Designing Your Log Home

There are three elements that govern a project: budget, quality levels, and size. Choosing any two of these elements will determine the third.

For example, if size and budget are your most important criteria, quality levels will be determined accordingly.

Conversely, if quality and budget are your most important criteria - the size of your building will be affected.

Choose size and quality, and you will need a bigger budget...


As the log builder, we are pretty close to first in line for payment, that said, we want to know your total project budget - not so we can spend it all - but because we feel a responsibility to help you determine the scope of work you can accomplish with the dollars you intend to spend. It is easy to get carried away during the design stage, and having a cost ceiling to govern the scope of the project makes the process go smoothly.

We also need to know about your site. A site plan is helpful if you have one, photos of your property and description of the views and surroundings will also be an asset. If your site is challenging, or your plans extensive, you may want to invest in a site visit.

Whenever possible we like to build a design team. Ideally this will include you, your log builder, general contractor, engineer as well as the designer. It may also include an architect. If you already have an architect on board, much of the above will have already been accomplished and the focus of your design team will be to translate the design into buildable, working plans.

Once we have a clear understanding of the direction you are heading in, we will suggest several designers whose work we respect. You will then be working directly with the designer of your choice, with John advising on shop drawings and commenting on structural and cost implications as the process develops.


"We believe in getting it right on paper; good accurate well detailed plans are essential to a smooth building process."

E-mail Us for a copy of our Design and Planning Questionnaire. It is intended to help you think about your lifestyle and aesthetic preferences. Should you wish to engage us for your design services, the completed questionnaire will establish the direction of the design work.