What would I like to see in the 2008 Blog Cabin? To use your words, "a total green environmentally-friendly house"

Oh, yes, indeed!

Thanks for listening.

Lesley

It's nice to see you back blogging!!! I missed your hot tub comments! :)

I think everything is perfect with this cabin. I wouldn't change a thing for next year unless you absolutely had too!!! Please insure us that Amy will be discussing next years cabin too! :)

I'd like next year's cabin to be environmentally friendly and have as many water features as possible (inside and outside).

Thank you for allowing us the unique experience to Blog on the cabin. It's been a real privilege!

A totally green, earth-friendly, sustainable house.

A fishing dock (ok, boat dock) would be nice.

Screened in porch.

Some nice, unique funky things in the house. (Sounds like 2007 has a few.)

Can't wait to see the series & get more information.

Will you have some info on the sustainable aspects of BlogCabin 2007 -- either in one of the programs or here on the Blog site?

I'm so glad there is going to be another cabin next year! This years has been so much fun to talk about. And watching the build has been great.

Some of us will want this as a year round home. As for some of the features...

A small creek running across the back of the property (for my son).

Single story, for those of us who can't do stairs very well.

A garage/work shop.

An outdoor living/kitchen area.

An indoor craft room.

Lake view in the mountains.

That's all I can think of for now. I'll come back later if I think of anything else.

I would like to see a fishing dock and a boat.
That is so peacefull when your sitting out and relaxing and fishing with a cool summer drink.

I'd really like to see the next blog cabin as a "green building," using sustainable and recycled materials, and "green" construction methods.
Being "off the grid" or close to it sounds like a really great idea.
I think the mountains is the ideal place for a cabin.
I also liked the ideas someone else mentioned for a craft room, and a workshop. They strike me as something many DIY viewers would like.

Not sure what you have in this years house as I haven't been on the tour yet. Where is the link to that by the way? Anyway, I was thinking it'd be nice to have a high tech alarm system out there alone in the moutains.

Love the idea of living on a lake. Green living is the way to go. The big tubs may look good but they use too much water and end up getting used less and less.

I did not find this site until now. Where are the pictures? I am so interested in this project. I want to build a log house in NC, south of Franklin.

Hi Ron! I could vision the next "Blog Cabin 2008 located somewhere in the wilderness like Montana! I have a niece that resides there and Montana is absolutely beautiful!

Their mountains are more rocky and there is so much wilderness there! It's beautiful!

I could anticipate a blog "Ranch Style Cabin" located near a lake (like maybe Glacier Park) with a pasture for horses and cattle! And Amy could build a barn on the property too! And it must have an outdoor fireplace/kitchen and hot tub for relaxing after a long hard day!

PS It's been WONDERFUL looking at everything about "Blog Cabin 2007" for the past few hours on DIY Network!! We were so impressed with all the information! Thank you!

I am so thrilled with the Smoky cabin. It is one of my dream homes and locations already. But another dream home I have in mind is for it to be where I am in Ky on the lake. I'd like to see a lake house 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, 2 of them master suites, one with a nice shower setup and the other with a giant jacuzzi w/fireplace, nice open kitchen, living, dining area combined. All the closets and cabinets organized nicely. And one room for a home office and craft room. And big extra wide wrap around porches, one part screened in and an outdoor kitchen and fire pit. A seperate garage for a workshop & office. Then finally steps down to the water with a boat dock/house for hanging out. I think that would be just the most awesome place for a family to stay home and self entertain with friends and family.

Lake view would be wonderful; but not too close to the water. Lots of stone and unpainted wood works for me. Hmmmmm, oh a big YES on the hot tub and an outside kitchen area. Oh, one more thing; Goldilocks & Bear repellent :)

A couple of more thoughts....
Lots and lots of windows with views and possibly just split level with a small number of stairs. A large front porch and a screened in porch in the back somewhere would be awesome. Large flowing spaces inside.

Hi Amy !
Oooh, a greenhouse cabin !! Exciting !! Our ten cents' worth of ideas to kick around...

We'd like to suggest an environmentally friendly green house, incorporating geo thermal heating / cooling technology, good insulation, CFL lighting,
grey water to be used for landscape irrigation,
boat dock would be great, canoeing and kayaking only, ( no gasoline powered boats).

Use of sustainable wood for flooring, no formaldehyde treated products used in building of the cabin, ( no MDF )

A hybrid truck for the cabin garage, no tarmacadam used in driveway, natural stone only.

Love from Goldilocks and the Three Nature-Lovin' bears :o)

Hi,
I like the idea of a lake view in the mountains.
A lot of windows,large country kitchen,a greatroom and large master bedroom on second floor overlooking the lake. Looking forward to seeing the series on the Blog Cabin 2007.

i would like to suggest lake lure,nc as the of your next blog cabin.i think it should have a fabulous lake view. it should be more green friendly and incorporate solar ,wind and geothermal systems if possible. that's my view of the next blog cabin. also great work on this blog cabin.someone is going to be very lucky to have this home.so i would like to congratulate DYI NETWORK ANDALL THE SPONSORS AND TO ALL THAT HELPED TO BUILD THIS WONDERFUL HOME.THANK YOU. ROBERT COCHRAN

I'd like to see a bigger kitchen for family gatherings and a few more outdoor features to lure people outside.
The 2007 cabin looks incredible. Great work!!

An E-house, definitely. One floor, as has been mentioned, would be verrry nice. For something unique - you could start with an antique log cabin or other old cabin, 8-) That'd put twists in things, right??

I would like to a cabin by the sea on a beach very rest-ful maybe tile flooring.

Building "green" for the next blog cabin is a must. I would like to see it taken one step further with solar power or wind power sustainability. I live in an area with a many pre-existing homes that are switching to solar energy.

Ron-
A green, environmentally-sensitive home would be my choice for the DIY Log Cabin 2008. Also, full logs with a wrap-around porch and maybe a prow front?!

Maybe offer several locations to vote on; we bloggers love being in on the decision-making.

While we're working on the wish list...how about a mud room (I own two big dogs that get pretty muddy around March/April); basement; ranch style with cathedral ceilings..?

Rebecca in Cleveland

OH YEA, that fresh mountain aroma is so wonderful. A mountain lake would be so nice and a boat dock as well, but most of all a screened in porch to keep those pesky bugs away. What mountain air can do for a person and the relaxation just rocking away.

I would like to see a snow white beach
and palm trees...and a view of the clear blue sea.
Massage area
Hamlet outside with an outdoor living area
Beach/pig roast
large screened living area
huge palm fans
waves hitting the beach

Hi There Bloggers !

( and an especially warm hello to Cristina ~ your Blog made us smile :o)

and... your " Goldilocks and the Three Bears Repellent " is in the mail to you, the package is wrapped in plain brown paper ! )

Apply liberally, and stand well back from any bears... The label on the jar says: HONEY.

Chuckle, chuckle !!

The Blog cabin is lookin' good, the photograph taken in the twilight, with the porch lights casting a warm honey glow .... Ahhh. Perfect solitude :o)

we love the name " Bloggers' Bluff" ~ so kudos to whomever suggested that !! We are voting for that 'un !

Love from Goldilocks and the Three sticky-fingered and HUNGRY bears :o)

ps. Cristina, just leave the picnic basket under the porch light, we'll find it :o) Thank you !

i'm all for the lake front/screened in porch with beautiful views...but can i suggest the west coast? possibly southern oregon (such a beautiful place to have pasture land, mountains, rivers and lakes) or maybe northern california? the weather is what i'm thinking of...too much humidity back east!
this experience has been so much fun and i was wondering if there could be a t-shirt or something for those of us who have shared the "i'm blogging for the next log cabin on DIY" adventure!! just a thought so we could identify our friends as we travel the country. this cabin is beautiful and the front porch with the chairs and blanket box just made it perfect!
thank you!

I love Brenda's idea of a tee-shirt with something to identify the DIY Blog Cabin Bloggers! Oh, Sponsors....?!!

Maybe charge a small fee for the tee-shirt and the proceeds go to a charity like 'Habitat for Humanity', or another agency with a home focus..? See, us Bloggers are a kind and thoughtful bunch :o).

Sounds like lots of us want a "green" home. And, there's something about being on the water, whether it's ocean, lake or river.

Rebecca from Cleveland

Hi Ron,
I've a pleasant suspicion that all of us bloggers are going to be real surprised when we see the 2007 blog cabin in its entirety. What we tell you that we'd like in the 2008 blog cabin, may just possibly be in the first one, or at least a few of them. You guys have been pretty secretive, but that's great! The better the surprise when we see all.
Anyway, here are some ideas to consider for the 2008 blog cabin:

* I, too, would prefer the cabin to be a total green environmentally-friendly cabin.
* Either GEO-Thermal heating & cooling or incorporate solar & wind power capabilities. Just a thought.
* Expansive closets and lots of storage space.
* I prefer 2-story houses, so how about a small elevator for the handicapped person who might win?
* A wrap-around porch would be wonderful!
* A small workshop for the hobbiest in the family who wins would be nice, either in a basement or adjacent to the cabin.
* Might sound silly to some, but a small privacy fence in the back yard for those of us who have beloved family pets would be a BIG plus, for me anyway...
* Living room & Master bedroom fireplaces are very comfy and cheery.
* I would love either a lake view or an ocean view, preferably from the top of a hill property with stone pathway down to the shore. Nothing fancy, could be very rustic--even primitive. View could be from rear of house or from front.
* My preference of location would be either one of Western Washington state, Northern California, or Eastern Maine. They're all wildly beautiful.

That's the main things that I can offer right now. Maybe more inspiration will come later. Thanks for the opportunity to give some of my ideas to consider!

A single story,laundry room,large screened in front porch,outdoor cook area, garage/workshop area, matching shed, fishing/boating dock,nsetled in the great country outdoors.

Thanks for sharing

Several ideas already proposed would excite me. Lake, stream or waterfall view, Montana or elsewhere in the Rockies, good family gathering place, all season use, as energy efficient and green as possible. Make use of alternative energy where possible. Include a garage, possibly in the basement of a multi-story building. If building out West, the barn might be needed for horses and other critters. thanks

The 2008 cabin could be in my neck of the 'woods' - upstate NY - the Adirondacks! Of course I already live in the Adirondack park on a small lake and have a dock, kayak and canoe. Too bad taxes are forcing me out - reality does have its drawbacks. Maybe the next cabin would come with some $ to make it affordable if it is on the water. Environmentally friendly is certainly the way to go but I think the layout and amenities should be simple - everyone should go there to relax not to entertain or worry about cleaning.

