We prestained our logs before putting them up. Used a water based log home stain, which didn't hold up in the Pacific NW weather. We had to resand and restain each log, inside and out, after they were up, with a fabulous oil based stain that was intended for use in a climate like ours.

I have always thought that a fireplace in a kitchen was a real nice touch. It can serve as a heat source and also a cooking source if needed. A fireplace always adds coziness to a room. It's also nice to have a small type of desk for writing recipes, storing cookbooks, etc.

Hi Amy~
Originally I was unsure about durability of the cork flooring. I recently watched a show on DIY however, that assured me that this is not a concern. I like the idea of cork for several reasons; it's sound absorption, it's "green",and it's durability. I am not certain of how attractive it is. I think the bamboo floor wins for looks.

A perfect floor plan should always be a consideration. Mom & Dad were builders and mentors in every house I bought/built, they are now deceased but their advise will always linger. The idea floor plan-you should never have to pass through one room to get to another! This is always a challenge and few designers make this connection. Good Luck in your endeavors.

My husband and I have 3 acres in Mentone Alabama about 30 minutes from Tennesee. Is there a chance DIY would like to help build a cabin there on this beautiful river lot? How does one go about building a cabin like this one with DIY help? Thanks

I would like to see a huge pantry for storage of food and of games for use on rainy days etc. Also a fireplace or wood stove would be an extra source of heat and could be used for cooking also. The last thing that I think would be great in a vacation kitchen or a year round kitchen would be a garden window for growing fresh herbs etc.

I totally agree with your comments about the importance of the kitchen. My kids & grandson spend 90% of visiting time in/next to the kitch/LR. I build "Accessible Homes" for people w/disabilities. We design homes w/'Great Room' combo of the LR & Kitchen. You can't have too much storage space, style, & quality appliances. The kitchen can be the focal point of the floorplan without over-running the rest of the home. The cabin you build, I hope, will include 'accessibility' in the total floorplan. That way, costly modifications won't have to be done after completion. Simply widening doors to 36", and opening up hallways is a minor cost, but adds a huge advantage. It will be a beautiful home for a lucky person, and I can't wait to see the finished project! Good Luck!

How much time are we going to have to discuss the kitchen? The heart of the home. the most important room in the house. It should be warm and cozy with natural wood & stone - I prefer soapstone with oak or cherry cabinets. no maintenance, no fuss and it just keeps looking better as it ages. And it's naturally antibacterial. Its so dense that it repels liquids, wont burn or crack.

I helped to design, build and finish our dream log home in MD. The few things I think are important a) sealing your logs with a quality product.We used "Sikkens" log sealer with insecticide and it works very well. THis is not water based. There are ones that are easier to apply but this is top quality. They have interior and exterior types and many colors to chose. b) Think about sealing your inside logs before the house is finished, it's so much easier.C)Think alot about electrical wiring and where you want all outlets, ceiling fans, hanging lights ETC. Once your home is complete some of these can't be added as in a traditional home without the use of hardwiring on top of your wall,D) If you put candles in your windows as I do, make sure the electrician puts an outlet under every set of windows. Check often with the electrician about oulet placement and thermostats before things are cut into your logs. Log home are not built as in the traditional way. They cut and router your outlet boxes and such as each log goes up so do all this ahead of building.I have 2 outlets that are smack dab in the middle of a wall, what is that about. Can't be changed easily. I also opted to enlarge my windows to 36 inches to let in more natural light and it's wonderful to see the sun gleaming on those log walls. But over all after 3 homes this is the coziest most comfortable home we have ever lived in. I bought and read several magazines abuot log homes and design, saved photos in a notebook and visited other log homes in the area before we chose our final design. Yes we sure would love to win a log home like the DIY one but I'm living the log home life and loving it.

Hi Ron, Can't wait to follow the cabin's progress. It should be fun.

Kitchen: My vote is for the Contemporary.

Although this is a Log Cabin, by no means would I want to short myself of the new products on the market. With contemporary you can get a good blend of wood and stone to compliment the rest of the house. By using Black finished appliances like drop in ranges, double ovens and a micro in the kitchen island bar area to maximize space, you are able to blend some of the common types of building materials. In log homes you have certain features like rafters and support beams that have to be bracketed together. Therefore using black finished brackets with black finished appliances helps to keep the flow of the color pallete. Log homes are also traditionally light absorbers. By using the contemporary kitchen you can lighten the counters and cabinets and use the black appliances as contrast to give depth to the kitchen without actually taking up more space.

Just my idea like everyone else. Looking forward to watching the progress as we are setting our finances in order to build our log home in spring of 2009. This will help us in our process also.

