traffic a kitchen gets will wear the floor very quickly.

I would not suggest wool carpeting, or carpeting of any kind, because of allergies. You just can't predict from where you stand what allergies the future owners will have. They might be allergic to wool or they might be allergic to pollens that will be easily caught and held by carpeting.

I like the radiant floor heat idea, particularly if it's heated with hot water... this makes for an enormous "water heater" if it's kept in line with the house's water heating system, but you'll want to be able to separate the two so that the floors aren't unbearably hot in the summer while still maintaining a nice large "water heater".

Glad to see you are building a log cabin. We live in one and love it. It is so warm and cozy. The location sounds great.

I am a child of the 50s and 60s, the son of a contractor. Cork (tile) was almost standard equipment in new houses of that era. I installed many square feet of cork long before my teenage years. It was quiet, beautiful, and surprisingly durable.

I was a little worried about the voting in the bathroom - a modern walk in slate shower is nice, but will that match the natural tile that also tops the vote list - my favorite is the glass tile. It seems that it'll be easy to clean and comes in a wide variety of stlyes to choose.

As for green flooring - Bamboo is not a taboo. I'm also a susan fan about the radiant flooring, as for in the middle of the night potty trips, give me a choice :)

Speaking of green - lets sacrafice a little porch space for and entry room (vestabule) a little air space will keep a lot of the inside air still inside!

I would go with bamboo for the kitchen floor. It is tough, good looking, and renewable.

Greetings! Here is another flooring idea! Fire Clay Tiles, made from 50% recycled materials such as granite dust, recycled brown & green bottles, and window panes! It comes in many styles and colors too! This would look great in some of the rooms of the cabin. What do you think about using fire clay tiles in the cabin?

1. A fireplace that can actually be used for cooking on(in)

2. geothermal heat pump

3. Handicap accessible front door

4. Something neat with lighting like sun roof and low voltage lighting.

5. A basement w/game room, storage, wine room, etc.

6. HY-TECH INSULATING ADDITIVE for PAINT
MAKES PAINT INSULATE
Space Age Energy Saving Insulation(http://www.hytechceramics.com/)

Radiant flooring!!!!
i don't know how energy efficient it is, but i bet its cheaper than forced air - and boy does it feel good!

I can't figure out why only one of the cabin designs has a utility room!

Also- has the location of the cabin been selected yet? The setting would determine whether or not solar features would work (probably not in a dense wooded area.)

My choices were made with ease of upkeep in mind. For instance, a round rail on the stais will collect less dust than the unique woven twigs. And a hard floor better than carpet. I wasn't sure if the bathroom surface choices would look like the sample shown, or whether there was room for customizing within the category. All glass tile do not look alike, and I have seen beutiful mosaic work- but the sample shown was PRETTY bright.

I second the idea of a basement - extra space is valuable as well as the space to have a crafts and recreational area indoors

Cherry flooring is beautiful, we put it in our new home BUT it is high maintenance. It shows every bit of dust and dirt. I see most people are voting for the cherry the heart pine is a much better choice for a cabin.

Just discovered the dyi cabin design segment, it's going to be perfect for us, since we are looking at creating something like this down the road. I use to work up in Knoxville and really know the Gatlinburg area, you could not have picked a prettier area in the country. I have heard great things about cork flooring, have yet to see it in a house. We live in Florida and mostly down here everything is tile or wood floors. As you go through this project do you also give out budget numbers in terms of the cost of each project that you take on. That would be fun to follow. Have fun with it, I will be following the progress...we really enjoy segments like this.

Chip

Hello. I have a prairie style house in south Jersey that was built in the early 60's. When I was replacing the carpets on the upper level, we discovered that all of the flooring (everywhere except the kitchen & bathroom) was cork. If we had known this, I probably would not have ordered carpet for my office, I'd have left it cork. The high$ carpet was already paid for though, so maybe when it wears out I'll go back to the cork, which is still hiding under there, looking great. I do believe it has to be sealed for a kitchen. It provides a soft step & is excellent for noise reduction. I would definitely go with that, especially with stainless cabinets. I also like bamboo for other rooms in the cabin. The water feaure outside should be a 6-10 person hot tub with a waterfall pond next to it. These would make it perfect for me to win it. thanks & wish I was there to have the fun you guys get to designing & building this cabin. Joe

Radiant floor heating is great, carpet is a big no, esp for accessibility, a couple of solar panels would be outstanding as would a cistern for water collection. A screened sleeping porch would also be great.