I agree with everyone else. It should be on a mountain lake (small) with a dock. I would also like to see it built with solar roofing shingles.

A total environmentally sensitive sounds good to me. but please keep it off the Beach...... I have seen too many beach homes destroyed by hurricanes. Insurance would be outrageous. Just ask any one who has survived a hurricane. It is a great dream, but not always a practical one, no matter what coast it is on. Solar would be nice. How about semi utility free. How about using the renewable resources. If cork floors can last 100 years that sounds good to me.

Let's see.....Where
Maybe a place in the Adirondacks, or somewhere along the Chesapeake. The Adirondacks is a real challenge if you do solar. The Blue Ridge Mountains are beautiful. Colorado is nice too, but too popular. Grand Tetons, no there is a site to see, though the thought of living near a possible super valcano may deture some people. They say Washington state and Oregon are beautiful as well. The list could go on, The Thousand Islands , Vermont, New Hampshire, lets see where else, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM........... Well, I keep seeing a lot of good places. How about Hawaii?

Looking for some other ideas and I will get beck again soon.

Cabin in a wood area overseeing a beautiful scenery with an open floor plan, two master bedroom with full bath each. One bathroom made for handicap or elderly person. Gourmet kitchen. A third bedroom in a loft-like. A craft room with french doors. Laundry room with an half bath off from it and a door to the garage. One side of the cabin put a sun room that you can air out in the summer and heat in the winter. A buckstove that is use for heat as well as cooking if power goes out. Pale blonde bella wood floors everywhere except in kitchen, laundry room,and the bathrooms use decortive tiles on them. Walk-in closets, more outlets, double front decortive door. Big patio outside of the sun room. Cathedral ceiling. Roof that is weather-proof in even the worst of weather. All on one floor except for loft.

I would like to see the floorplan of the log cabin use a Universal design. As baby boomers age it is more important than ever that our spaces be designed so they can easily be converted into handicapp accessible spaces in the future. Every year thousands of people have to leave their homes and go to assisted living facilities because their homes cannot accommodate their special needs. I believe Universal design along with environmental building is definitely the wave of the future.

I love the Pacific Northwest. A beach view location with trail to the beach. Simple and small by comparison to the previous cabin. Something intimate for a small family getaway.

Green is okay, but keep some token dream aspects to "our" cabin. Must have hot tub.........how else to ease the aches and pains of hiking thru' bear country?? Sorry, BenGay isn't going to work for me.

PS Goldi & bears - I've already set a basket of fish under the porch. Hope it doesn't spoil. :) Come get it now; my cat doesn't like bears or yellow hairs in her bed.

I like the tee-shirt plan may half could go to charity. And the other half to building a better green home for next year.I will say some of the New England state are better with the humidity than the south Memphis is very moist place now we are hopping for fall.

i do like the idea of the geo-thermal heating for the 2008 cabin. solar panels could also be used to power the house and perhaps give some income back to the homeowner from the power company to help pay for taxes. water front location by either pond, stream, or lake would be ideal.

amy and all, you have outdone yourselves in the 2007 blog cabin. we cannot wait to see the extra surprises that you have in store for us.

WOO HOO 4 more days until we can see it on the diy channel.

i do like the idea of purchasing DIY blog cabin 2007 T-SHIRTS.

the proceeds of which could go towards a needy children group/foundation of the 2007 blog cabin winners home state.

I would like to see a totally grean house without sacrificing the rustic beauty of a log cabin - nothing funky or Frank Lloyd Wright-ish, ya know? On a lake with plenty of fish in the mountains would be an absolute haven for my husband. How about setting a small outdoor kitchen with shelter on the dock too - talk about a fresh catch!

Thanks for asking for our input. I could definately see a "green cabin" on one of the back bays off the Alabama Gulf Coast. Bear Point of Wolf Bay is especially pretty and the Intercoastal Hwy would also be a good choice since one could motor almost anywhere. There are also several rivers that flow into the bay area and connect to the Intercoastal. A dock would add so much to the experience of this laid back lifestyle if you could get shoreline but if you couldn't there are public boat access available.

Sorry , I forgot this one. A view of the sunset would be awesome especially from a screened in porch/deck since the "sqeetters" in Alabama are almost crow size.

Right on the lake with a porch over the water and with a mountain view.

I would like a at least 5 Bedrooms for guest and large families, wrap around porch with outdoor kitchen, small elevator and handicap ramp,completely secluded NO NEIGHBORERS!!!!

I would like a at least 5 Bedrooms for guest and large families, wrap around porch with outdoor kitchen, small elevator and handicap ramp,completely secluded NO NEIGHBORERS!!!!

Oh yea, I just sent a comment in could you please add a satellite dish and a Two way radio for Emergences. Thank you.

I would like to see a total green environmentally-friendly log home built. I wish that you could pick the winner before you build and then build the log house on land that they have or where they would like it built. Then you know they would be able to live in it.
sl
8-13-07

I would like to see, a nice part of the yard for a garden, a screened in porch, lofts-instead of doored bedrooms,openess inside. trees are very important in the whole sanerio, just oldfasion and comfortable in the surroundings..thanks bonnie

i would i would love to see it beside a lake and made with all natural wood no treatment and at lest 3 bed rooms

I think it should have skylights I agree wrap around porch with a view to see a sunset on a lake and have a fireplace. It should be surrounded by woods with beautiful landscaping lights at night. At least 2 bathrooms one half and one full. I think it should have a least 1 bay window with seating to look out at the beatiful scenery. Large kitchen with an island in it and a nice grilling set up outside.

If I were to create my dream cabin it would have a beautiful view of a lake and the back drop would hold majestic mountains. My front porch would wrap around and the front windows would let the morning sun in. As you enter the front door the living room would be sunkin with a stoney fireplace, the dining area would hold my entire family. % bedrooms a must and definatly eviromently friendly!

I have not been able to see much of the 2007 blogs .. i guess i don't know how to do this ..
AND videos do not work on my computer ..

I would love to see the 2008 cabin in the KY or TN mountains , or NC or GA ...
We love lake life and would like lake front or lake view with lake access .
A dock for fishing is always a plus... and/or sandy bottom for swimming , too.
I have never been fond of taking care of a hot tub , but have seen a new concept lately ..
a pool with never ending excercise.
In any wooded area, you need a screened porch
and best to be at least 10' wide , if not 12'..
The usual 9' is too narrow for a small table and chairs . Laundry room, with a laundry tub and hanging area . Geothermal and any thing else that is reasonably "green" is good. I have alwasy appreciated RANCh homes most .
Thermal windows, of course... and tinted if facing the sun .
I like wood inside walls , but flat...not rounded for catching dust.
That's all i can think of now . Enjoy ed the other comments.
Windylou

I was just thinging about Solar and a wind generator to power this great green home.

Cabin in a wood area overseeing a beautiful river or lake on a large deck. Grand, high ceiling living room with a wood burning, stone covered fireplace. A gourmet kitchen in a open floor plan with the master bedroom on the main floor with a couple of additional bedrooms and a bathroom in a loft style second floor.

totally solar powered, and wind power...a frame with fully enclosed front and back porches...back porch hot tub...has to overlook some water, ( creek lake, etc.).fireplace a must....no view of neighbors....animal friendly dogs cats horse...barn....workshop....and a green house...

I would like it to have solar power and wind power and to be in the Colorado Rockies by a mountain lake. It needs to have a mud room, 5 bedrooms, laundry room, a screened in pourch, a boat dock and all the stuff to go with it like for fishing and water sports, outdoor cooking area, an area finced in for the ones that have dogs, wrap around porch, and a nice hot tub. It would be nice if it was all on one floor.

I would like to see an A
Frame built. One with a loft bedroom overlooking the kitchen and living room. The bedroom would have an extra room to sit and lounge in the sun or whatever and would be connected to the bedroom and where connected would have a fire place. The living room and kitchen would be wide open and in between the two would be a big Ben Franklin that would heat and cook. The loft bedroom would have french doors to a patio on the outside.

I would like to see something built in Ohio, near the lake. Green of course with solar panels. a hot tub, nice landscaped fenced in for a dog.

A fully green environmentally friendly log home would be fantastic, lots of wood and stone included. A hot tub or two, one in doors, one out, would be relaxing. Double front wood doors with some stained glass, yeah! Our kitchen would have a nice double stove top with ovens to match, all stainless steal and an island in the middle with a sink in it. Great flow into the great room would work for entertaining. Stone countertops and a gas range with a built in microwave. Double refrigerators with huge walkin freezers, and walkin food storage units. Cathedral ceilings and glass front would be warm and inviting. Home facing north, yes! A three bedroom, three bath amenity with an office to boot! (smiles) Of course the office would have to have a fireplace and the fully functional two person desk facing the wide screen TV, fireplace and french doors to the deck would work. Oh the bathrooms, would be all tile and stone, with a sunkin tub and a sauna. A double sink, and a vanity, would keep me happy, and a walkin shower with multiple shower heads would keep him happy. (double smiles) A huge wrap around deck and a patio with fantastic flow including a built in fire pit and a gas grill on the grounds. The space would be that of an acre or two, with a long drive of course setting on the lake. A fully wooded lot, hmm, yeah, thats our style. Absolutely needs to be handicap accessable, and convenient for guests of such origins. A two car garage attached and a Harley Trike in the drive. Oh, hey do ya add vehicles, I never thought to ask, a Dodge Ram with a hemi, and a Chevy Silverado, would fit fine in the garage. This is our dream and would make our lives perfect. We are both handicapped and in need of a great economical home where we could visit with our friends and family for the holidays. God is the supplier of all our needs and wants and desires and will see to it our dreams be fulfilled, thank you Lord. And ty diy for your allowing us to enter. GBY Totally green and environmentally friendly YES!

I forgot, sorry, hehehe, We would really like to see this home built on the lake in one of two places, Massachusettes, and or Tennessee. Smoky Mountains would work well. A totally green environmentally friendly home in the Great Smoky Mountains is everyones dream home. Especially those with like minded hearts. Thanks folks, have a great day! (smiles)

I would like to see viewers be able to submit designs in a contest. The cabin voted "favorite" by a viewer poll is what gets built. The cabin is then won by a viewer by entering a sweepstakes online. (The winning designer gets some automatic entries).

