Log Cabin Home - Alterations to House Plans

Once we had decided to build a log cabin and call it home, we had to start working on exterior styles, floor plans, and finding the best architect for the job.

I found a house style on Architectural Designs - Floor Plans and quickly discovered that any house plan could be converted into a log house plan.

We couldn’t, however, use the plans available for purchase (great prices too by the way) as our building codes are different here in Canada. However, if you live in the United States, their plans are certainly the best to be found, fast to be printed and delivered, and their website is perfect for determining the style, square footage, and layout of your new home. (Hint: Use the “Refine Your Search” feature on the right hand of every page.)

Log Cabin Home Plans

I was told that I could not build in rural Ontario without professional, architectural plans (even though I know for a fact it is being done by other builders). This is a moot point really - we are undertaking a huge task with many complicated angles and really need an expert on our side anyway.

We found the best Architect in Ontario (according to many people I chatted with) right in my own home town, and he turned out to be one of the top twenty most endearing men I’ve ever done business with! I know for a fact that our architect pushed our job forward just a smidge, by working late at night and on the weekends to get it done.

The custom log house plans we co-created are a small and relatively simple job for our architect (versus some of the large custom homes he usually drafts), we already had a plan in mind, and we were as easy to work with as we could manage (I have some very quirky ideals that I won’t budge on when it comes to home layouts).

He accommodated all our desires and quirks. Just a month after our first meeting, and only one set of revisions, we received the final plans to our new log home.

Our Log Home Architect

Our Architect’s name in Larry Haight and his company is CompuDraft, located in Bancroft Ontario. Seriously gifted in his profession.

Larry took my ideas, likes and dislikes and completely blended them into a pretty little house using a few of his own interesting twists.

Not to mention the fact that I don’t ’see’ the “What’s it like to live in?” by gazing at floor plans on paper. Larry Haight was quick to visually describe each room, nook, and view, with patience and grace.

• He told me what the house would like like at night from the outside.
• He described the first glance after walking in the front door and coats were removed.
• He walked me through each room discussing cooking, laundry, and even coming in with groceries on a wintery day.

It’s important to note here - especially if you’ve never built a home - that the architect is the secret sauce to home building success. The rest is up to us, to see how well we can live up to the plans he has created for us.