Kitchen Know-How by Wisconsin Log Homes

Designing your kitchen to accommodate your lifestyle will result in an efficient kitchen that makes entertaining and multi-tasking easy. Here are a few things to consider when planning the room where great memories and recipes will be prepared…

Multiple Workstations
A kitchen can be broken down into several zones: baking, cooking, serving, casual or formal dining, wet bar, storage and clean-up. If you like to entertain, wide aisles and dual sinks allow for more than one cook as well as banquet-style serving. Close proximity to both the dining and great room means the cook can enjoy the company of family and guests. Remember, your kitchen should be equally comfortable whether you’re entertaining large groups, or dining solo.


Tasteful Tops
Varied heights, colors and textures of counter tops adds dimension to your kitchen and will help separate work and serving areas. In a recent project, the homeowner chose natural stone slabs, deliberately selected based on its location and size so the several large red streaks would be visible - softly suggesting an accent color that is seen in varying strengths throughout the home. A hand rubbed bar top finish on the wood surfaces emphasizes the craftsmanship and durability that wood can offer in the kitchen when properly installed and finished.


Cabinets & Storage
Selecting the right cabinetry ranks right up there with choosing fine furniture. Look for solid, customizable brands, and flawless finishes. Even the most rustic cabinets can still have a sense of sophistication with a raised panel design or deep, warm finish. Wisconsin Log Homes’ in-house cabinetry design services allow clients to view both floor plan drawings as well as three-dimensional colored renderings to virtually understand what their cabinets will look like before it’s too late.

Be sure to count and measure all your well loved and regularly used countertop appliances so their storage needs can be incorporated into the design. Not only will they end up having their own space, but you can design extra outlets in all the right places so they can be used with ease. True happiness often lies in hidden details such as spice racks, tray dividers and roll-out drawers.

Kitchen Colors
Ever wonder why fast-food restaurants are often brightly colored and cold? They want you to come hungry and move out fast. Color theory plays a strong role in designing a pleasing kitchen. Warm, neutral colors keep the walls soothing and accent colors can be found in counter tops, lighting and accent walls in adjacent rooms.

To learn more about designing and decorating kitchens or other areas of your home, log on to Wisconsin Log Homes website or e-mail our resident Interior Deisgner, Stephanie, at info@wisconsinloghomes.com.

Outdoor Living Spaces by Wisconsin Log Homes

Increasingly popular, outdoor living spaces can offer additional usable exterior square footage, protection from the heat, cold and precipitation, and even help manage heating and cooling on the interior of your home. And of course, they are a natural fit for rustic homes, typically blending the architecture of the home with natural elements and the topography of the lot.

The choices available today can seem overwhelming, however, by narrowing them down and really designing these spaces to tailor your needs and location will result in spaces that are individualized and efficient.

While in the design phase of your home, consider whether these spaces will be incorporated during the build, or at a later date. Share your ideas with your designer, builder, landscaper and electrician, etc. Many of these spaces are developed over a period of time, but by “roughing in” water, electricity and covered and/or roofed areas early, you can save time and money over the long haul and stay on the designed plan.

So how do you know what’s right for your home? Think budget, demographics and your got-to-have wish lists. Many outdoor living spaces combine various elements together, and may be both public and private spaces, much like the interior of your home. Consider your favorite vacation spots and family get-together memories, and for sure you will end up with a space that’s true to your lifestyle. A space that looks good that you don’t use is really just a waste of money, so take some time here and think.

Decks:
Decks are typically the least expensive way to extend your outdoor living spaces. They can be made of wood, vinyl, and the current trend, composite decking. Composite decking often contains a 50/50 balance of recycled wood products and synthetic materials and does not require re-staining and is slip resistant.

Can’t live without wood? Pressure-treated lumber is the least expensive and can be stained nearly any color. Other popular wood choices include cedar, redwood and sometimes cypress.

On decks, deep overhangs can provide some shade, and also assist with passive solar gain/loss on interior rooms. Multi levels, built-in seating and planters are all excellent ways to build some architecture into these flat uncovered spaces and designate areas for relaxing, cooking and dining. Enter the deck through both public and private rooms via French or sliding glass doors as well as from the yard beyond.

Patios:
These hardscape areas are often floored with stamped, colored and textured concrete, pavers, brick, natural stone and even mulch and pea gravel. They can be married to retaining walls, water features like fountains and small ponds, fireplaces and pits. Hedges, trees and potted plants make excellent natural dividers, and multi levels that flow with the grade of your lot are the epitome of natural landscaping. Landscape lighting is crucial here, adding drama and ambiance, as well as a safe guided path over uneven surfaces.