I would like a bedroom for each of my kids to match their personalities and likes including a study area within their rooms with lots of books, encyclopedia, and a computer in each of their rooms, a recreation area for the whole family and guests to play all sorts of games, listen to music, dance, and watch t.v. I would want for my husband and I a luxurious and passionate master bedroom with satin, silk, candles, asian decor, a master bath with a spa included within it. For myself, I would love a room where I can relax and be alone and rest and meditate, filled with beautiful candles and beautiful tropical plants and orchids. For my husband, a man room for him an his buddies where they can do some male bonding, watch sports, and have their beer. The dining room, living room,throughout the cabin, and garden I would love a caribbean, beach, and asian feel / decor to it with tropical plants and flowers to include orchids and bamboo, and of course a hammock, grill area with shade, and a tanning area. Loving it! Hey, anything is possible right?

Milka Flores
Killeen, Texas

The whole "Green" idea i think is a good way to go and those of you who have posted ideas such as solar panels and geo-thermal heating are great ideas. One more on that would be an alternate fuel vehichle like a dodge ram 2500 with the 5.9 diesel running on bio-diesel. Also the rap-around porch i thought would be a good idea. The only thing is as some one said they wanted 5 bedrooms, thats alot and for a cabin and a cabin should be modest and modern not overly big and overly complicated.

I would like to see a grid-tied eco green house. Grid-tied houses are better because they require fewer components and they literally pay for them selfs. It would need a tankless water heater or a solar tube water heater. In my experience a Sun Frost AC Refrigerator or Freezer are the most energy efficient. It needs energy efficient plumbing. It should have a metal roof. With all the energy efficiency it must still look like a log cabin.

I absolutely love the looks of a beautifully built Log Cabin with all the modern conveniences.
The "Black Hills" of South Dakota has awesome scenery, not to mention Mount Rushmore. A log cabin built 25 yards from a glittering sunlit lake with a boat dock to house a great row boat and music piped in around the lake so I can listen to "Moon River" as I relax in the quiet beauty of the surrounding scenery. AHHHH! How sweet it would be. Just Blog Cabin Dreamin...
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!

I'm so excited to see this series. I have been planning a cabin for some time now. The goal is high energy efficiency and comfort.

-Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF's) for exterior walls (covered in 1/2 logs or cedar siding)
-Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) for roof, gables and dormers
-Radiant floor heat

I have documented the entire project from the search for property to the planting of nearly 190 trees and shrubs, to the house plans.

http://www.northpoleretreat.com

I would love to see some of these ideas used in 2008!

Well, for the Blog Cabin 2008, I would personally suggest a wrap-around deck, just encasing the entire house. The back section would protrude out a little further, with a built-in jacuzzi embedded into that one particular section of the porch. The jacuzzi would also have a retractable awning to cover it, for those lazy days in the rain! Also, a loft with a view of the mountains through two symmetrical panes of glass in the A-frame above the front door! Another neat idea I believe would work is an entirely fenced-in moat around the entire house, with the lake at the rear of the house, and an outlet that goes straight to the lake! That way, you could put a mini-dock at the front of the house, and then you could just ride your jet ski straight to the front door, hop off, open the fence up, and walk into your house! Maybe a shower head in a closed off corner of the front deck area to clean yourself off would be nice, too. It would be awesome to see that setup, with an arched bridge to walk on above the moat, connecting the front porch to the bank on the other side, at the same time somebody is on a jet ski right underneath you, working their way around the house to the lake! There could also be a boat dock at the rear of the house on the lake, but more towards the center of the house, so it wouldn't get in the way of the jet ski's path. I have so many ideas for a project such as the one you guys are going to be working on, but I don't want the bloggers to get mad at me for taking up too much typing space, so I think I'll end it here. Well, good luck!

Blog Cabin08 should be in the mountains, with a waterfall or lake view. Zero Energy with Universal Design, green products like recycled glass countertops, renai tankless water heater (too many to list), hopefully a basement. Would love to see it built in Colorado, Montana. It could be a earthsheltered, or dome home. So many choices:) Thanks for this years Blog Cabin.

A cabin that is nestled in the woods on a water front so that you can get the most outdoor experience from the cabin when it is cold out. Lots and Lots of windows so that you can enjoy the wildlife from your living room or kitchen table.

I think anything that would over look other mountians would be totally awesome, a large full floor to ceiling window looking out towards the other mountians in the background would be good, especially if it was from a dinning area view. Plenty of flowering folliage in the yard would also be nice.

I like most all of the suggestions posted so far.

Fishing dock sounds nice on a beautiful lake. screened in porch was another nice idea i could live with! Love the 2007 cabin- how could it get any better?

What I would like to win is a modestly built cabin with a mudd room, island kitchen,
with sleep space looking out over the living area below. Keeping to rough draft as much as possible.
(user friendly but not high maintance)

I think the cabin should be very luxurios but have the outdoorsy feel and, it would be cool to have a very warm but large fireplace. Also most people like cooking so it would be nice if the kitchen could be pretty big with nice applinences, and a built in coffee maker would be cool to because i looove coffee! mini chalkboards are also cool to have in kitchens so you can write your grocery list on it!
Thank you:)

Everyone loves balconies! and also french doors so it would be nice to see that included. Everyone loves taking hot showers right? so a nice big large walk in shower would be awsome! It would also be nice to go outside with the snowfalling and get in a warm spa and be relaxed! i say colorado would be a nice place for the cabin to be built! And also if its possible could the cabin have cable?

thanks for your time

for my dream cabin my family needs at least 3 bedrooms. A medium size living room so my 5 kids and husband will have room. we would love a lakeside view for fishing. and the floors would be real wood floors. outside would be a porch going all the way around. and the roof would be a amazing dark green.
and a hottub for relaxation.

#I would like to see a environmentally-friendly home.

#I would also like a inclosed, preferrablly screened, front porch. It would be nice if the porch was large for entertaining family and friends.

#Plus a backyard with a high fence, to keep out large animals, for pets.

#Two stories for a more comfortable space.

#A fire place to keep warm in winter. Flowers to brighten up the front.

#And possably a pool to keep cool in summer, along with ac in the house. Or ac in house and close to clean lake.

I have to agree with the comments made by (Sara Lee 8-13-07). Give it away before it's built. However, use as much 'Green' technology as possible while attempting to keep it affordable for the average person to build the similar for them-selves, (totally Green ca be very expensive). This would also mean exposing people to all of the build Green incentives, ie: government funding and tax rebates, the are out there to promote this type of building. Another person mentioned building a single level for persons with physical difficulties. And lastly allow us to be more involved in the choice of components used, (not just the decorative design portion)... For example in the current project, what type of plumbing system was installed??? How many people are aware of "Manifold" plumbing systems and tankless water heaters??? Wow, I hope I win one of these babies!!! Robin Day

It would be nice to have an environmentally friendly house. One way good way to make it more environmentally friendly would be to use passive solar heating. This usually involves mostly just window placement and using materials inside such as stone and concrete. The heat that comes in from the sun is absorbed by the stone/concrete and it keeps the house warm for days. It's a fairly common environmentally friendly technique, but since it usually involves having a lot of windows, it often has a really modern look. It would be nice to see some ways to try to make this technique look more traditional. It might be difficult, but it would be interesting to see a design with a lot of windows that doesn't look out of place in a cabin setting.

Sure wish I had known about this before, I would love to have gotten in on the 2007 one because it's a doable location for me... :(

As for 2008, green log home on a private pond (lakes usually aren't very private) on the east coast (Kentucky would work too), completely self-sustained with wind and solar power, on a good sized piece of property would be sweet!

Any chance I could get in on the 2007 one? Never hurts to ask... ;)

How about a built in greenhouse and and concrete walkways. I am looking at being wheelchair bound in the not to distant future, so a cabin that is wheelchair accessible, and a kitchen that is wheelchair accessible would be fantastic.

Tornadoes are an increasing threat, so we think a storm cellar or safe room would be a great thing...maybe steel framed? And lots of nice, rustic stonework always makes me feel safe...hmm and a composting toilet that actually works in there....pantry space....flip down tables.....lol...you get the idea.

what others have been saying goes, water, either lake or stream. Perferably lake, not to uppity, but in the same sense, dont want to feel like I,ve gone to live in the Clampets old cabin (cause everybody knows they have gone to Beverly Hills movie stars and all) thank for the forem and the opportunity to discuss and read all the others.

I would like to see the Lakeview style log home. This is with the large A frame window. This would look great facing a lake

I'd love to see a 'green cabin'

I would love to see a floor plan were we have 4 or 5 bedrooms with 3+ baths; hot tub on deck with at least two family rooms and rec rooms fire places in each so that we could have two families living under same roof however enjoy privacy during holidays, vacations etc - were children could enjoy their time adults could enjoy their time.

trails for horses and bikes of all kinds.koi ponds

oh my the 2007 style looks beautyful.
i say i have to agree with many of the people who have blogged here; total environmentally green cabin would be great:
add on the hot tub or big jacuzzy outside next to the deck with the scenic view,lets think big, spaceous,
at a very private area where no one bothers you and you dont bother anyone, but minuets away from a hospital, mall, supermarket, interstate , ect..
an open island eat in goremet kitchen with the sink or the stove in the middle is awesome plus lots of cabinet space, then a separate dinningroom, also the wrap arround porch with a hammock and rockin chairs is a plus,of corse plumbing, electricity and phone with sattlelite or cable, for those of us who have children or are elderly (911)
it would be nice for a 2 story with 5 bed rooms at least 3 bathrooms with the master bath separate whirlpool tub with an awesome view of a lake with a privacy option and stand up shower and a small closet, a small den or office space with a wall just for collectables, a laundry room with the lates stainless steal or black appliances all over the home, wood with the natural stone decore is beautyful touch for the bathrooms, granite counter tops, walk in closets, storage closets, and a big basement with a play room, a boat and a fishing dock to relax, fire places in the big sunked in carpeted living room, master bedroom and study, a fenced yard, also some space to have two horses, the garage with work area for when we feel creative,a stone drive way and trail that would lead to the lake and to the front door, with few flourecent lighting for when its dark, oh and a bar-b-q area with a bar-b-q and if you can throw in a flat screen tv with a sound system that would make it fabulous you know cause baseball and football dont stop just because were on vacation,a good security system like adt or something,
use warm relaxing feng-shua, earth, or element tones for the colors and please let it have high cellings many windows daytime light in the home uplifts your spirit and gives you serenity,
and finally for the location i think NC or SC, if not in virginia or maine even goergia...
this is the perfect home ...
well thats all for now if i think of anything else ill let you know...thankx for asking!

