Decorating

Anyone who has ever built a new home can tell you that the demands of the design and building processes can easily result in décor planning taking an unfortunate back seat.  In an effort to ensure that your new log home is as cozy on the inside as it is impressive everywhere else, we’ve assembled the following information, courtesy of Log Home Living, to assist you with your decorating strategy.

Decorating Your New Log Home

Most people have some idea of the style they want for their log home long before they've finished construction, or sometimes even before ground is broken. No matter whether you're partial to rustic style, country, Western, Victorian or something more eclectic, you'll find that log homes lend themselves to just about any style of décor. 

As you begin to decorate your new log home or redecorate an existing log home, keep in mind the decorating basics of size, balance and proportion. This will be important, especially if your new rooms are larger than those in your former home or the ceilings are higher. Large spaces can overwhelm spindly pieces of furniture and cathedral ceilings look best when balanced with furniture or accessories that have some height of their own. 

Think about space when decorating and furnishing your home's smaller spaces, too. Although it may run counter to common sense, smaller rooms generally look better with a small number of larger pieces, rather than a large assortment of smaller pieces. 

During the design process is also the time to give some thought to built-in furniture. These pieces can help eliminate the need to purchase dressers or bookshelves and can help use every inch of space in the home to the fullest. Talk to your builder about what's possible in your new home. 

Your home's log walls will make your interior look very different from a conventional home. While wood tones make a wonderful backdrop for many colors, you may wish to live in your home for a while before choosing colors for your furniture and non-log walls. The stain or finish you use on your logs may change their color, and the pattern of sunlight in one room may make the logs appear to be a slightly different hue than those in another room. Before they begin construction on their homes, some people tote around a raw piece of log supplied by their log producer to help them match furniture and paint colors. Unfortunately, if they expect their home's walls to remain the same blond look of untreated wood, they may be disappointed when the home is complete. 

Wood walls also have their own unique texture and pattern, especially log walls that are accented by contrasting lines of chinking. Before you choose upholstery fabrics, bring swatches home to view them against the backdrop of your log walls. You may change your mind about certain patterns or textures, whether you prefer shiny fabrics or those with matte textures, when you see them inside your log home. 

Part of the reason you want a log home is probably that you love the look of wood. But remember that not every wall in your home has to be log. As you look at photos of other log homes, pay attention to the rooms that appeal to you and take note of any drywall, wall coverings or special paint effects. 

Are you planning an open floor plan for your log home? Think about what that means in terms of finishes and furnishings. Will you be able to see both your living room fireplace and your kitchen countertops in the same view? Will your kitchen cabinets complement the furniture in your great room? You'll need to think about what spaces are adjacent to each other as you select cabinets, countertops, fireplace materials, flooring, paint colors and furnishings. 

Your best bet may be to live in your home for several months before creating its look. You can gradually replace furniture that doesn't quite fulfill your needs and add color and accessories where you need them. If your heart is set on a completely decorated home from day one, or you're in need of decorating help, seek out a design professional. Interior designers can help you create a pulled-together look that mirrors your lifestyle and prevent you from making costly mistakes as you decorate your home. 

The one area of décor that can't wait for your decisions to be made is lighting. You need to plan for lighting as you design your home. Consider that an open floor plan may place your seating area in the middle of a large great room. Will you need floor outlets to plug in table or floor lamps? Hanging fixtures, particularly those in rooms with cathedral ceilings, must be wired as the home is being constructed. Even if you can't decide on the perfect dining room chandelier, you should decide where it will hang. While you're designing your home, give some thought to outdoor lighting, too, so that those fixtures can be wired during construction.

As you consider lighting, remember that wood tends to absorb light, rather than reflect it. Adding some drywall to a room, either on the walls or ceiling, will make the room appear lighter. You might consider adding plenty of windows to your design. And you should provide for both ambient, overall lighting and task lighting in each room. 

Like furnishings, the light fixtures you eventually select should match the volume of your rooms. A too-small chandelier in your two-story entry will look out of place. So will a chandelier that dwarfs your dining room table. Ask a design professional or an expert at a lighting center for help in choosing appropriately sized fixtures.

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Landscaping Your Log Home

The landscape of your home goes deeper than the roots of your plants. Proper drainage is essential to your landscape. Before you even begin to think about plants and flowers, your site will need to be graded for good drainage. Surfaces like driveways, patios and walkways should also slope away from your home to keep rainwater from running off into your foundation. 