I think a wide plank oak flooring speaks to the mountain lodge design, and for those cold mornings and nights the idea of radiant heating is fantastic, although I'm not sure if that can be done under wood, can it? I wouldn't be against bamboo or some other type of flooring in order to have the comfort of radiant flooring. I also think a dark stain is the most attractive, and gives a nice contrast to the lighter tones of the natural wood stain/color of the railings.

"Flooring" Cork is great when applied to a real hard surface like concrete, planking is another great product, Heavy berber is also nice the thicker the better it's a good insulator. cork also has this benefit.

I watched a program yesterday about a Green development in Atlanta that was fascinating. Everything used was recyled and/or friendly to our environment. There was a lake in the area which captured the rain fall, and in turn was used to irrigate the landscape. Wonderful ideas and anything you can incorporate that is Green friendly is an added plus for us all. I like the idea of screened porch and your suggestion of a hot tub isn't bad either! As long as there are plenty of windows to enjoy the view!

A cabin's floors should be practical. My preference would be solid hardwood throughout; however, would prefer stone (slate?) or tile on the kitchen floor, bathrooms, and the entry. I am an avid cook in the kitchen more than most, and with spills and possible leaks from a dishwasher or fridge, in my current home it gives me peace of mind to know that the floor won't be ruined if that happens. Not to mention how unexpected leaking bathroom fixtures can cause problems. But love wood flooring for the remainder of the cabin. Having had a solid oak flooring, we found it easy and inexpensive (we DIYed) to refinish when the time came. Can you refinish cork or bamboo (am not familiar)?

Don't just worry about flooring. Energy star appliances, florescnt lighting, a gray water system, etc are all important. Have you ever considered composting toilets? They are way improved these days... It doesn't cost any more to build using passive solar, just the right window to mass ratio (on the south of course) and proper size overhangs. Then of course there is solar hot water (can also be used for radiant heat) and active solar... Reclaimed materials are great espically as I'm NOT a fan of cork flooring ditto pebbles. Quality will last longer and therefore not need replacing as soon.

Bamboo flooring with radiant heating is my pick. Bamboo grows quickly. It is not renewable like cork but with the fast growth is is almost unending. radiant heating is wonderful. we do not get as cold as the north but we do get below zero several times a year. the radiant heating even over an unheated crawlspace/basement is warm without cold spots.

Hi everyone
The bamboo flooring is beautiful and I don't see why it couldn't be used in a cabin. I am a believer in tile or natural stone for the kitchen and bath areas. Radiant heat under these flooring materials is great, and solves the cold floor on bare feet issue. Radiant will also work under the bamboo. Area rugs are a great alternative to carpet and can be removed for cleaning or tossed when worn. A hot tub out on the porch would be great, a screened in area is nice if insects are a problem on warm evenings. I do like the look of heart pine but find the bamboo much harder and more durable. Bamboo is also more renewable than the pine and usually less expensive, comes completly finished, and is free from imperfections that make installation more difficult.I would love to chat with Amy and all the rest of you about choices. Working in the construction industry and always eager to find out about new ways to be more efficient and find new materials that are durable,practical and renewable.
best wishes and good planning
Stuart Astbury

Just added a kitchen at a lake cabin and considered cork for flooring. Was hesitant because of comments about installing and avoiding water, spilling, etc. Decided to go with ceramic tile that looks like Mexican Saltillo tile instead.

Also considered bamboo, but pricier than we could afford.

I love the whole concept of this, and whoever came up with the idea is a genius. What fun! About the cork flooring, maybe upstairs but not in the kitchen. Likewise, with the wool carpet. The main floor should be kept with tile or wood for ease in cleanliness. In the country there is always a problem with 2 and 4 legged friends tracking in who knows what. I had a difficult decision trying to choose the kitchen cabinets, because I liked the country style but the color of the contemporary style. Color is most important to the overall effect so I went with the warm. Also, agreeing with others that the screened-in porch is a must. Respectfully submitted, C.

The bamboo flooring is a great idea! A renewable source of flooring. As far as the wool carpeting goes, the flooring lasts longer and requires less in the of upkeep and repair. Scatter rugs, esp those hand-hooked rugs sold througout the mountains would provide a great touch, both for warmth and color.

We are 20+ years with our tin roof and only slight maintenance.

I have a friend who just installed bamboo flooring and it looks much better than I expected, appears to be harder and more resistant to marks than pine flooring and may even be harder than oak. The natural color is lighter than light oak and adds to a dark room the same as if the walls were painted a light color, but allows you the option of using a darker wall color. Underfloor heating seems to work well too. It's a newer product and not as many people are as familiar with it as oak or pine, but I like the look of the product more every time I see it.