I think this cabin should be very uniquely built with a wild shape to it and should put an extreme twist to the term "log cabin". It would be awesome to see it modernized but to still have that old fashioned cabin type of look to it. I believe that a loft on the second story overlooking a den with some big windows that look beyond a lake would be absolutely beautiful. Some modern light fixtures around the cabin would be a great touch..maybe mixed with some rustic looking decor just to add a little bit of a twist. A nice big deck would also be a wonderful idea for friends and family who may come to visit...maybe with a hot tub of some sort to jump into on those chilly winter days! Solar powered everything should be a necessity..anything to improve todays environment. A wood burning stove to keep the cabin warm would be amazing, at the same time it keeps the cabins rustic feeling. At the lake maybe have a small quaint sand beach for the summers. A fishing dock and row boat or canoe are a must haves. Fire pits bring fun during the night time keeping cozy with friends and family near the blazing fire. Some carpet in tho loft that is nice and cushy...preferrably stain resistant and in a darker shade(stains wont show nearly as much). On the main floor nice wood floors are a must have. Tiles in the kitchen and bathroom possibly...but could stay with wood instead. The loft should have a two separate rooms for guests. Somewhere in the mountains away from the everyday stresses of life but not too far from "the necessities".

I would like to see a Round or Octagon house where in the middle the kitchen is built, the front would have receiving area/living area, one area with master bedroom and bath (takes up two side), on another side two bedrooms and bath, another side work room for him, and another side a work room for her (work room could be converted into bedrooms), and the second level with a Half open loft with a second master bedroom and bath, from the kitchen you have a whole view of every bedroom with dinning room in back area.

An oceanside logcabin! Could you imagine!!?? And, Green is good! Wouldn't it be great to have solar power and a storm water collector for re-use in landscape needs, etc.

I would like a green environmentally-friendly home by a lake up in the mountains. A screened in porch would be wonderful and also a garage. This years cabin is wonderful and would be a great for place for anybody to win. Hope the next one is even greater.

Haveing a lake view and a fishing/boat dock would be an excelent choice for for log cabins near a lake or on a lake (as long as there are fish in there ;) ). Having a hot tub outside on the porch or maybe somewhere inside is an excelent idea. If it was my cabin, I would love for it to have a lot of rooms; 6 or 7 as an example. Haveing views, and a porch with water features and an outside fireplace with a little picnic area right beside it would be absolutely amazing.

I would like to see a larger mountain lake log cabin with wraparound porches rustic furniture and Americana decor, and a large outdoor cooking area.

we need a fireplace inside,one in the bedroom &liveingroom.hottub on the back deck.I love wolfs,it would be nice to have them carved somewhere in&out. why would there be a fireplace out side.your in the woods,have a firepit.so you can cookthings,like mountain pies etc.

I would love be able to sit on the back porch and see a beautiful lake view with weeping willows and benches all around the lake.

What a great idea and a great show! A hot tub would be fantastic, maybe a wood-fired hot tub in a gazeebo on the deck? Would like to see it be totally off-grid so it would be environmentally friendly and could be located just about anywhere! A lakeside or river view would be great as well!

will start by saying how much my wife and i enjoy the diy show each day. we have always loved the tennesse mountains especially the area of gaitlinburg and sevierville.The log home i would like you to build would be a 3 or 4 bedroom home with dinning area off the eat in kitchen with family room /living room screen porch and porch across the front of house. lots of storage space laundry/mudd room at least 2 and onehalf baths,large walkin shower inmaster bath.Granite counter tops in all baths and kitchen areas.

I would love view of water, preferably from the top of a hill property with stone pathway down to the shore. One story, as many of us are older and do not like stairs. A total green environmentally-friendly house? Something primitive that you could stay even when the weather was bad a back up generator would be nice. Geo thermal heating / cooling technology, good insulation, CFL lighting, View could be from rear of house or from front. Gray water to be used for landscape irrigation, boat/fishing dock would be great. There a perfect hill top in Oklahoma over looking the Neosho River. There a very small community in this area, it’s surrounded by Corp Of Engineer property which means the area will stay rustic and will never be over grown. With all four seasons you would have Winters in front of the fireplace, summers on the river. A wrap around closed porch with windows that can open for the air, but in the winter you can still use the area to watch nature pass by watch the trees turn in the fall, with a small table you can eat breakfast or late supper. A four wheel drive “GREEN SUV” would be nice to, most cabins will be away from town. And that work Don’t forget the horseshoe pit, and outdoor kitchen, Hot tub and outside shower.

First of all- We love the Cabin in the Smokies, Just breath taking....no awe inspiring!
I'd like to see a ranch style cabin. Master Suite w/ soaking tub and walk-in shower. fireplace/stove in Living & Master. Complete wrap/covered porch. Detached Garage/Workshop.
This would make a great get away-vacation or retire for us!
Thanks & keep up the great work!

Have you ever thought about building in Idaho? Tons of open space, rustic feeling, geo-thermal opportunities in Southcentral mountains, great wildife! Just my opinion! Love what you're doing!

This may sound crazy but we have lots of "toys" - motorcycles, boats, etc. A perfect log cabin home would be near water (maybe lake Lake Norman), while still in an area with great scenery for riding. It would be a ranch style - 3 bedroom - with a huge master bath and a second full bath. Big family room - big kitchen - don't want any formal living space and most importantly a really cool shed/garage/storage building for the TOYS - and for a workshop - made of log too!

I believe I saw where you mentioned that next years Blog Contest is not just limited to building a cabin. I would love to see you guys Blog it Green. It could be a Earth Sheltered home,or a dome home, domespace, topsider. Square Feet of home a average size, not a McMansion. Universal Design so family could age in place. Zero Energy Home, Passive Solar, Solar Panels, Geo-Thermal which ever one would be most beneficial to home. Solar Water or Tankless Hot Water. Maybe build it in the mountains of Colorado by a Lake or it could have it's own large pond. Perhaps on an acre or two of land. Garage, workroom for diy projects. Inside home should include utility room/mud room. Just some ideas. So what do you think? A Blog Earthshelter Contest? Blog Dome Home?

I'd like to return to my roots, or close to it. I dream of a sustainable, environmentally safe, handicapable and affordable all year round cabin in the Tennessee, North Carolina or Georgia or Colorado Mountain areas. I'd like a place where I would be inspired to write more. The warmer areas of Oregon and Washington state have always intrigued me, and I wouldn't turn down a chance to live there, but I long for the south or southwest nearer to one of my daughters. The cabin could be around Lake Lure or in a valley somewhere near Pikes Peak. I like the construction ideas of all the other bloggers and would like to add that a large bathroom with one of the newer walk-in showers and an easy to access hot tub sounds great. However, I think the number one concerns for me would be environmental and affordability as to upkeep and tax issues.

I'm supprised with all the technologies avaiable.
With the caabin by the lake that you have not incorporated geothermal heating and cooling. This might be very advantageous in your next one.

I would love t see a porch swing for the cabin. Even though it will have alot of wonderful fitures inside and out it should still feel relaxing and quaint. The cabin should not feel like your "home away from home" but the home you have always dreamed of having. You should be able to feel your troubles and worries melt away at just the site of the cabin.It should make you feel like you just took an early retirement for the hard working couples and it should make the already retired couples feel like they are living their dream.

I just now watched the first blog cabin series,so I didn't get to put my blog vote in.everything turned out wonderful.I would like to see another cabin built in the wears valley area.
If anyone knows about the smoky mountians its called one of the most beutiful views in the world.I would like to see a blog cabin built there.Going green on all of it would just make it perfect.I have allergies but love the mountians,a top of line air unit with allergy features would be ideal.

Glad there is going to be another cabin coming in 2008!

love what's in the 2007 cabin

-a boat dock (and boat) would be nice
-big picture windows
-wrap around porch
-gourmet kitchen
-lots of pantry and closet space
-fire pit outside
-walking path along your own private landscape
-single story - with a cool loft and separate lookout -tower with a telescope
-a small greenhouse (window) for herbs
-a 2 - 3 car garage and work shop area
-somewhere in western PA would be great!
(well, you did ask what we wanted...)
:-)

How about a triple yurt? One that's eco friendly....with a wrap around deck that holds a jaquzzi, plenty of room for rockers...one that's handicapped accessible of course....with storage storage storage galore! One can never have too much room or storage you know. A huge kitchen/dining area would be nice, very rustic looking that somehow manages to fit in all of the latest conveniences! A glamor bath and power shower in all the bathrooms (a bath for each one of the bedrooms). A huge family/rec room....fireplaces in the kitchen, livingroom and master bedroom, all of the amenities you know...make this one a REAL dream home....and then place it right outside of Pigeon Forge...the best place on earth to live....well....other than Hawaii of course...;-)

My dreams would include
- walking paths
- inside/outside fireplace
- mountains a must
- noisy stream over placid lake, but water of some sort
- a porch of course, w/ removable screens
- master suite on the 2nd floor for the view
- hot tub
- storage
- stable for horses

A sense of peace in the surroundings, wildlife to see, community & conection to area around you, in short a place to let your roots grow.

Thanks for allowing us to dream

I agree with green and would add that rivers are a great source of energy! My dream would be an eco friendly, off the grid cabin on an island (accessible only by boat) with lots of outdoor living spaces (hot tub, cooking fire, outdoor solar shower for the grubbies, decks and docks, etc.) and a "bunk room" for those of us with larger broods (We have 7 young 'uns!).

Those who have vacation cabins usually drive cars to get to them, but I rarely see nice carports included with cabin designs. I guess this omission is a hold-over from the olden days, but I'd like to see attractive accommodations for my horseless carriage, perhaps something that can double as a covered patio. It would be especilly appreciated for those winter-time cabin retreats.

We are new to the site and very excited to help plan the new lob cabin. We have been discussing building one for ~10 years. We love the idea of a jetted tub in the master. Lots of windows overlooking a pond/lake. Large wrap-around porch on front with a screened porch on back or sunroom would be great. A garage would be a nice touch.

