A Lodge, a Cabin or a Shed?

During our log home construction, we have been amused by the names ascribed to the structure by friends and family - everything from a 'lodge' to a 'shed'!  We made the most of the Christmas holiday to discuss this with #1 Daughter and #1 Son: should we give the house an official name?  In a fashion true to our family, we dutifully brainstormed names, many names!  In the end, we decided, as a family, that the best name for the house is 'home'.  So, here is an update on our 'home' in progress!

December 19 - finished flooring

and fireplace

Since November 9 (last post about house), we have witnessed transformations big and small.  At times, the house has been clean and quiet, and we can begin to imagine a snowy day when the only sounds are the crackling fire and the rustle of pages in a book.

And other days, when F250s are parked the length of the driveway, and the house is a hive of activity with workmen, materials and Red Hot Chili Peppers surging through the speakers of the portable radio, it is almost more chaos than I can take.

Cabinets stacked in kitchen

Kitchen island in great room

Kitchen cabinets in

great room

Outside the house, the crew has stained the front door, installed gutters, built steps and enclosed the deck with railings.  As I write that simple sentence, I am struck once again by the depth of thought invested in each item.  For example, would you believe me if I told you that we put at least 40 hours (times 2) into the selection of our railings?  On the day the railings were installed, we looked at each other and smiled - it was the right choice.  Most importantly, we can see straight through the railings to the view beyond.  Secondly, the cable and metal design fits perfectly with our 'rustic industrial' motif. Third, they won't require much maintenance.  Win-win all around!

Front door with stain

Gutters match green trim on windows

Placed downspouts to align

with log structure

Chains on either side of front

porch coordinate with

rustic industrial motif;

note ice that has formed!

A clear view!

You hardly notice the cables are there!

View from covered back porch

Rabbit tracks

As we trek through snow to capture exterior photos, the white stuff inevitably yields clues to the presence of other critters.

My Christmas trail camera has also provided a window onto life in our 'back forty' when we are not around.

Soon, I might be able to watch these beauties using my spotting scope from inside the house, where the metamorphosis includes the fireplaces, wood flooring, tile, chinking, window trim and cabinet installation.

Our general contractor, who started his career as a carpenter, personally hand planed the mantles for our fireplaces.  Each mantle has just enough 'character' to bring out the unique burls and knots of the wood, and yet fits in with our overall clean look. 

I can't wait to hang our cross-stitch stockings on this mantle!

Great room fireplace

The masons who placed each individual stone in the fireplaces are artists in their own right.  We watched them at work, and it is an art to select the stone for its size, shape and color to ensure the 'natural' look.  (Followers of my blog know that we searched high and low for 20 square feet of red/purple stone to augment the fireplaces - it was worth the effort!) (link to previous post)

Great room fireplace viewed

from loft

Completed great room fireplace with detail of

some stones

Completed Master fireplace

In a previous post, I described our methodical approach to selecting paint colors.  It sounds simplistic, but in reality we had multiple factors in the decision-making mix - not only paint color, but the tones of tile, carpet, and wood flooring, plus cabinet grain and marble countertops to match.  As you visually try to imagine these combinations, it's enough to make your head spin!  In recent weeks, these elements have physically come together for the first time, and in every instance, we are ecstatic with the results.

Wood flooring in progress; right side also shows entry tile

Wood flooring complete;

view from great room to kitchen

Completed window trim

Kitchen island and cabinets

Guest bathroom

Basement half bath

Basement bar

Entry half bath

Master bathroom

Every day, the project that started with a hole in the ground on April 24 feels more and more like 'home'.  How appropriate that our general contractor recently gave us our very own front door key and garage door opener.  By his current estimate, he will turn over ALL the keys at the end of February!

Linking to

All Seasons

Mosaic Monday

Saturday's Critters