I love the look of the light bamboo flooring , but I was wondering how it holds up to traffic.

I am all for anything that promotes the saving of resources we have on the planet. THINK GREEN FOR SURE WHEN BUILDING THIS CABIN!! Low flow toilets are great, and have you considered recycled carpet? We have it and it's so lush - you'd think it was the high end stuff! It's made of recycled tires - and comes in a variety of colors. Also, have you considered using materials purchased at a Habitat Recycling Store? These are materials from builders who either purchased the wrong thing - or too many. All of the proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity!

Bamboo is tough, long lasting, durable and would serve nicely in a cabin. Cork discolors after time, nice on the feet but is not as durable as bamboo. If you think about it, bamboo is used in the Far East to build high rise scaffling for the workers compared to the U.S. using steel.
Radiant boiler heat is lovely although costly.
I would suggest building in "cubby holes" in hallways. high on the walls for storage. The "cubbies could have slide in covers, raise up and push in at the top with or without locks.
A separate pantry or cupboard with some storage lined with metal for dry storage foods. Keeps out the "unwanted insects or "creatures".
Pegs or brackets on some walls that are adjustable.
Pullman racks for blanket storage
Removable foam shutters covered in material to be used to cover the window from the inside.
An energy saver on cold nights as well as a deterrent for the curious when you are away.
An ear piercing siren to be activated if there is someone breaking in through a door or window. This is very effective when your cabin is located in the country.
Electricial outlets installed on bathroom wall for towel warmers.
Exterior electric outlets installed for use when using porches or decks.
Track lighting in the family room.
Rope lighting for safety on stairs.

I really think that the idea of cork is wonderful. My husband and I have an 8 year old son who is epileptic and have considered "soft" flooring. I have only one concern.. What if the family has pets? Do you think that this will take away from the life of the floor?

We are building a house now. I'm learning more than I ever thought I'd know about construction! Since we are adding on a floor, one idea we had was to use the wood from the roof (underside) as flooring. It's wide planks and rustic and dark. We just have to find out what kind, and make sure it's hard enough!

To begin a cabin with all new materials is so foreign to me. We have remodeled for years old houses working as we could afford materials, often recycling from others projects. It was fun working through each part of the design actually being able to have a choice in material and look. I look forward to the final design and construction of your project.

Simply put, a cabin would not be a country cabin without a traditional pine floor... I would personally choose this for the entire living area & bedrooms, using area rugs in the winter months. I like the screened porch idea, maybe with hot tub inside?? :)

I saw a washer that was also a dryer - it saved space and water! Also I know low flow toliets are great but they should not be too low to the ground - a higher toliet seat is essential for many reasons. I agree that reused flooring is a good idea, but also want to mention that "green" painting is essential as well - and carpet leaves off toxins. The cabin should be as environmentally friendly as possible - with a designer edge!

I too am trying to decide on the engineed wood vs stone. We are designing in the Florida Keys on the ocean which will have lots of light and fresh salt air! Does this wood hold up to the elements of extreme humidity in the summer?

