If you’re a regular at this site you’ll already know that we have suffered through a devastating house fire and are planning for a re-build on our existing farm land.

There are many reasons why we decided to build a log home to replace our existing farmhouse. Here are a few:

• Eric has always loved log homes – having grown up in the one his father built.
• If you are handy, careful, and willing to ask for help from the professionals, you’ll end up with an energy efficient home at considerably less of the cost and time to construct of a non-log home.
• Fewer steps (framing, insulating, siding, drywalling) in the build means the walls go up faster – which means that you can start living in it sooner!
• We live in an area where logs are plentiful and we have a very good friend at the largest mill in our region.
• Our land suits a log home – having once been a Christmas tree farm it is nestled within many acres of tall pines.
• Resale value, should we ever choose to sell, will be higher – given current market trends.

What We’ve Done to Date

• Decided on square footage.
• Drafted up a preliminary floor plan.
• Picked an exterior ‘look’.
• Secured a mill estimate to include logs, interior framing, siding for the gable ends, and dormer construction.
• Decided on placement on our land.
• Met with an architect (if you’re building yourself you will want to have architectural plans to follow – more on architects in a future post).

Next Steps in Building A Log Home

• Finalize with architect.
• Firm up costs with mill and place order.
• Obtain building permit(s).
• Excavate basement, septic and perhaps a driveway reconstruction.
• Order blocks and concrete as well as in-floor heating necessities.

Building A Log Home – Timeline

• Architect 4-6 weeks.
• Mill 4-6 weeks.
• Excavation 2 weeks notice minimum.

p.s. One of my biggest hurdles in deciding on a floor plan for our new home was visualizing the layout as a living space. The next challenge was visualizes the gardens and landscaping (due next year). The service below was helpful and only set me back a few dollars. Now I know precisely how the log home will ‘feel’ to live in.

I’ve been scouring the internet looking for cool decorating ideas for our log home. Since decorating is one of my favorite ways to pass a few hours, I’ll be collecting and sharing these resources with you every week.

Likely one of the largest trends – and a great way to make a statement in your log cabin or house – are the antler items. Some are created with real antlers, while others are faux (made from injection molds of actual deer, elk or moose antlers).

You can find antler accessories in just about every element of your home today. From chandeliers to candy dishes. From kitchen cabinet handles to candle holders. Mirrors, picture frames, tables. Get a taste of what these will look like in your home by viewing rooms decorated in this style, through the links below.

Here is a list of a few different sites that carry antler accessories, and my own personal wish list:

• Antler Coffee Tables
• Antler Chandelier – all sizes
• Large Antler Chandelier
• Antler Cabinet Hardware
• Great Cabin Cabinetry
• Antler Cabinet Hardware

We live in a tiny hamlet, down a back road in Ontario. We do not have a fire department. Here, if your house catches fire, you either put it out yourself or you stand back and watch it burn.

Our family couldn’t put the house fire out. By the time we awoke the house was full of smoke. In two minutes, the floorboards were on fire. In six minutes, we couldn’t go in anymore to grab our belongings. I’m just guessing at the duration of minutes. It’s hard to say, when you’re watching your life go up in smoke, how long things really take.

The steps we took after our house fire may be different from yours. I’m not giving advice here, merely stating our own actions and path to recovery. I’m writing this because I could find no concrete or sincere help online. I do hope this helps my readers in some small way. Continue Reading »

We recently suffered a house fire.

It was absolute devastation.

The village we live in does not have a fire department. The entire house burned down – right to the foundation.

Being an online type of girl, after the shock of losing everything, I wondered if there was a good resource for people who had experienced the same – but who weren’t sure what their next steps might be…

I surfed around, and found little. Certainly nothing worth a bookmark or mention. Nothing that had been written with any compassion – and people like you and I (those of us who have been through a house fire) need a lot of compassion.

First of all, please allow me to say this, “I am so sorry for your loss. Really.”

Whatever you lost in the house fire, is a tragic loss. A loss that you will have to find a way to move past in the coming years.

I personally only suffered one casualty in our house fire. Continue Reading »