I would like to see a log cabin on a finger lake in NY. I am from Ohio and the going a drive east was nice and relaxing. Wineries help in the relaxing part :) Also I think a dock onto the lake and a basement wine cellar are a must for a log cabin in this area. Log cabins near a ocean beach? Isn't that called a beach house not a log cabin. Good luck and look forward to seeing this year episodes and next years location.

As noted previously "green", "off the grid", recyled materials would definitely be of interest. The Hill Country around Austin, TX (Lake Travis area) has not been mentioned yet and it would be a beautiful area, too.

The 2007 cabin is perfect for a permanent family residence; however, it is also "high-end" in many respects and built by experienced professionals. Perhaps this is another show possibility, but since this is DIY afterall why not a series for the weekend warriors on building your own small weekend getaway (under 1000 sq') on a budget (under $50K)? I'm not particularly looking to move out of the city where my job is located, but a weekend retreat where I can enjoy the outdoors and not worry about a maintaining a wilderness showplace for friends and family is appealing.

The cabin looks great.
Would like to see remote enough to have some land. Something you could develop into good food lots for the wild game. Protein in the summers and carbohydrates for the winter.
Enough land that you could have gardens for food.
Green house, workshop, barn.

I enjoy DYI thank you.
Ron

A green cabin with a hot tub on lake front property in Northwest Wisconsin would be great. Lots of lakes and forest up here.

I would love to see a wind generator and solar power for this cabins power source completely free of having to buy power from the local companies and less likely to have problems with power outages with a backup generator as well

What a great cabin for 2007. The only thing I voted differently on was the front door.

For 2008 I think the possibilities would be endless, A Cabin in Arnold, Cal., where one could walk through the giant redwood trees or a cabin on one of the lakes in Mich., where winter activities could include snowmobiling.

My requests would be to 1) Keep it simple, so I could loan my brother-in-law the key without worrying 2) A loft for dormitory sleeping if needed. 3) Outdoor access to a bathroom and 4) A storage area for "Toys".

I love the ideas that everyone has. I think it is important to build green. A lakefront cabin is wonderful specially if no motorboats are allowed. As a kid I lived in a house on a lake in Florida that did not allow motorboats, we loved sailing, rowing, paddleboats and swimming. I believe that it should have a hot tub (or two) and that to compensate for the water usage in the tub(s) that a system to use the gray waters for the garden be used. I think that since we are all DIY viewers we all have a need for a craft room, and/or workshop. I like the idea of an outdoor kitchen to cook the fish from the lake. From what I have seen of the suggestions so far that most of us like to ruff it with all the modern amenities. I like the suggestion that the cabin be handicap accessible. I learned from recent experience that it is not easy to move around in a wheelchair. I was in one for almost a year and was surprised at how wheelchair unfriendly the world is. Stairs are not the only obstacles , household chores are difficult as are other everyday tasks . Anyways I can’t wait to see the surprises that are in store for us.

Love,
Diana from FL

Total green building. Smart for the earth, smart for economy, just good practice.

Here's an idea. Commission local artisans to help create the next blog cabin. That would be something truly unique, one of a kind cabin. Tastefully done of course. It would also help create work for the artists that live and work in the area of where ever your next cabin is being built. Supporting the local economy for those who otherwise might be over looked for such a project.... just an idea...

I would like to see a log cabin that could survive off the grid. Thermal heat from the ground, solar energy from the sun, wind energy if hill nearby, and hydroelectric if running water nearby. Ultra effecient electrical devices instead, etc...

I would like to see an open concept log cabin. Kitchen, diningroom and greatroom all in one with a fireplace. I like the idea of a master bedroom with bath and loft bedrooms for guests or kids. Geo thermal heat with a greenhouse which includes a swimming pool and hot tub connected to the house for year round use. Fenced yard with doggy door so dogs could go in and out. Porch in front with a swing and rocking chairs.

I would like you to do exactly as you did with this cabin. This cabin is affordable. If won as a prize, you can afford the taxes on the prize, the taxes on the home and the area that it is in. Other homes that are being given away are way above the average man. If I win a home, I want to be able to keep it. Keep doing just as you are.

Hey you know what would be just great would be a totally off the grid cabin say on a dreamy piece of the Alaska coast you know watch'n the world wonder by! Totally green and put into it alot of young minds to come up with solution and new idea's that can be used in more ways in every house. Most "green" house's you need to measure all of your electrical need's and stay with in those perrameter's. If you put this cabin to the test and look at it as a building platform for home's that can make it on there own it would be cool. With sat. tv and internet all u need is "power" and think of the posibilities, and where it can go. Just my two cent's, ( steel pennies) seeya!

Log Cabin looks great. Lived in one when I was 4 to 7 years old. It wasn't modern like this one though. Next cabin should have a lake view and porch on three sides. Green if possible. Super good job on this one. 790911

some people on here sound a little greedy :)
i think this year's cabin is perfect, and i really enjoyed the whole voting for what would be in it, fun to check in and see what was winning!somewhere to go fishing would be great and an outdoor kitchen would be a nice touch, but not a necessity. keep up the great work you do!

some people on here sound a little greedy :)
i think this year's cabin is perfect, and i really enjoyed the whole voting for what would be in it, fun to check in and see what was winning!somewhere to go fishing would be great and an outdoor kitchen would be a nice touch, but not a necessity. keep up the great work you do!

How about something for all of us animal lovers??? A cozy cabin with a small barn and pasture for our trail horses to take out riding in this wonderful wilderness. Maybe a doggie door and a kennel run for our dogs. None of the contests to win a home ever give away an animal friendly place.

A cabin on a lake (no power boats!) with a dock would be lovely. I think a chalet style with a lot of glass facing the lake view. Nothing large, just cozy and comfortable.

I think the green building technology is great. Lakeview and dock would add to the rustic living. The hot-tub would also add to the relaxation of the environment. It's time that we start thinking of our surroundings and try to maintain the natural environment.

Wheelchair accessible kitchen, bathrooms, doorways, porches, closets, hallways, and a storm closet. By this I would suggest wider doors and hallways with no steps, include ramps for a family who could use them or make it for accessible for either.

I like the idea also of a green house and it being close to off the grid, plenty of solar panels and invironmently friendly constuction.

A boating dock would be nice and to be out on the lake.

4 Bedrooms, 2 bathrooms(also must be wheelchair friendly, large livingroom with a log cabin feel but hi-tech as well with maybe a plasma screen TV?, a nice sized room for office/computer room, entertainment room with a big sreen TV/surround sound stereo.

Let's see...my perfect home would be...
In The Smoky Mountains of Tennessee...

- A triple Yurt with huge decks that wrap completely around the home...

-hot tubs both inside and out...

-in a very secluded area...

-great view with trees, mountains, and the river...
-stone fireplaces in the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom...
-not only a master BATH, but a big bath for each of the bedrooms (each with hot tub and power shower of course)
-hardwood floors
-gourmet kitchen and dining area
-huge workspace attached
-rec room for guests
-seperate guest quarters
-inground swimming pool
-cedar sauna/steamroom
-fully finished basement
-a spacious loft
-multiple car garage
-a circle drive with places to turn around
-balconies coming from each upstairs bedroom (with room for table and chairs)
-an arborerium (is this spelled right?)
-a big front porch to sit with family and friends in our wodden rockers and give thanks for our blessings!

Looking for open floor plan from Kitchen to livingroom, formal dinning room separated by counters, but closed to living area, radiant floor heating, central air, Masterbedroom with the special walkin bathtub to bath and shower in. Sit down shower head to hold in hand. European bathrooms, 4 bedrooms, gaming room, playroom, finished open floor basement, Built in heated indoor pool, Florida room, enough land to be private and fensed in. 2 car garage, storage and work area, laundry near the bedrooms, and a masterbedroom on the first floor for the elderly. Office/library, electric confection oven, gas stove, dishwasher, garbage compactor, refridge with freezer on bottom, cold water dispenser on fridge. Enough bathrooms for everyone. Hardwood floors and ceramic tile bath and kitchen areas. Solar hyrdo heating, hot water on demand, Fireplaces, Solar electric and water distilling device for making pure drinking water. City water and Well water, city sewer. Enough parking for 6 cars. Underground sprinkler system, with a zone for potted plants and hedges. Veg. Garden with sprinker system attached. Good area for kids to play. Good school area. Exterior modern, with clean stone wall. Maybe a Jacuzzi in the indoor Pool area.

I think you should build the new one in the Ozarks of Arkansas with a stream running thru the property. It would be great to make it so it could be a year round home. I want to live there so I would love to win. Having the master on the 1st floor and a guest room and bath on the 1st floor would be important cause of people that can't do stairs and grandparents that want to visit but can't do stairs. fishing,boating,basketballcourt,tennis,badmitten,crocuet, any sports . Having a big basketball court could be used for a lot of things like rollerblading ice sakteing in the winter just add a lip around the edge so water could be frozen woudl have to have a way to get the water off the rest of the year though. Craft room and homework room. Office. 2 car garage and lots of storage space orginazed with moduler units. Master closet with chest of drawers in them and a sitting place and mirror I could go on and on LOL> I am looking forward to seeing what happens

I would like to see 2008 built with Universal Design in mind. I love the outdoors & am still active, but I have some mobility issues now. I think if the new cabin were built with more of an eye to UD, it would help, no matter who wins the cabin.