Porches:
Who can resist the romance of relaxing on a covered porch? This high priority must-have is essentially a covered deck or balcony. They act as effective sun, wind and precipitation barriers depending on factors such as sun orientation, adjacent open fields or water versus treed areas. In cooler climates, a west and south facing porch will warm in the winter months, but may be too hot in the summer ones. In warmer climates, a north-facing porch has a cooling effect on its occupants.

Three Season Rooms:
These rooms are essentially part of the home and are completely covered with windows and/or screens. These spaces are so versatile and can be used for cooking, dining, relaxing, or even sleeping. They provide insect and animal protection and increased privacy. Keep in mind that those welcoming wide windows can seem like a black abyss at night, so also consider flexible window coverings like shades or blinds in natural, weather resistant materials. Add a ceiling fan for air circulation and don’t forget lighting.

Gazebos, Pergolas and Loggias.
These covered and semi-covered spaces add architecture and delineate a specific task. A loggia is a semi-covered passage way between one space and another. They are usually framed out in wood or metal, and lush greenery and florals make the stroll a true experience. A wooden pergola offers filtered shade and the ceiling slats can be angled to either maximize or minimize morning or afternoon sun. Plan for when you will use the space the most. Gazebos can be free-standing or attached via loggia or directly to the house. These are excellent areas for popular outdoor kitchens and spas.

Outdoor Kitchens:
Cooking and dining al fresco is hot-hot-hot today! Whether it be a full working kitchen with cook tops, coolers, grills and sinks to simple grilling and prep stations, outdoor kitchens can add a lot of value and versatility to your home. Fantastic for entertaining, they keep traffic and people out of the home in a pleasing environment. Design a public half bath accessible from this space and the backyard barbecue or reception is literally self-serving.

Furnishings, greenery, sound and ambiance should not be neglected here. Without these, your space may feel cold, unwelcoming, and even uncomfortable.

Furnishings:
Keep it comfortable and practical. Outdoor fabrics that are fade and weather resistant are ideal for covered or semi-covered areas. This is a great way to add color and softness to otherwise hard surfaces. Don’t forget occasional and coffee tables in wood or iron. A watertight trunk or storage bench-type seating can house warm blankets for chilly nights or a good book or two. Keep in mind that lighter weight umbrellas, tables and chairs can get caught up in the wind and blow into the side of your home or get damaged. Sling back chairs and loungers work great on uncovered spaces, dry quickly and have no cushions to store and set up. Wood furniture is a viable choice, but may need to be re-stained or painted from time to time. Place furniture carefully, making sure there are ample walkways and clearance to doors and stairs.

Greenery:
Plant life, whether live or faux is the perfect outdoor accessory. Urns, planters and rock gardens can set the style of the space, and act as dividers. Carefully planned plant life like citronella grass, basil, tansy and black cohosh can effectively manage pests while adding fresh oxygen and life to your outdoor spaces. A potted herb garden is a great conversation piece, and if near the kitchen can be quite handy.

Sound and Power:
Don’t forget the speakers! Exterior sound systems play an important role in the whole outdoor living lifestyle. They carry the experience away from the main home, and can set either a romantic or party mode. Add outdoor electrical outlets to plug in outdoor appliances, portable outdoor lamps, and even your laptop computer. Take the home office outdoors for the day and really create a fresh outlook on working at home.

Ambiance:
Ah, the crackle of the fire or a candlelit path to the lake…these are the heart of outdoor living spaces. Whether your style calls for a fireplace, fire pit, portable chiminea, or all three, a warm fire just feels like home. Fire offers sound, heat, color, drama, fragrance and light to outdoor spaces. Plant-life, candles, even lanterns and torches provide scents and soothing sounds. Tea-light chandeliers and string lights add a festive or romantic flair. Outdoor rugs create mini rooms and fabric panels in warmer climates whisper softly to linger longer. Without these added touches, an outdoor living space seems impersonal.

Have questions regarding your outdoor living space or other log and timber home design needs? Log on to Wisconsin Log Homes website or e-mail our resident interior designer, Stephanie, at sgauthier@wislog.com.

How an Interior Designer Can Help by Wisconsin Log Homes

Designing and building a custom hybrid home opens the door to many design possibilities that other rustic building styles do not always offer. With so many choices available, it is sometimes overwhelming for homeowners to make comfortable decisions and stay on top of the building process. One of the services that Wisconsin Log Homes offers is in-house interior design services and products, wrapping up the ultimate design & build experience.