I, too, think the kitchen is the heart of the home. We women spend a lot of time in the kitchen. I think all kitchens should have a window over the sink or work counters, so that the dishwasher can contemplate the beauties outside as inside mundane chores are done. Makes the chores less tiresome. I also like a walk-in pantry.

howdy ron,

it has been fun reading everyones comments on how to build the cabin. i have always felt that the cabin should be built around the fireplace in the greatroom and the kitchen. both of these rooms would be where most families would spend the majority of their time together.

it will be interesting to see if the fireplace will be made for real wood fires or for gas log fires. i am partial to the gas log type for as much as i love being in the mountains and love the fireplace.. it bothers my sinuses.. thus i do much better with gas log vented fireplaces.

also there are many choices for kitchen cabinets these days. not only the normal cherry, oak, maple.. but also pecan and hickory. these last two types of wood give the cabinets a whole different look and character.

please let us know when the kitchen choice is finalized. i think that you would really like the look of pecan wood cabinetry. there does not seem to be many custom cabinet sites that even mention this type of wood.

please keep us posted. i am sure everyone is wishing to win the cabin as much as i would like to. it is still fun to wish and hopefully give some solid imput for its completion.

thanks for listening,
jm

Ron,

My family and I look forward to watching the series starting in August.

People who haven't considered building a log cabin may have a change of heart after exploration of the project. The purchase of a log cabin never entered my mind prior to blog cabin. I didn't realize how economical and environmentally friendly a log cabin is. I always viewed log cabins as a treasured investment for those who owned them. There has been some great posts that have been very insightful. It's been a delight to be part of the project! :)

Thank You!

Hi Amy,

I truly love your work and often wish that I could work an apprentenship under someone like you. I desparately want to own a Log Home in the mountains and know that I eventually will. I want a cabin with bamboo flooring, soapstone counters, a wood-burning fireplace, and tin roofing. I can be flexible with some of the other items to make up the final design requirements. This is surely going to be a wonderful cabin to own!!!

Hi folks,
With respect to being green, conservation of any energy source used for heating or cooling is improved by paying particular attention to air leakage into/out of the house. That means using caulk or other sealing methods to prevent air leakage at every point where materials meet other materials. A log cabin may be more of a challenge and it will be interesting to see if special steps are taken. Liberal use of caulking or foam should be used at places like subfloor-to-wall joints, doors and windows, wall to ceiling joints, planked ceilings, etc. Bascially, consider every square inch of the building. Another technology is use of outside air for combustion in the fireplace insert or wood stove, whichever is chosen. I believe one-half air change per hour should be the goal.

Thanks for the opportunity to participate.

Kitchens should be open and flowing into either the dining area or den. Country kitchens tend keep to that certain style, where as a contempory style can easily flow into a remodel of surrounding rooms. White cabinets tend to exhibit a cold feeling into mountain type homes whereas wood gives that home felt warmth. Versatility is a must as well as low maintenance. I love large islands where food can be prepped and with barstools for an added area for eating. Sometimes sitting at the island and interacting with the person cooking is nice.

i just finished building a log home in hardwick, ma. radiant heating-absolutely fantastic. i would never go to baseboard heating in a log home-it only heats the sides and the closer you get to the center of the room, the cooler it gets. with radiant heating, the thermostat is kept lower because the whole room heats. that means lower fuel consumption. i installed pergo type flooring over the radiant..works fine. don't put in a fireplace..loks nice but a total waste of heat. i installed a wood stoe in the great room and it not only heats the whole room but it also heats the loft. the stove has a glass front and allows the flames to be seen without wasting heat. a really cool thing is to suporess the wiring coming in from the street...we sit back 300ft and up a small ridge..you don't know we're here because you can't see any telephone poles...also very estatically pleasing.

Hi Ron,
I'm looking forward to watching the series. What a great Cabin to giveaway.

Hi Amy Ivoted for the house that won, but not sure about the cork floor.Due like a fire place idea in the kitchensince I live in Colorado and it dose get cold here in the winter. But I'm ready to start to win the cabin.

This cabin will be so wonderful for the lucky winner. We would love to be the ones chosen because of the area and most of our family in Tn.

We submitted a design but there again which ever one is the chosen DIY always does it right.

I have been watching the choices for the log cabin and am thrilled. I would love to see a wood stove in the kitchen somewhere. I don't know about the location in regards to power outages, but a wood stove would serve as a cook place and warmth. Years ago the electricity went out during winter (in East Texas). Everyone in the neighborhood had fireplaces, but I was the only one to cook in mine with my cast iron skillets. We fed most of the neighborhood that day. So, I guess that is why I really would like to see a stove in the kitchen. I am looking forward to seeing the finished cabin.

Cabins should be homey and user friendly. The kitchen, master bedroom, living room and baths are the most important rooms in the home. Not only do they showcase the owners personality, but when decorated properly they lend to a my home is your home feel. So I think country is definitely the way to go. Any chance of adding solar panels to help conserve precious energy.