I live in Squaw Valley, CA (not the ski resort, but the ORIGINAL Squaw Valley), in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Fresno County, below Sequoia and Kings Canyon. My family lives in a cozy (small?) wooden home. Over the past year, we've watched as the owners of the mountainside above our home built a "diy" log home. It is an extremely beautiful home, and I imagine they have a beautiful view of the snow-capped Sierras (not to mention a view of the top of our house, as well) from there. There are several log homes located in this area, but not as many as one might think. My husband and I have always loved the thought of owning a log home, but seem to have missed out on that particular "dream" so far during this life time. But it would be fun to help decide what should go into yours. I think the tin roof would be the way to go, even though it may not be as "natural" looking as the cedar shakes. It seems more "fire-proof," and the snow can slide off more freely without tearing things up as with asphalt shingles. And it should be sturdy enough to support a solar panel. Also, the rock fireplace is much more "natural" looking, but should be large enough for a woodburning stove to fit comfortably within it's grasp as well. (We may not have too many more years of allowable woodburning left in THIS area, as the smog in the San Joaquin Valley has become a problem. Perhaps with new laws taking effect, the air will become cleaner again in the future.) The stairway bannisters, etc., would look more sturdy with the traditional wood look. Also, it would seem they could be more easily repaired or replaced if needed. The lighter pine seems more "natural" looking to me for the flooring in general, but a natural stone floor would be nice at the front door. Tile or natural stone would be nice in the bathroom, where water on a wooden floor might not be desirable. Radiant heating would be an added plus throughout. Area rugs define living spaces very well, and can be removed or cleaned or replaced more readily than wall-to-wall. And they also come in wool! The kitchen seems to invite a more "friendly" and "intimate" atmosphere in the country-style cabinets. Who wants a "big city" look (in the stainless kitchen), or a "citified" look (in the wood kitchen), when you can have the sweet "country-fried" look and feel of the country cabinets, along with a view of the "Smokies" coming in at you through all of your windows?! That's what living in the country is all about! It's a return to an earlier peace-of-mind and a less stress-filled way of life. (Sure, there's work to be done still, but at the end of the day, it's a lot more pleasant to hear the sounds of the trees rustling and all of the wildlife than the sounds of cars honking and ambulances rushing by.) Granite countertops seem to be winning out in the vote, but granite takes a certain amount of upkeep. So I think I would opt for the tile, or maybe even a butcher-block look on the countertops. A slate shower seems a lot like city-living, but if you're gonna have an inside bathroom ANY way (rather than an outhouse), that seems to be the room where I would add some definite "creature comforts." (Besides, guests can handle all the country living of the rest of the house, but they won't want to sit on a board with a hole in it, so let's make them comfortable in the private area of your bathroom, as well.) And let's make those toilets the extended version (oval shaped) rather than the tiny little round ones. But make them the water-efficient kind. Also, where I live, we use the grey water from the laundry to water our lawn (bermuda grass.) Bermuda takes a lot of water (it was here when we moved in) so we put the water to good use. It also keeps the septic from being filled with all the excess water. Only one house has a utility room. If the washer and dryer are going to be on the porch, better wire it up for them. And screen the porch in to keep the critters out. Cats and rain and mud make a mess on top of a washer... I've had that problem. Yuck! A fan would be nice on the porch, as well as in the living room and bedrooms. Not a bad idea for the kitchen either, if it gets warm or humid, especially over the sink. You could incorporate a small fan with lights over the sink. Is there a place you could put a windmill? Draw up water from the ground on those breezy days to help water the garden or feed your water display. The fireplace on a patio would be nice. Could you maybe put a small covered outside kitchen area there, too? Warm days or evenings would be enjoyable if you were able to cook outdoors. The wormy look of the wooden front door is the most appropriate-looking door to me. A basement might be a nice feature for a family or game room, or maybe for guests. Will you have a garage? Perhaps a two-story with a similar-type design would be nice, where you could have an office or storage or a guest room above. Well, it's late here, and I could go on for quite a while. But I'll save more thoughts, perhaps, for later blogging. I'm anxious to see the results of (all of) this collective little "baby" !!!

Cork flooring in the kitchen(Frank Lloyd Wright used it in many of his houses with good results), tile with radiant heat coils underneath in the baths, bamboo everywhere else.

Ceiling fans, ceiling fans! These will be necessary in all major rooms of the cabin...it gets hot in the Smokey Mtns in summer & ceiling fans will be a great way to cool when combined with efficient placement of windows, etc.
Where are washer/dryers in the floor plans? only see one utility room out of 3 floor plans...after a day of hiking, shopping the outlets, enjoying the rides @ Dollywood or tubing in the creeks, people are going to have dirty clothes!! Have a front loaind washer & dryer (not stacking) so kids & physically challenged people can access them...also good place to fold laundry without carrying into another part of the cabin.
Also, what about a tankless water heater...I love mine. No floor space is wasted on a large water heater & we never run out of hot water!
And I love pine floors with rugs - easy to clean, change decor colors and remove for hot weather.

Our neighbor just remodeled with some "green" flooring options... she used cork, which holds up well, and a "green" linoleum-like product called "Marmoleum", a natural product made from linseed oil, wood flour, rosin, jute and limestone. Both are very attractive and durable...

Think about using a solar water heater. Saves money and the environment, and panels can be hidden on the roof. Also tax savings.

Have a question about the wood burning fireplace,is the stove in the fireplace or can you leave it open without the stove? That is my dream fireplace and would like to see it in the kitchen I would be cooking on in that bad boy...just imagine on a cold day a pot of stew in a cast iron pot hanging over the fire with a couple of rockers sitting in front of the fireplace how warm does that sound...mmmmmmm.

I have seen cork flooring but I don't have any in my house. We have recycled flooring from an old barn. I love it because it's so rustic. Anything recylable is perfect. I love renewable materials!!