At Wisconsin Log Homes, working with an interior designer does not stop inside the home. Working with each client from the preliminary planning stage to completion, we are able to assist with exterior finish selections like stain, window cladding, hardware and roof colors.

In addition to assisting with coordinating package components, Wisconsin Log Homes also designs a furniture layout customized for each home plan so clients can get a better sense of proportion to their home plan on paper, and to make sure each room will live up to its expectations before the home is built.

Important facets of deliberate space planning include furniture and lighting placement (including must-have floor and mantel outlets), walkways around furniture, islands and posts, and even where to place treasured pieces that many homeowners plan to incorporate from their existing home.

Beyond taking space planning to the next level, Wisconsin Log Homes has access to a vast array of interior goods like furniture, cabinetry, decorative lighting and accessories.
An extensive resource library, both from catalog and online sources make finding that unique look almost effortless on the homeowner’s end. And if a truly custom piece cannot be found, or is requested, it can often be made right along side the new home.

Complete consultative services include full-circle interior design assistance with paint and finish colors, flooring, cabinetry, masonry selection, doors, and even help on move-in day.

Homeowners are encouraged to continue their design process even after they move in. As the needs of you and your home change, designs in good taste are a continual evolution of who you are. Homeowners coming back to Wisconsin Log Homes to pursue their ongoing design plans is a great way for us to stay connected with our clients, letting them know that we care about their comfort level and satisfaction for as long as they own their home.

For Wisconsin Log Homes Interior Design Guide, Click Here.

Geothermal Systems by David Janczak (Founder/Owner of Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc)

Since Wisconsin Log Homes’ focus has always been on energy-efficiency, it’s very important to us that each of our homes are heated and cooled in the most efficient, economical way possible. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal systems are “the most energy-efficient, environmentally clean, and cost-effective space conditioning systems available today.” Geothermal is 3 – 5 times as efficient as the most efficient fossil fuel furnace.

Extremely high levels of efficiency are possible because a geothermal heat pump only uses electricity to move heat, not produce it. A geothermal system supplies 4-5 kilowatts of heat for every kilowatt of electricity used. 3-4 of these kilowatts of heat come directly from the earth, meaning that they are naturally clean, renewable, and best of all - free.

Geothermal heat pumps also take advantage of the mild ground temperature for high efficiency cooling. The earth has the ability to absorb and store heat energy. To use that stored energy, heat is extracted from the earth through a liquid medium (either water or anti-freeze solution) and is pumped to the heat pump heat exchanger, where the heat is used to heat your home. In summer, the process is reversed and indoor heat is extracted from your home and transferred to the earth through the liquid. Most systems also include a hot water generator, which diverts a portion of the supplied heat to the domestic water heater. This provides a substantial portion of a family’s hot water needs at a very low cost. So essentially, geothermal systems transfer heat from your home to the earth in the cooling mode, and from the earth to your home in the heating mode.

A geothermal system installed in an already efficient Wisconsin Log Home will substantially reduce heating and cooling costs for years to come. So even though you are spending a little more upfront, you’ll be saving money before you know it. Payback for most geothermal systems run about three to five years. Some states also offer tax credits for installing this system, check with your local utility company for details.

For more information about geothermal, go to http://www.geoexchange.org/, or contact Wisconsin Log Homes today to talk with our independent geothermal specialist.

Log Homes in Harmony with Nature by Kathy Janczak (Co-founder/Owner of Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc)

We periodically hear concerns from people about the trees Wisconsin Log Homes uses and how we harvest our logs in harmony with nature. I’d like to share a few personal reasons why this subject is very dear to me and Dave. I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin and learned to live with the land and nature in my early years. As a family, we tried to rely exclusively on gardening, farming and the land for most of our needs. Our heat was generated from the dead trees we cut on our land. We grew and canned all of our own vegetables and fruits. All of our milk products came from our dairy herd, and our meat was also home grown or from hunting and fishing.

Dave’s dad and grandfather owned a 1200-acre pine plantation in Wisconsin; early on he recognized trees as a crop – with a long growing cycle. He also learned the importance and responsibility of managing – planting, growing, and harvesting – a forest. Both of us have a deep appreciation for nature because it sustained our livelihood, and we’ve always taught our family to value and enjoy the earth’s natural resources.

