The House Plan Shop Blog

Whether you are thinking about building a permanent residence or a cozy wooded getaway, your mind might easily drift to a log home or cabin. So why do we like them so much? Before you build your new home or your weekend retreat, consider the following reasons why people like log homes. Who knows, you might just decide to build one yourself.

Natural Beauty: Having a natural look, log homes and cabins offer a sense or calmness and peace, counterbalancing our busy lifestyles.

Blend with Nature: A log exterior complemented with stone accents helps the home blend with its natural surroundings while removing us from the hustle and bustle of suburban living. There is something about a rustic look that makes us feel like we are a million miles from civilization. Furthermore, designs with large decks and covered porches encourage us to take in panoramic views and submerge ourselves in the sights and sounds of nature.

Simplicity: Cabins and log homes are designed with simple style and few details. Usually, the exterior is not complicated lending to low maintenance and simple yet stylish street appeal. These homes look good, yet require little effort and upkeep on our part.

Open Spaces: A log home designed with exposed beams, vaulted ceilings, large windows and an open floor plan inside delivers an easy and relaxed lifestyle. With few walls and sweeping views we feel a sense of spaciousness instead of that confined feeling we often have in a traditional home.

Comfort: Nothing says comfort like a big stone chimney outside and a toasty hearth inside. It is easy to imagine ourselves relaxing in front of the fireplace with our kids and other loved ones sharing snacks and a movie on a wintry night.

Tags: cabins, log home features, log home plans

Are you looking for a weekend getaway that is as cozy as a cabin and as accommodating as a vacation home and has plenty of storage for all of your recreational vehicles and water toys? A carriage house is the answer. Perfect for your wooded lot or near your favorite lake, a carriage house can accommodate all of your needs. Generally two levels, the first floor offers a garage with lots of room for storage. Park the car or truck, ATVs and dirt bikes inside. You will also find it is easy to store a canoe, a couple of kayaks or the kids’ bikes. Garages with deep bays easily accommodate a boat. There are plenty of designs to choose from offering storage for one or more cars and providing more than enough room for all of the things you love. Some carriage houses even provide storage areas ideal for fishing poles, tackle boxes, life jackets and hunting gear, pleasing the outdoorsman in your family.  

Just right for long weekends with the kids or your neighbors, fishing with your pals or just getting away from it all, the living quarters of a carriage house offer all comforts of home in a compact floor plan. Typically, the living areas are situated on the second floor and are easily accessed from interior or exterior stairs. In most cases, the floor plan is open combining an efficient kitchen with the dining and gathering areas. Accommodations provide one or more bedrooms and baths. Some floor plans even provide a pantry, walk-in closets in the bedrooms and room for a washer/dryer unit. Occasionally, special extras are included like a private master bath, raised or vaulted ceilings and a fireplace.

Though modest in size and design, a carriage house is just right for your home away from home.

Tags: cabins, Carriage House Plans, vacation homes