ANYTHING BUT CARPET

For Floors in the South traditional Hickory is the way to go. It gives a lot of dimention to a room, you can use random width planks to give it a more rustic feel and you can use Hickory that still has the saw cuts on it for a more rustic feel. Hickory is incredibly tough and will hold up for years. I love Heart Pine however it is a soft wood and does not have the durablility Hickory does. Also Heart Pine is used in more traditional homes and along the Southern Coastal areas.

Bamboo flooring is the most logical choice as it comes from a highly renewable source and would look just as great in this home! I have seen it and it looks beautiful ......... it is claimed (from what I have read) that the durability is great as well.

Yes GO GREEN!!!

All of the flooring choice sound great but you can't beat cherry flooring for it rich look and with the country cabinet I will go with the high maintenance just for the look.Bennett

The cabin is wonderful, but I wouldn't want wool carpeting. My husband and I are both vegans and while wool seems to be a friendly product since we imagine they simply shave the sheep, the process called museling is very nasty and painful. We try to stay away from fur, wool, and leather -- and any other product that causes unnecessary pain and suffering to other animals.

Gayle

I like the old rustic look of a cabin but my wife has advised me on certain things that take away from a homey and comfortable feel and look. Radiant heat is an absolute necessity! I like the tin roof, I don't trust cedar shakes, they are a fire hazard. I just read that tin can be a fire hazard, can't they put some kind of trap door in the roof, for easy access? My wifes main concern is that the cabin will be dark. She looked at a cabin years ago and felt depressed while there. Lots of large windows, sky lights and keeping the interior light in color choices would help. Also, the cabin should face north and south. I love stone fireplaces, she hates them........how comfortable will the winners be if the cabin feels dark and depressing? Lets keep everything light and airy........lots of ceiling fans and a screened in porch. Kitchens should have a lot of storage space, pantry anyone? My wife also loves the wrought iron door....it would let in some light. We are animal lovers, two papillion dogs and do not want to cause animals any harm, although, I am a fisherman and a deer hunter.

Flooring.

I have been working for a hardwood flooring contractor for the past few years. He has 40 yrs experience of personally installing only hardwood flooring. As people are voting for flooring, I just wanted to add some thoughts. First I have 2 young boys 1 very asthmatic. I will attest to the health benefits of harwood over carpeting. The other point I would like to make is that hardwood has a hardness rating called a Janka scale. A softer wood will dent much easier than a harder wood. Cork is a very soft wood. Bamboo and pine vary greatly with species. Oak and then cherry are a harder woods to withstand some of the wear and tear of a family with children and/or pets.

I like the Greenbrier. Am I missing something though? I don't see a closet in the 1st floor bedroom on the floor plan.

In reference to the question of flooring. First I remind us all that we are not building and designing a contemporary or earth friendly style home. A log cabin is a traditional style whose enchanting elegance does not stop at the doorstep. It takes the beauty of wood,and stone craftsmanship and exploits them to create a warm old world charm unique to a log cabins and lodges. In the kitchen may I suggest a slate or stone mosaic. In the rest of the cabin we could use a wide pine as or use reclaimed flooring from yesteryear. If we are insistent on easily available flooring may I suggest a wider plank. However, more expensive than narrow plank a wider will offer a more authentic cabin allure. I know we are not on the topic of heat but a nice efficient radiant heat under the flooring would be nice especially in the spaces most commonly where bare feet are found. Such as the bathrooms and bedrooms.

I think they all are wonderful, and but I liked the smokview the best too, but they all would be nice. It is fun to be able to help out blogging this cabin and will be fun to see it's completion. I would love to own something so nice. I lived here 31 years and the house is old and falling apart and it is hard to get the money to fix it. so I enjoy doing this even if I don't win, I love it. thanks for the chance to dream.

I couldn't located my intial blog so I decided to add a few quick comments about floor and cork.

If I were selecting a floor I would take into consideration:

-Selecting a floor with an FSC lable on wood
-Select a sustainable scratch resistant durable floor
-Add radiant heat to floor
-Review material concerning the SFI (Sustainable Forest Initiative)
-Stay in accordance with Green Building Products if considering Green Building
-Add small cotton rug near walkway to reduce pollutants/dust

-Cork, for floor is great. Selecting Aphrodite Cork for a floating cork floor is nice. Plus, no glue is needed and it is antistatic. No glue = no VOC. Antistatic is good for people like me who have allergies.

-Cork, for a kitchen backsplash would add character and be the central focus of the kitchen if so desired. A natural/creme backsplash for this project would allow for a neutral/rustic feel.