HELLO, WELL I HAVE IN THE MOUTAINS AND HAD SEVERAL HOMES WITH FIRE PLACES: NEED A DOORWAY GOING INTO A WOODSHED OFF FROM THE FIRE PLACE SO THAT YOU CAN STORE YOURE FIRE WOOD AND KEEP IT DRY, A DOORWAY ON ETIHTER SIDE OF THE FIRE PLACE, WITH A CLOSED IN SHED WITH SEVERAL ENRTY WAYS SO THAT YOU CAN STACK YOURE WOOD AT LEAST 4 TO 7 CORDS OF WOOD,, AND ALSO HAVING SOLAR HEATING FOR THE WATER AND SOLAR POWER TO BE OFF THE GRID OR ATLEAST PUT POWER BACK INTO THE POWER GRID,, ABOUT THE FIRE PLACE SHED AGAIN NOBODY WANTS TO GO OUT SIDE IN A STORM AND GET WET AND COLD TO GET MORE FIRE WOOD,, AND HAVING A PIPING SYSTEM GOING AROUND THE FIRE PLACE AND GOING UNDER THE FLOOR TO HELP HEAT THE HOME WOULD BE NICE ALSO.. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO PUT OUR INPUT ON THIS PROJECT.. JAMES CANADA

I think a sustainable, green, off-the-grid ( or partially off!) should be top priority for the 2008 Blog Cabin. I also vote for a Lake View. River front would be nice too! Utah,Idaho, Wyoming? Upstate New York is gorgeous as well! Cabin style? Adirondack or Arts and Crafts would be fantastic! I'd also like to see the cabin around 1200 sq feet with lots of efficient built-ins..benches in kitchen, bookcases,window seats that double as sleeping areas with storage drawers underneath for extra pillows, etc. I vote for a one story open floor plan with master bedroom/bath on one side and 2 small bedrooms/bath on the other side.Last but not least, a screened front porch overlooking the lake or river running the length of the house!
A girl can dream can't she? ;o)

Our specifications are:
Single story (old knees are adverse to strairs, as are transitional lens in the glasses)

Utility room with space for washer, dryer and large sink, outside door preferred

master bedroom bath needs garden tub for two, shower for two, and walk-in closet

kitchen needs lots of counter space, island, Jen-Air range top with 1/2 modular, pantry for storing food so you don't have to go out in bad weather, nice big windows to let the sun in

exterior should be low maintenance, I actually prefer brick, roof needs to be metal or composite, not "normal" shingles

solar and/or wind power to replace or supplement regular utilities

nearby pasture for horses, water for fishing, trees for shade

I have the perfect location for the 2008 log cabin. I would like to see it in the state of Montana in or near the Bob Marshall Wilderness Forest. The location would be somewhere near the town of Augusta, MT. There are many cabins, built in early to mid 1900 that sit up there now. I would like to be involved in choosing the location and showing the area to you as my uncle is there and has lived there for most his life and knows everyone, everything about the area. Think it over. The cabin would need to be green most definitely. This area is well know for its hunting and fishing adventures. It is only 15 miles from the contenintal divide.

Thanks,
Greg

My parents have a cabin and it seems when we're "Up north" the kids awake earlier than normal. Some type of sound proofing - or a separate area they can play in away from the bedrooms - would be ideal! Maybe a basement?

Need great floor plan for family and entertaining,
privacy for guests or family visiting. Great view from master bedroom and family room. Huge kitchen for cooking for family on holidays or getaways. Need shade in yard with pool and great wood deck to complete the outside of home with lake view,dock and a screened in porch or gazebo to watch sunset. Needs to welcome friends and family.

I think a lake view would be awesome. I love the cabin you just built in the moutains as well. If you could combine both moutains and water, it would be fantastic. Building these homes, well it gives people a dream. Its fun during the process and whoever wins should be especially grateful for your show. People shouldn't have any negative comments, its a free beautiful home. Thanks to everyone that helps build and fund these homes.
Keep making dreams for people.

"a total green environmentally-friendly house"
yes, indeed! but not green logs. The logs must be truly kiln-dried logs with a moisture content of 19% or less. This will mean no shrinkage, better insulation, and much easier to maintain.
Porches are a must with a screened in area.
A cabin with a breath taking view. In the mountains of Tennessee of course with a view of water, either lake, river or stream
Open Great room with Fireplace and loft.
Master bedroom 1st floor with master bath and WI closet. Office near the M/BR and 2 other bedrooms on the other side of the house for privacy with their own access to the porch.
Spacious kitchen open to dinning room and great room for family gatherings.
Utility/mud room convienently located near the kitchen and a large pantry with door to outside.
Lots of windows to enjoy the view.
Hardwood floors from Lumber Liquidators of course through out the entire home. Yes even in the kitchen.
Exposed beams with 2X6 tongue and groove above
Matching log siding on interior walls
Basement for fun and entertaining
Metal roof
Lots of water features.

I'm very interested in alternate energy sources. They've been too expensive at the startup in recent years, but I hear progress is being made in cost and efficiency. I expect big improvements in the next few years!
Learning more about estimating your electrical needs and finding the best alternate supply system would be great!

I would like to see a total green cabin.
I would like lots of windows or sky lights.
I would like a screened in porch or deck.
I would like most of the floors tiled.
Thank You

Green building is very important, solar and wind power is a great idea. I would love a small to medium stream in the yard preferably where you can see it from the deck or windows. It should have lots of windows, hardwood floors, tile showers, granite counter tops, a horse pasture would be wonderful and seperate garage to keep the guys out of our hair... what else could a girl ask for?

Would be nice to see a cabin on a lake, with a dock. The back of the house facing the lake with lots of windows would be perfect. Water activities for family and friends to enjoy would be priceless. Or near a ski area is cool. Having both would be wonderful.

Definitely build "green" with the environment in mind is a plus. Solar heating? Wind generator would be nice (but can be noisy)...Back up generator if power outage (depending on how far back in the woods you are.

Wired for computers, phone, television (satellite/cable), if it were to be a year round home.

Universal design is great too! As a minimum, I like the main floor master in this year's cabin...for us baby boomers whose knees may be giving out. Let the kids have the upstairs rooms. We get the downstairs room. One story living is nice, but costs more to build, (A bigger lot needed, more foundation poured, etc.) A small elevator if walk out ranch home would be most ideal to get to lower level, but again, adds to the cost.

I always think that having a full basement (local water levels considered) is a good investment in initial building plans. This allows for potentially more square footage to the house (added value), or for the workshop/craft rooms, many bloggers mentioned they would like to see.

Radiant heating in the floor is nice.

An entry/mud room with places for people to take off their boots and hang and wet coats, hat, mittens, etc. that is heated, and tile floor for ease of cleaning.

A place for storage, a 2 car garage plus a work area, or storage area. We ski and snow shoe...need places for all the paraphernalia that goes with outdoor living. Fishing poles, boating things, camping items, mountain bikes, etc. (times five of us!)

Living in CO, we need to worry about wildfires, and so landscaping needs to be planned appropriately. It is nice to be nestled in the trees, but when a fire starts, and is heading your way, it will be hard to prevent your home from being consumed. As another person noted, brick, stucco, or stone outer facade is better for this as well as metal, or ceramic tile roof is also good in a fire.

I think that these are the most important things I would have in my dream vaction home. Some day, maybe.

Colleen in Colorado

I would like to see an environmentally friendly log home-all on one floor as we are not getting any younger. All natural flooring and walls, energy efficient windows and doors. A huge, open kitchen with natural countertops-possibly granite, and slate floors, that opens up to a Great room with a soaring rock fireplace. The Great Room will incorporate a large dining area with lots of windows. This dining area should open up through french doors to a large enclosed dining porch. There should be 4 bedrooms, 3 or 4 bathrooms, and a decent size laundry room near the bedrooms. I would like to see a huge wrap around porch and deck complete with outdoor fireplace and kitchen. Being on a beautiful mountain lake would just be the icing on the cake! A separate workshop/hobby area would be ideal. The landscaping should be mostly natural and take very little extra water, etc. to care for it.
In Texas and longing for the cool mountain air!

As my hubby is looking at being wheelchair bound in the not to distant future, a ranch or all on one floor style cabin with roll outs to a dock or patio would be fantastic.
Wyoming Forest region of Pennsylvania or perhaps one of the islands off of Virgina, NC,SC or Georgia would be wonderful as well as maybe a little more private.
As we would love to retire there, year round living ability would be a plus.
Emphasis on stonework done with the area's native stone would be different and unique.
Thinking a stone wall or back splash in the kitchen..A shower with the back wall done in stone with little pockets for stuff.. including perhaps ferns or small ivys... to help bring the outdoors in.
Unique lighting,a doublesided fireplace.. opening into both the living room and kitchen...
a screened porch.. are all "wouldlovetosees ":~)

i really like thelog cabin

i love hunting and fishing

i would really like to win the log cabin
because it looks neat.!

i will take good care of it and be up there all the time

my wife also like hunting and soo does my daugther

thank you very much..!!!

i really like this cabin

i would like to win it

because i love to hunt and fish

i love to be outside, and to decorate.

and bring my family up there.

so please pick me.!!

5 bed room,3 full bath rooms,granet conter tops,kid freindly,pool,hot tub,animal freindly,ac,local fishing spot,horse trails, hiking

I think It would be a great Idea to put the 2008 blog cabin on a large lake. once agian in Tennessee. Large enough kitchen to cook in and lots of cabinet space. a dinning room that faced the water. I would love to have screened porch so that the mosquios in the summer couldnt get to me. there would definately need to be a nice dock so you could go fishing in the summer. A guest room would be a must so it would need 4 bedrooms total and 2 1/2 baths. A fireplace would be needed here also to put a nice warm touch to the home. A view of the country sky from inside would be amazing.

it will be nice that a poor person like me can win one of this day,I know that the person has to has money to be able to pay taxes and other expenses I hope you be able to understand my ingles thank you

My dream cabin would definitely be environmentally friendly.

A lake with a dock, or a stream on the property would both be awesome.

It would have bamboo floors, a screened porch, tons of windows, skylights if possible.

A hot tub would be nice.

And I would love to have a room large enought to teach basket weaving classes in. (I'm sure EVERYONE needs a room to teach basket weaving classes in!)

This years cabin is really awesome...what an incredibly cool concept for a show (and contest)!

Love all of the suggestions. I am getting a good vibe about the green ideas. It's perfect. Find creative ways to hide the solar cells. small windmill etc...I would like to suggest for this year's cabin an area for herbs and vegetables to grow. Most people who have cabins would love going out the back door for some fresh ingredients. I too have a suggestion for where to build, Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. I am a water lover as well...save the beach for vacation. Having grown up around the Blue Ridge Mts. and the Parkways a cabin is at home in the "hills". Just another southern girl who hopes for a chance at either cabin!!! Thank you DIY for great all day programming! Deborrah Henderson

thank you for being there. in the furture we should look to solar, wind and geothermal power. a nice lake in michigan would be nice for me. how about a nice underground home with a log greenhouse with a deep heat sink and a tower out of logs for convection, and passive solar. getting off the grid is good, all renewable engery will keep us all alive, now and in the furture.

I was watching last night on the construction of the fireplace..bigger is better. 5 foot box would have been better, for My taste. But stone work was beautiful. How about some solar heating?

