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March 29, 2007
Votes and Quotes
Hi Guys!
Ooooh, the polling is going to close soon and the general design of the cabin will be finalized! (Insert big fat yippee! here.) You sure are an enthusiastic and opinionated bunch of bloggers. I love that you’re breathing so much life into this project! There’s a clear winner in most of the categories (except flooring; Cherry Oak and Gold Heart Pine are neck and neck) so you can really start to get a sense of what the cabin will look like. It’ll be a handsome and comfortable little dwelling for certain. I have to give you all credit for your good taste. (And let me tell you, judging by the number of votes we’ve been getting there are A LOT of you.) If there’s anything you’d like to mention about any of the design options in the poll, please speak up now or forever hold your peace.
I think it bears repeating that the website pictures are representative of general style only and don’t actually reflect the final product and/or color choices. So even though the polling will close, it’s critical that you stay tuned into this blog in order weigh in on the details and refinements. I’m counting on all of you to see this design project through to the end. For your inspiration I offer the following quotes:
“God is in the details.” - Mies van der Rohe
“All fine architectural values are human values, else not valuable." – Frank Lloyd Wright
“The road to crappy design is paved with half-a**ed ideas, lack of consideration and poor follow-through.” – Amy Devers
In the meantime be sure to keep voting for your favorites! (And I don’t mean Sanjaya.)
Ten Four,
Amy
Posted by adevers at 8:07 PM | Comments (79) | TrackBack
March 22, 2007
Go with the Floor
Hi Everybody!
Ok so you’ve seen the lot, and you’ve heard that we have incorporated a screened-in porch into the floor plan. We’ll be setting logs in place soon. This is getting exciting, isn’t it?
There are a couple of the flooring options that are neck and neck in the voting, so let’s talk a little about what matters to you in a floor.
Aesthetics? Durability? Ease of maintenance? Eco-Friendliness? Nostalgia?
I’m surprised to see my personal favorite, carbonized bamboo, in third place given all the support for green building we’ve seen on this blog. If you’d like more information on the eco-benefits of bamboo, just let me know. I’m happy to oblige.
In the meantime, fill me (and everyone else here) in on the wisdom and logic behind your choices. It’ll make every floorboard that much more meaningful!
Thanks! More soon,
Amy
Posted by adevers at 1:06 PM | Comments (128) | TrackBack
March 20, 2007
Next year's blog cabin
Everyone,
As we move into the final two weeks of voting for the 2007 Blog Cabin, I want to look ahead to 2008 for a bit.
Here are some thoughts for next year's Blog Cabin... Let us know what you think of the ideas below. You will still help DIY design the home.
1. Blog Loft - with hi-tech-modern ammenities...in a location such as Austin (my favorite city in the world), Nashville or maybe Denver.
2. Blog Lake Lodge - rustic meets modern - with lots of glass, boat house etc...
3. Blog Beach House -- Got any ideas off the beaten path here? Some beach areas that are not too "vacationy" or overly developed.
4. Blog ranch retreat - Think of the open spaces of Wyoming
Thanks,
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com
Posted by rlubke at 4:17 PM | Comments (104) | TrackBack
March 16, 2007
A day at the build site
Photos and videos of the Blog Cabin site...
Below is the video talking about the screened-in porch, and other aspects of the cabin. Click play to start the video.
Below are various pictures of the lot, road and construction process:
Back view of property
Front view of property
Stream at back of property
Workers building temporary path for construction vehicle
Workers leveling land for construction
--------------------------------
Everyone,
The online staff at DIY spent the morning of March 14 at the Blog Cabin build site. It was a great trip. We took pictures, talked to the construction crew and even shot a video. The winner of this cabin is in for a treat.
The lot is nestled at the bottom of a steep hill with tons of trees around it. There is even a little babbling brook on the back of the property. Can you imagine sitting on the screened-in porch and listening to the brook? It's pure heaven.
