You got your choice; at long last, you are to construct that log home. Not just any log home, but that wonderful creation you have held on your mind's eye for several years.
You've walked on those hard wood floors, gazed out from behind those large picture glass windows, prepared dinner, curled up in front of your fireplace, as well as slept in that exceptional house - making use of that vibrant thoughts of yours. Oh yeah, you have been fantasizing about your log home for years, and you've ultimately made the decision to make your dream into reality.
Got land? Before investing a lot of time browsing floor plan possibilities, you have to know exactly where that house will be constructed. Not all flooring strategy styles are suited for all home constructions. For example, a walk-out basement usually demands a house becoming constructed over a slope or recessed into a hillside. Furthermore, some plans are created to take benefit from the home's area relative to sunlight so even should you customize your home, you'll wish to know exactly where and how your house will be positioned. As soon as you have that concept of exactly where each piece of log will be stacked it is time to determine what that stack requirements are.
Now the excitement starts, and also the very first step would be to select the perfect floor plan that's the same as the home you've pictured in your mind's eye - as well as the land on which it will probably be constructed. Odds are you will most likely not open a mag by opportunity and stumble upon a floor plan which has occupied your dreams all these many years. Selecting a strategy and refining the style to meet your requirements will need some study, self-introspection and innovative ideas.
By and large, practically any home floor plan can be used to a log home, however there are significant distinctions as well as factors that ought to be met. For instance is the room proportions as they relate to the diameter of the logs you will be using. A custom made hand-crafted home made from 20" diameter logs will have a distinct footprint than one requiring 6" milled logs. If it is the first time you will be working with a log home manufacturer or architect, make sure you are comparing 'apples to apples' when discussing interior dimensions. If you want a room to be 14' wide, make certain that your designer knows that you want the interior of the room to have 14' of open clearance and never measured from the middle of the corresponding logs. Making use of the example above, your 14' room could shrink to 12' if such presumptions aren't understood.
A floor plan is about space deployment, or even more specifically, the area you desire (or need) for family members, visitors, house animals, entertaining and basic household operations (i.e. cooking, dining, laundry, storage, etc.). Moreover, you can easily overlook space requirements for a lot of things we ignore for example hobbies, displaying collections along with other family activities. Make an effort to anticipate as much of your family's needs as possible and expand your floor plan to accommodate your needs.
Once you've determined this all-encompassing 'wish list' you will likely end up over budget. If cash is no object - not a problem, however, if that Lotto jackpot has to date eluded you, you will find steps you can take to bring that budget back in line. The most obvious and often least expensive way of doubling your floor space is to make use of the basement. An adequately crafted and completed basement may be the ideal place to have a spare guest bedroom, home entertainment, hobby or play rooms, extra bathroom(s), laundry facilities or perhaps a home business office.
Browse the most famous floor plans from major manufacturers! One of the most effective advice on utilizing a basement for more living space would be to raise the ceiling. Adding an additional foot (or more) in the height of one's basement ceiling far less costly compared to adding an additional floor or expanding the overall floor plan, and the added height will eliminate that closed-in feeling you get with so many basements.
Adding or increasing the size of dormers is yet another method of taking space from your second story or loft that is framed by a sloping roof line. You will be surprised how a well-positioned dormer can make a small loft appear bigger and provide vertical walls to accept seating, bookcases or tables that usually will not work with a conventional knee wall.
It can also be smart to keep a summary of stuff that you do not like; things you might have noticed in a mag or noted when visiting other LOG HOMES. Some of the most frequent complaints one hears about LOG HOMES, especially older models, is the lack of storage space and small closets or bathrooms. This is most often the result of poor planning or not taking into consideration the diameter of log walls and the lack of attics in most LOG HOMES. Refer to your list when discussing details with your designer and remember that in many instances you can't build a closet or a bathroom that's too big.
These are merely several ideas which can help you select and refine a floor plan to suit your lifestyle and have capacity for your family's needs. Your log home company or architect will have many ideas that you may not have considered so encourage them to offer suggestions. Explain what you are trying to achieve and let their experience and knowledge guide you, but in the end, this is your floor plan.
Helping individuals design the log home of their dreams was the inspiration behind the Log Home Directory's "Floor Plan Showcase". Visitors will have a chance to browse as much as 10 floor plans form each showcased log home manufacturer without having to visit lots of various internet sites. These top manufacturers exhibit their hottest floor plans along with information, images or renderings as well as links to additional information on their individual websites.