What a great idea---Love The Cabin- I voted on the cabin & had fun doing it. I felt like a designer. I would love to win this cabin and I think the wood stove in the kitchen gives it a country, homey, gather around the kitchen family atmosphere---like in the old days. Well I look forward to seeing the outcome & I'll check in on the website daily to see the progress.

Still putting in a plea for accessibility. Please include a way for a person in a wheelchair/using a walker to access the house and patio area. Many MANY families have a member with limited mobility. It's much easier to include universal design elements at the begining of a project than to retro-fit them.

I don't currently have anyone in my immediate family that would need such accomodations--but one never knows--and I DO have good friends with kids in wheelchairs.

I'm so excited, i've entered every DIY and network affiliates contests, but a cabin is a dream come true for my fiancee and I!! I love the floor plan, love the tin, love everything, i can't wait to see it built and hopefully see it for myself when *we* move in!! Dreams do come true!

The wheelchair is a great concern my mother came to live with us 4 month ago soon she will need one I am sure that would be helpful she is a mess at 85 still know what is going on she still crotchet made a afghan for a king size bed watching DIY help her to remember a lot of the step it is good therapy for seniors . I wish the winner of the HGTV home good luck.bennett

Thank you for the chance of a life time!!!! I have entered your contest for just that chance... I love the idea of the fireplace in the kitchen, being that I love to cook and am always in the kitchen. I would just love to decorate the cabin... I have and love rustic and primitive pieces....can see it now.. If you need a decorator please contact me! Thank you and look forward to watching the progress.

just wanted to chime in on storage. no matter how much storage you have in a kitchen, it never seems like enough. there needs to be plenty of cabinets, and when you think you have enough...find an empty corner and install more! there is something else i like to see in kitchens, and it may seem rather picky and overkill, but having a pot filler over the stove/cooktop is a big bonus! they are great. since the cabin is going to be in the hills, it should look like a 'country meets stainless steel' type kitchen. hardwood flooring, cherry/maple cabinets, and the beauty of stainless steel to compliment all of it. mud rooms are always nice to have off of the kitchen somewhere as well.

Just like the Greenbrier in West Virgina, This home should have hidden secrets. This home should blend into the spirits of the Smokey Mountains. Beautiful southern windows.Fireplaces using mountain river rock.Inside pinewood walls,with wood floors and soft county rugs. The kitchen should use reds with new but old fashion applances.Metal style old look cabinets. Stoneware and country wood table trim red and white. Don't forget the back porch going into a mud room to take off those boots and jackets.

In the kitchen, I agree with a lot of the comment that have been made. Yes, white cabinets do not look right in a cabin, also for the upper part of the cabinets use open shelving, for a twist you can incorporate stainless shelves. By doing this, you are giving a contemporary feel but still respecting the past. In addition, a large pantry is vital in the mountains. There are many times ice storms prevent a family from getting out to the grocery store. This also will help with storage and facilitate the open shelves. Has anyone thought about multi colored slate for the kitchen floors? It is beautiful with stainless steel. It also compliments soapstone , slate or granite counters.

My "DREAM" home would be a high-ceilinged large living room with floor to ceiling rock fireplace. Three floor to ceiling windows in that room with 3-4 feet on each side of them for bookcases and a comfy full length window seat between the bookcases under the windows -- SIGH --I can picture it already. Upper balcony with log rails for hanging my many homemade quilts over. I could go on and on -- let's get started -- I want to see the finished product! Oh - did I mention river rock pillars at the entrance holding up the porch roof and river rock water feature at the entrance.

I never liked the woods or the rustic living. But this really is nice. As I get older I realize that my taste has changed and enjoy these things. This is a really nice place and the woods is something I thing I would like, no traffic but plenty of wild life.

Amy
Greatlocation for a cabin I am an over the road truck driver I did not know about the contest until recently so I did not get to vote on everything but I did get to put my two cents in and I am sure you will do the cabin perfectly! I do not have my own home now I live in my truck so chance to win is great! Thanks for the chance! Can not wait to see the finished cabin!!

Hi Amy & Ron ~

I just love the idea of including the choice of a tin roof! For any of you that have ever fallen asleep under the gentle beating of the rain on a tin roof, have been blessed with the experience of the most all natural sleep aids ever known!! Add the durability of tin, and you have one of the best roof styles even known.

I can't wait for the series to start in August!

I checked out Kinzel Springs on the internet. All I can say is "WOW - AWESOME". This is the place my husband and I have been dreaming about for the past 30 years. The log cabin is the icing on the cake. Reminds me of a Thomas Kincaid scene.

i have the opportunity to buy an oak log cabin shell...logs only. Is oak a good cabin log choice? I live in tennessee. thanks