Hey, I like the fact that you want input on the cabins. So, here's a few thoughts:
Nestled somewhere private, near a stream, cottage style kitchen, recycled or green, green, green, definite mountain view. Good job on the 2007 cabin so far!

I would like to see the cabin be built near a small lake that is good for fishing,swimming,and other type of family activites. It would be nice with a dock,deck,hot tub, very earthy and full of nature. ALL the materials that is right for the environment and also looks good.. plenty of greens and other earth tones. A nice kitchen with modern conveniances , but earth friendly. A few places I would like to see the cabin in wisconsin or minnesota. Also, it would be nice to have a little picnic area equipt with outdoor activities, It would be nice to have the cabin somewhere autumn is absolutely breath taking and near apple orchards or other typical fall festives.It would be nice to have a fireplace out of some sort of beuatiful stone or rock in a family room with higher ceilings also it would be romantice to one in a master bedroom.Perhaps, the kitchen can collide into the family room, and it would be nice if there was a quiet area for reading that extends outdoors.

Definitely on water! How about the great Northwest? Better climate, no bugs, better cabin living! All one level; internet a must--it's 21st cent. cabin; all-green is essential--anything less is irresponisible; solar energy for sure.

Love the show.
Oriana in Washington

"a total green environmentally-friendly house" -- absolutely, yes.

In-floor heating -- maybe easier if there's a basement.

A mud room is a nice idea, as is the one about an external woodshed, easily accessible from the house.

And wired for high tech -- maybe with satellite prep, if necessary.

A lake view/fishing dock would be a nice touch, but that's gravy.

I would like to see the craft shows in on it. Let them scrap the event! I know they could come up with some Original Art Work.

I really like the Blog cabin 2007. My family loves to visit the Great Smoky mountains and this cabin is very nice. I also liked the fact that you have built a cabin that is not so outrageously expensive. This one would be totally doable with our income. My son and I register every day and we hope we can win it. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to try to win this cabin.

Put my cabin on a quiet lake, and please keep me out of any flood zones. For the same reason please skip any streams. Lake rules = nothing with a motor. Lake size = big enough for Kayaks and swimming, maybe small sailboats or rowboats. Surround me with pine trees and forests. And, put in some of those massive stones to make a mud free walkway down to the lake.

In the summer, my home would have windows and doors that opened so wide that you would feel like you were living on an enclosed porch. There would be lots of outdoor living areas both with enlosed porches and open ones and an outdoor fireplace for scarey story telling on late summer nights. A comprehensive fan and exhaust fan system would replace the need for air conditioning ... just make sure that those screens are mosquito sized.

In the autumn, the wide window/door vista would feature a panarama of changing tree colors. And, the indoor stone fireplace would be a cozy feature to warm me during my cocoa induced nap.

In the winter, as the lake freezes and the mountains (did I mention we were in New England?) get white with snow, we'd have a laundry/mud/side entrance where we could store ice skates and skis for all the visitors who would enjoy our second floor loft living. It would have the same huge windows and doors as the first floor but a flexible footprint so you could make it a private retreat for two friends or a dorm like room for a herd of family members.

In the spring ... we'd plant some ferns and wild flowers around the cabin so when we sat in our Adirondack chairs on the dock and looked back at the house, it would just nestle back into the woods.

I know that you can't build the Vanderbilt mansion. But, it would be great if your architects could design with an eye toward expansion. One wall that could be cut out to support an office for me or a workshop or my husband or whatever else the lucky winner may want to eventually add.

Green and self-sustainable is good. Skip the hot tub as they are rarely used. Let the water feature be the lake that Mother Nature provides.

Best wishes and thanks for the opportunity to dream a little.

So many wonderful ideas for the next one. I tell my grandson that we are watching you build nana's new house. He just wants to make sure there is plenty of room for him to come there to! I agree that the next one should be a green cabin on water. When you choose the location please keep in mind taxes and cost of living in the area. Many of us are on limited incomes and want to afford the home if we win it.

Please build a cabin with rounded logs, a big wrap porch with a portion of it screened in with a nice swing to sit and look at the water, so relaxing. Need a wonderful kitchen inside and out, we love the outdoor kitchens, nice landscaping and paths to stroll on. I love the stone fireplace you are doing now and think that adds the perfect touch. One thing I have not seen talked about much would be a nice family or game room with room for a pool table and bar.

Would like to see 3 or 4 bedrooms so guests can be accomodated comfortably, a mud room, laundry room and a workshop/craft area. Husband needs to retire but would go nuts without someplace to hang out - ha! Also since we would be year round residents a garage would be great. Love what you are doing and can't wait to see the next one - of course if I win this one it will be just as much fun to watch the other one being built. Yes I would also buy a T-shirt if the proceeds were going to habitat or some other worth charity. Thanks for the chance to put my dreams in writing and possibly see them come true!

Yes a total green house. But this time I would love to see a cabin with a wall of windows facing a lake with Mountains past the lake. A wrap around porch with ceiling fans and lots of rocking chairs not new ones old ones all colors & styles. I like fireplaces but heat with cast iron stoves maybe a pot-belly stove they heat so good you lose alot of heat with a wood burning fireplace nice to look at but won't keep you toasty.
Well enough for now I'll think of more later lol.

My cabin must absolutely be close to some mainline railroad tracks. I want to be able to sit on my back porch or in my hot tub/jacuzzi and watch the trains roll by. In addition to the hot tub, a small pool would be nice. I would prefer a mountain setting where, except for the railroad, the backyard would be completely private.

Another must have for me would be an outdoor shower. Showering before soaking in the hot tub or swimming in the pool would help keep them clean and showering when you get out will rinse the chlorine/bromine off of your skin and hair and out of your swimsuit (if you wear one in the hot tub).

A sun room enclosure around the hot tub would be nice, too. That way, you could use it year round. The sun room should open to the air in good weather, but be closable when winter comes.

I would also like my cabin to include a detached garage. It would be a three bay garage, with one bay reservered for a workshop. Above the garage would be a small appartment where guests could stay when visiting.

I Agree with others let the winner be chosen before you build so it can truly please the winner. You may want to have like seven different places already set to choose from.
**In the Tennessee Great Smoky Mountains or Missouri Ozark Mountains near Springfield**
It should have lots of windows,
with a screened in porch or deck,
a large deck perferable overlooking or looking out towards a lake if possibly. Wrap around porch.
Rocks big and small in the landscape and making the landscape as easy to maintain as possibly.
A fireplace.
Hot tub outside and whirlpool with heat inside.
Solar power is a great idea for many different things throughout the cabin and lighting the walkways.
Spacious kitchen open to dinning room and great room w/fireplce for family gatherings.
A heated entry/mud room with places for people to take off their boots and hang wet coats, hat, gloves, etc. and ceramic tile floor for ease of cleaning.
Master bedroom bath needs garden tub for two, shower for two, and walk-in closet.
Decks coming from each upstairs bedroom (with room for table and chairs)
Basement for fun and wash room.
A garage with a place for storage, with adjoin work room, or storage room.
Some type of sound proofing, like if you have all the kids too they can go to another room and play.
Back up generator, if there's power outage,
is a much needed item.
**Gas grill pit.
These Sweepstakes helps
Keep making people know that some
dreams can still come true.

Thank-You to everyone that helps build
and fund these homes.

Bonnie in Mississippi

I would like to see this built at Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma with a beautiful view of the lake and granite countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms. Also, cable tv and phone service would be great.

Love the thoughts of one floor and a basement. The solar power would be great!!!! Handicap Accessible is a must for family.

To build upon the incredible success of the 2007 Blog cabin i think it could have a special quality added for the 2008 project.
Besides the obvious luxuries of waterfront view and the earth friendly "green" concepts mentioned by others, I would like to see a new millenium approach to the basic building blocks that would have it stand the test of time.
Incororate the new technologies of PEX plumbing, LED lighting, zero VOC paints and finishes, extremely water-tight sealing and drainage technology in roof, walls and foundation, Raceway electrical and low voltage wiring for any conceivable future changes, protected and buried underground propane gas tank feeding tankless hot water suppy and gas cooking - including barbeque outdoor kitchen - as well as efficient heat producing fireplace flaming permanent logs combining visual appeal and genuine heating efficiency with the entire home as energy efficient as possible. Of course, that means built-in insect repellent system for termites, ants, roaches and the local pests incorporated into the walls and foundation - such a borax mineral repellants - to create a 'long-term' barrier that would drastically reduce future homeowner pesticide use for many years.
This would take your already beautiful design ideas and add the "future of building technology" now available but not widely accepted yet in the mainstream construction trades.
Hopefully, this would spur the awareness of these cost efficient and long-lasting newer building techniques throughout the DIY system. It would remove the accepted standard of built-in obsolescence and place a premium on "changeability long into the future" along with the GREEN concepts the world needs.
It would combine the timeless beauty of Americana Log Cabin History with an eye into the next millenium of building products and techniques.
Adding ten foot ceiling foundation with modern floating floors to virtually double living space and the ever needed storage and utility areas that could incorporate larger windows, glass floor areas looking up to the vaulted ceilings and lifetime water protection ideas to provide generations of useable living space here would be the most cost efficient suare footage addition possible. After all, what's wrong with a media room and wide-open entertainment space or office/work space ideas added in the most cost efficient way possible - with an eye on future technology changes at middle-class affordability for decades to come for the homeowners?
I love many of the blogger's ideas already set forth - but they seem to have thrown the budget to the wind and turned it into a Log Mansion. I think our combined ingenuity and today's new construction products can keep this new low maintenance green home affordable. Let's not just expect DIY to throw truckloads of money at the 2008 project - let good old-fashioned American ingenuity find ways to make it a "building inspiration" for the future generation by building in constantly evolving updating ideas easy. Let's show DIY how durability, low maintenence, ingenuity and cost efficiency can
bring this 2008 Blog Cabin to the front lines of future building needs - for us and our great grandchildren.
Anybody out there agree with this concept?
Thanks for your consideration,
Randy Countryman

Hi,very nice cabin.We can't wait to move in.One comment,what's up with the cheap looking throw or blanket on a chair in the guest bedroom,it looks like you ran out of money.

I hope there will be a hammock!