Today, it’s important for everyone to know that Wisconsin Log Homes takes proper forest management very seriously. The log and timber suppliers we partner with follow conscientious harvesting and reforesting practices, ensuring a continuous supply of quality trees. Innovative, ecologically sound silviculture programs have been implemented to replant and maintain harvested areas, planting about three trees for every one harvested. The latest technologies in road building and harvesting are used to ensure that the environment is impacted minimally.
We believe that it is possible to live in harmony with nature by using our natural resources properly. You can be sure that by building a Wisconsin Log Home, you will be respecting and honoring the environment.

Costs Last Forever by David Janczak (Founder/Owner of Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc)

Like most of us, I learned at an early age that ‘you get what you pay for.’ I remember trying to save a few bucks on my first car; it sure looked good, but it spent most of its time in the mechanic shop getting repaired. After having it fixed and putting more and more money into it, I probably could have just bought a brand new car and not had all the headaches and repair costs.

It’s a given that most people will “shop” companies and talk about price ranges before choosing a log or timber home company. I encourage people to do this, but it’s very important to keep in mind that each company is very different in the products and services they provide. Actually, each company is very different, period.

A home is an investment. It’s something that will be with you for a lifetime to come, or something you’ll want to sell for profit in the future. So carefully evaluate what’s included in each company’s price rather than just looking at an inaccurate per square foot guesstimate.

Identify what’s most important to you before you start shopping. Is it price, quality, the type of services, reputation, workmanship, warranty, structural materials, the people, or a little bit of everything? Remember, the least expensive company is able to be the lowest-priced because they aren’t providing the same things as a higher-priced company. If a company comes in noticeably lower than others, you should find out why… what are they, or aren’t they, providing? Carefully evaluate everything the package price includes and determine if that company will be the best fit for your needs.

Wisconsin Log Homes is not the lowest-priced company in the industry… we’re not out of line with our prices, but we’re not cheap either. We can’t be. Each of our home plans are very custom and require a great deal of attention and creativity from our designers. Our products have always been of the highest quality and each log for your home is hand-peeled in our own state-of-the-art mill. Our Thermal-Log Building System benefits our customers and their homes in many different ways. We offer in-house construction and interior design & cabinetry services, a full-time customer service representative available for you or your builder at all times, a 25-year warranty, a complete package of structural materials, and a team of friendly experts that are as passionate about your home as you are.

The bottom line is that you truly get what you pay for - whether it’s cars or houses. As they say, “price happens one time, but cost lasts forever.”

Not every company is perfect for every person, so it’s your job to find a company that’s the right fit for you and your future home.

Finding a Log Home Builder You Trust by David Janczak (Founder/Owner of Wisconsin Log Homes, Inc)

The search for a qualified contractor should begin as soon as you have a building site and preliminary drawings, even if you don’t plan to break ground for several months. It may take time to find a contractor who suits your requirements, and once you find the right one, you’ll have to be worked into the contractor’s schedule. Those who are good and in-demand, and those in areas with a short building season, often schedule projects up to a year in advance.

Reputation, experience, references, crew size and the builder's willingness to provide excellent customer service are all important considerations in making your decision. Once you have several qualified names in hand, obtain references and interview each builder. Only ask for bids from the contractors you feel comfortable with. Remember, the bids will only be as good as the plans you submit. You should use the same drawings you submitted to get your building permit. Any changes to the plans should have been made by this time. Do your homework and make as many decisions as possible before you ask for bids. Give each contractor exactly the same information so you’ll be able to obtain a fair comparison, and be certain you ask for the same level of detail from each bidder.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is to base their decision on price alone. Even though builders are getting the same plans and information, they can build with varying degrees of quality and service. You should not only feel comfortable with the price, but with the quality of workmanship, organization, the schedule and contract, and the person in general. He/she will be your new business partner for the next few months. If you seek the same level of workmanship, organization, and can trust one another, the construction process will flow much smoother and you’ll be able to relax.

Since the 1970’s, Wisconsin Log Homes has understood the need for complete design and build services. Finding a qualified builder to construct their log or timber home has always been a big concern of our clients, and one we’ve addressed right from the start. Wisconsin Log Homes has its own building crews and National Builder Network full of qualified builders around the world who we work very closely with and trust to provide “rough up and log” and “turn-key” construction services for our customers.

Each of our clients are assisted with the construction of their home in one form or another during their experience with us. Some may decide to use our in-house construction services, while others want help qualifying or selecting a builder in their area. Whatever the client chooses to do, we stay involved throughout the design and build process to ensure high quality and satisfaction.

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