You better be in good shape if you want to walk up and down the road getting to the cabin -- it's a killer, but it just adds to the surroundings.
The construction crew was busy leveling part of the land to start construction. They were busy putting in a temporary drive so the construction vehicles could get down to the lot.
Don't forget to continue to share your thoughts on what the cabin should look like. After viewing the lot, your opinions may change. Let us know what you think.
One blogger -- Kathy -- asked a good question. I mentioned the walk down to the cabin was steep. Let me be a bit more clear.
1. It is steep, but that is the road. The area where the cabin will be is not so bad.
2. Once the road is put it in it will be much better. I was walking up that hill in boots on pretty loose soil. I wouldn't worry too much about it when all is done. Granted, that being said, it is in the mountains so there are hills.
Hope that helps.
Ron
Thanks,
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com director
Posted by rlubke at 9:59 AM | Comments (62) | TrackBack
March 8, 2007
Kinzel Springs = Mountain Paradise!
Wow. I’ve just taken a trip to visit Kinzel Springs, where our cabin will be located, and I must say an emphatic, all-caps WOW.
Now, admittedly, I have not clocked a whole lot of time in the mountains. I’m very much a city girl, so this was particularly exciting for me. The lifestyle there seems positively idyllic. I think I’m in love.
Tucked away in the mountains and trees there is a definite sense of peace, calm and seclusion. Time seems to slow down. At the same time, the mountains are so grand that they instantly render all of life’s problems puny and insignificant. The trees have such presence that they feel instantly like dear old friends and the mountain air makes just plain old breathing borderline euphoric. It’s downright therapeutic!
And while the area feels delightfully remote, it’s really not. It’s 5 minutes from the major freeway and the nearby town, Townsend, has all of the amenities (grocery, hardware, pharmacy, restaurants…) that you could possibly need. There’s even an adorable little coffee café with a most-congenial proprietress named Jaimie. She makes a delicious cup of fair-trade, organic coffee that is a favorite among the locals as well as mountain bikers on their Sunday rides.
The setting is magnificent, the local flavor is delicious and I’m thrilled that for the next several months I will be spending a lot of time there building a beautiful mountain home to give away to someone who’ll no doubt have many wonderful experiences there.
I even saw wild turkeys!
Ten four for now,
Amy
Posted by adevers at 12:05 PM | Comments (79) | TrackBack
March 6, 2007
Blog Cabin TV show & updates
Everyone,
Now that the voting for all the items is heading into the home stretch (end of March), I want to remind you all that you will be able to chronicle the build of the cabin on-air and online.
Online we will be providing photo galleries at different stages of construction. Also, DIY Network will air a series detailing all aspects of the Blog Cabin starting in August.
The series will air starting on August 16 and running through Sept. 27.
Thanks again for all your comments and votes, and please keep coming back often through the end of March to let us know your thoughts.
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com
Posted by rlubke at 1:08 PM | Comments (36) | TrackBack
March 5, 2007
What about the kitchen?
Everyone,
I am sure Amy will blog more about the kitchen choices later, but I was wondering what are your thoughts on the kitchen choices we have: Country, Contemporary or Stainless Steel.
What are some things you look for in a kitchen? Is it the appliances? Work area? Storage?
For me personally, since I have an older home, it's all about storage and it needs to be a welcoming place.
I grew up with my parents owning a house near Lake Whitney in Texas. We went there about once a month and vacationed there over the summer for two weeks at a time.
The kitchen was our most popular room. Since we had bad TV reception, we spent hours playing games in the kitchen, eating our meals and just talking. My favorite times as a kid was spent eating homemade (hand-cranked) ice cream around the Formica kitchen table.
What do you all want to see in this kitchen? To me the kitchen is much more than storage space, appliances and countertops.
Do you have any other ideas than what we suggested?
Ron Lubke
DIYNetwork.com director
Posted by rlubke at 2:45 PM | Comments (77) | TrackBack