You'll need to handle rainwater on your site through downspouts that correctly funnel water away from your home. 

In some areas, irrigation is a concern. If you live in one of these areas, you'll need to plan ahead for a system that waters your lawn and landscape, or use xeriscaping, a landscape system that employs plants with lower demands for water and fertilizer. 

From the Ground Up 

Once you've dealt with water issues, it's time to consider your soil. Soil tests will help determine the acidity of the soil in your area, which will affect your choice of plants. 

Before you sod or seed your new lawn, your soil should be well-prepared. First, weeds should be eliminated and poor soils should be amended with organic materials. Construction debris should not be buried under your lawn. 

For more information on soil testing, contact your local cooperative extension or nursery. Good soil will help you keep your landscaping healthy and good looking.

The Planning Stage

Your landscape will be a labor of love for many years--don't shortchange it right from the start by not creating a comprehensive landscape plan. Especially when you're facing a raw site and a new home, it's worthwhile to spend a few hours with a landscape designer when your home is at the drawings stage. The costs of plants and trees can add up quickly: A landscape professional will keep you from wasting money on haphazard plantings. Ideally, you'll find a landscape designer who has experience with log homes. Often, log homes have a rustic look that benefits from an informal type of landscaping. 

Define your needs for your landscaping so that you can discuss them with your landscape designer. Do you want to plant a vegetable garden? Keep livestock? Entertain formally or informally? Build a swing set? How much time do you want to spend on yard work? 

You may also want to talk with a tree professional about the trees on your site. He or she can assess the current health of the trees on your site and give you advice on preserving trees during the construction process. 

At the very least, you should have a site survey drawn to give you an accurate picture of your home's surroundings. The site survey should show:
* The property lines
* Any improvements to the site, such as driveways, fences, sheds or other buildings
* Utility poles, meters and utility lines, both above and below ground
* Compass directions
* Footprint of house, with location of windows, doors and downspouts
* Directions of favorable and unfavorable views
* Path of sun and prevailing winds
* Trees or plantings you would like to preserve

With the help of your site plan, you can begin to envision how your landscaping will look, where you'd like to plant trees for privacy, shade or protection from the wind, and where you'll want to build walkways, fences or other landscape features. Keep in mind that trees need to stay clear of utility lines, and plants will need good light, soil and space to flourish. 

In our age of instant rewards, remember that a landscape takes years to mature. Your landscape is a long-term investment that will reward you with new growth each year. 

Plantings

Landscaping can be categorized into two areas: softscape and hardscape. The softscape comprises trees, plants, ground cover and flowers. Hardscaping refers to structures and features such as walls, pathways, pools and ponds. 

When selecting softscape materials, your landscape designer will consider your geographical region and the conditions of your site. The placement of plantings is crucial--those planted too close to your home or foundation may block windows, interfere with roof gutters or disrupt foundation walls as the plants grow. To decrease cleanup hassles, you'll probably want to keep fruit- or flower-bearing trees away from pools, decks, patios, driveways and walks. 

Make sure you understand the growth habits of the trees and shrubs you select. How should they be maintained? Will you need to prune or fertilize them over their lifespan? 

Keep in mind that flowers are fleeting, with their blooms generally lasting just a few weeks. The texture and color of leaves and bark will affect the look of your landscaping year round. 

Hardscape

Your home's hardscaping will benefit from a comprehensive plan, too. Many structures, especially those made of stone or those that require excavation, are expensive to install, so getting them right the first time is essential. 

A wide variety of fence styles are available. In some developments, you may be required to install a certain style, or be forbidden from building fences at all. Your fence's function, whether it's to protect a swimming pool, corral horses or screen an unpleasant view, will affect its style. 

Water features add interest to landscape. From pools to ponds to simple birdbaths, the water features you choose will have varying ranges of maintenance requirements and expense. Make sure you understand these requirements before building a water feature in your yard.

Don't forget about lighting as you plan your landscape. Exterior lighting offers added security and visual interest to your home. New low-voltage systems and an increasing variety of lighting styles can bring versatility and beauty to your outdoor areas at night. 

Finally, consider the presence of wildlife on your site. Many log homes are built in rural areas that are also home to deer, raccoons, rabbits and other animals. In some regions, water features can attract snakes and other reptiles. You'll need to keep these animals in mind as you plan gardens and structures that will contain your garbage cans.

Find interior designers at our Log Home Directory

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This Buyer's Guide is brought to you by: Powder River Log Homes

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