Hi guys,
I have been following the log cabin this year. It is great. For next year, it would be great if it was green. I also like the idea (some people have mentioned already) of being off the grid. I like the ranch style (since I am not that young anymore). I like the fireplace to not have the big slab on it for people to sit on, etc. it takes away from the charm of the fireplace. I would like to see 1 master bedroom with a great master bathroom, 1 maybe 2 other bedrooms, decent size. an open floor plan for the kitchen, living room area. Laundry room, a big glass porch with option of screen for the game room (have to have a pool table) I would love to have water features in back yard, small outside kitchen area. I love huge porches and would like to see one that wraps around the house with several entrances/exits to the house. Lots of storage, NO wasted space. I like alot of trees, flowers, lots of windows so the outside comes in with a beautiful view of the mountains and/or lake. the house needs to be on several acres, preferably not in a community to where, if I want to live in it year round, I won't have to worry about yearly fees, etc. I have my own books on log cabins (when I became rich I was going to build my retirement home).

Hello to all the Nature Lovers!
Seems that alot of you would prefer a beach house..I adore mediterrean stucco homes but we are talking about log cabins, right? Or maybe country cottages? The main thing I don't like about cabins is they are too dark. Lets lighten them up. Lots of windows, sky lights, light colored floors. Radiant heat, screened in porch with windows to open or close, out door kitchen, mud room, lots of storage for those who can live in the the home year around. One level for upkeep and those of us who cannot walk and climb easily. Room for a garden and window boxes....ARKANSAS has some reasonably priced property ...Heber Springs, Hot Springs? Beautiful lakes with clear water. My husband would love to win a cabin and he deserves it. I wish you all luck in winning!

I would like to see a nice big dog on the front porch. I guess if I were to win, I'd bring my old english sheepdog "Campbell Ridge" She's a lot'ta dog, lot's of energy, and well loved by all who meet her. She's a powerful pup!!!!!!!!!

what i would like to see is a family activity room. home theatre,pool table,small kitchen for grilling burgers etc. games,bar with soda shop items. something that the whole family can enjoy on rainy days or when friends and family come over to visit.also a wood burning stove.

I would like to see a completely green off the grid cabin with a first floor master for those of us growing older. I would like it to be in one of the five lowest tax burden states (Alaska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Delaware, Alabama). Water front property (creek, pond, lake - because I live near the ocean and I've never seen so much red tide-which is posionous or pollution!)It should have a basement that you can access from the inside that the owner can complete on thier own. Most of all it should come with a respectable amount of land - what is the point of moving to a coabin if in 5-10 years someone moves right next to you! And as for this year's cabin - I just want to say that naming it rocky top retreat when you're in the smoky mountains just isn't right!

I love all of it. How wonderful to get the public envoled.

I would love to see a wrap around porch with hugh rocking chairs to take in the view from any direction. Also a lake for the whole family.

Having lived in Alaska for 8 yrs. at one time, I too vote for an Alaska site. There are several areas that have many natural hot springs so hot water access and geothermal heating are very doable.
Definitely go green all the way. Off the grid type!! Tankless water heater, radiant heated floors, gas for cooking, wood (or wood pellet) fired hot tub/spa for those aching joints! Nothing greater than sitting in hot water and watching the snow flakes come down!

Screened-in porch is a must anywhere cuz there are bugs everywhere. Also the roof extension of the porch helps the house stay warm in winter and cooler in summer.

Alot of the features of this years cabin should be carried over to the new one like the shower and most of the kitchen. Just remember, gas for cooking, not electric! Fireplaces, maybe a small sauna room, water features??

All the already mentioned ideas are great so far. Can't wait to see the choices come up on line!!!!

I'm all about the outdoors therefore my vote is for a lakeside retreat that, of course, takes care of the great outdoors by making use of green building practices in and around the cabin! I agree that it would be great to be able to vote on a location, maybe a few choices from each time zone? A one story open floor plan would be great with a wrap around porch! Thanks DIY!

My suggestion for the 2008 blog cabin? Pick the winner first and build it the way the winner wants. I would also suggest, if the winner wants that is, let them help in the building of the cabin. I know that if I were to win, I would love the chance to meet and work with Amy. Not to mention all the other great TV personalities that help to built the 2007 blog cabin. I feel that if you built it yourself (or at least help) you would love it just a little bit more, I know I would! WHAT DO THE REST OF YOU OUT THERE THINK? AM I RIGHT? LET'S HEAR FROM YOU!

Thought this would be a great site to get help. boy was I wrong. No place to leave a question. added hide a safe to a list and it went somewhere but have no idea of how to check it out to see if anyone wants to help. really dissapointed. the site is so difficult to get arount in guess it requires a phd.

Totally off the grid, earth cabin nestled in side of mountain in Oregon with ocean and mountain view. Grey water capable with green house. Heated stone flooring, sky lights. Gourmet family sized kitchen, small 2 person sauna, hot tub, limited steps, workshop and/or craft area and wine cellar. Everything one would need to nestle in for the winter. Love DIY!

We just got cable and I came in on the tail-end of this Blog Cabin concept, but what a great idea! The Great Smoky Mountains was the perfect location for this year's design.

I "designed" my dream log home 25 years ago but it was never built. I compromised and bought a 13-year-old log home when we moved to Tennessee and there are many things I would change about it if I could. But I would not change having one for anything.

The plans I envisioned included a very wide and long A-frame style (approx. 40-degree angle and long enough that two-thirds of the downstairs could hold three bedrooms and two baths). Rounded logs, not square. The A-frame style does not go all the way to the ground, just the beams, which go beyond the log walls with lots of windows. French doors lead to an elevated deck area right off the modern open kitchen and dining area.

It had an elevator to the upstairs master suite, his/her closets, a tile and glass shower and a garden tub set against a dormer window with frosted glass. The master would have French doors leading to a deck facing the mountains, lake, or river. A sitting area/office/library overlooking the great room would top off the upstairs (has to have wireless internet).

At the opposite end of the house from the master, the rustic balcony (similar to the rail showing on the 2007 cabin porch) and staircase leads to the great room which has a rock wall and rustic fireplace. From the crown of the roof to the top of the log wall a long narrow (18-24") stained glass panel on each side runs with the angle of the vaulted ceiling with open beams.

What mountain home would be complete without a stable and paddock area for the horses and a greenhouse off the kitchen to grow vegetables and herbs year round? A woodshop is a must. A waterside gazebo or dock would be wonderful.

Ah, the perfect retirement home!!

For the 2008 house, I would like to see a remote site with mountain views on some acreage with small running creek or private pond on property in a low to med tax area. Log or timber frame house with high ceilings-1 story with 3 bedroom and 2-1/2 baths and loft. open floor plan with lg. living,dining,& kitchen. screened porch back or side or sunroom and open front porch wt. swing- wood floors and natural stone fireplace. environmentally friendly- geo thermal heat & cooling-large thermal windows-tankless h.w. heater-walk-in showers-plenty storage and large closets. Very high insulation value in walls and ceiling-inside walls to be wood-flat outside walls to be log or 1/2 log siding with plenty insulation. Exposed beams with 2x6 T&G above. Metal roof. The kitchen to have commercial gas 6 burner cook-top, double oven 30" , Lg. ref and separate freezer, dishwasher drawers, ice machine, lg. island also designed for eating and granite counter tops, farmhouse sink. Ceiling fans in every room and porches. I think the smoky mountains of Tennessee are especially nice. But the rockies are also very nice. Also an outdoor kitchen and fireplace would be nice.I would like to say the 2007 is a very nice house and someone is going to be very lucky.

2008 Blog cabin should be in North Carolina. Definately on a lake with a boat/fishing dock and ramp, huge back deck partially screened and a front porch. There should be an outside grill and fire place made from stone found in the area and a hot tub. Inside should have a huge kitchen with pantry,master bedroom with large closets and a bathroom with a big window to enjoy the view while relaxing in the tub(with curtains for when you need privacy). There should be a great room looking out on to the lake. It would be great for it to be all on one level with two extra bed rooms,maybe a workoutroom with a craft area...don't forget the laundry and garage....tons of storage.
I am enjoying Blog Cabin 2007 AND CANNOT WAIT FOR 2008'S CABIN.

Lakeside would be great with a boat dock!!

Wrote a blog about the cabin several days ago & I'm inquiring as to how long it takes to get it approved & posted? (In 1973, I helped build a log cabin the old fashion way cutting down trees for the logs, skinning the bark & notching the logs. Used 2 mules with ropes to pull the logs up 2 runners as we built up the outside walls)Thanks, Michael Bolt

Good Sunday morn to all!!!

I would LOVE to see next year's blog cabin in beautiful Brown County, Indiana.

Brown County is notorious for its gorgeous landscape. It is a wonderful area to vacation and for that matter live year around. In the fall it's as if you are looking at a awe-inspiring peace of artwork, with the trees brushed with the stunning colors that only fall has. Waking up in the winter with a heavenly blanket of new fallen snow on the trees is breathtaking. Brown County is the perfect setting for next year's Blog Cabin that can offer the whole package for next year's winner.

Nashville also has a fascinating downtown area consisting of an amazing art colony, impressive shoppes and charming restaurants. There also is interesting and exhilarating outdoor recreation with Brown County State Park, within 2 miles of Nashville.

In such an inspiring setting, next year's blog cabin could be nothing other than "green". The entire concept of a cabin is to get back to nature, what better way than to build it "green"?

Having the cabin on the edge of a lake would be the ideal setting. Imagine fishing and canoeing while looking at your magnificent cabin from the water. A small dock would be the perfect addition to this particular idea.

A private area that would of course contain an outdoor spa would be a necessity! The spa should have its own deck area, overlooking the lake would be fantastic. I would also add a mud room/changing area for people coming in from the lake and or spa. I would also retain the idea of this year's outdoor fireplace (which is just perfect), but also add an area for outdoor cooking as well. Some type of outbuilding would also be beneficial for storage of your outdoor equipment.

I would like to see more cabinlike features in the 2008 Blog Cabin, such as using things like wagon wheels (things of that nature) for lighting fixtures, etc.

I feel that the living room area for next year's design should be a little larger than this years and of course, without being said, retain the fireplace. An area for a "tucked away" home theatre system would be a nice addition as well. You could do this using features to hide the system away or creating an area devoted to home theatre. With this system, I would also add the option for hidden speakers throughout the entire cabin.

I like the flow that this year's cabin has to the kitchen area. Great for visiting while carrying out your duties in the kitchen area.

Bedrooms, 3 is the perfect number. Don't change a thing with the number. However, making the master suite along with th