Dual Purpose Rooms’ Make Spaces Work Harder!
Many homeowners are taking a second look at innovative ways to create dual purpose rooms in their log homes. Combining a guest room with an office, a craft or sewing room, or children’s playroom can make sense if the project is approached with an eye for detail. One fantastic way to create dual purpose areas… Read more »
Katahdin Through the Years’-Part Two: The Secret of Our Success
One of the first things that is apparent to visitors to Katahdin’s Oakfield mill is the sense of family and teamwork, genuinely expressed by the employees — from top to bottom. For many people at Katahdin, the mills and the company occupy a large part of their adult life. The company is celebrating its 40th… Read more »
Tips for Prepping and Stocking a Fish Pond
Many rural log home properties feature ponds, either spring fed or a naturally occurring collection of water in a low area. Many homeowners take the next step by preparing the pond and stocking fish. Here are some tips for setting up your own trout pond: Start with the StateStates oversee the lakes, rivers, streams and… Read more »
Rainwater Management – An Easy Way to Harvest Rainfall
With many areas struggling under drought conditions and municipalities restricting access to water for certain activities, it makes sense to collect the rain that falls on the roof and repurpose that water for garden watering or other non-potable uses. Including a basic rainwater collection system in a new home is simpler than ever. The trick… Read more »
Green Tip: Design Your Own Clay Tile
Thinking about adding some decorative accent tile in your log home? FireClay Tile has a recycled tile option that allows you to color your own design using their Cuerda Seca tiles and a unique Color-It! Tool on their website. The company has a portfolio of various outlined designs on their website. The designs range from… Read more »
This Weekend: A Rare Summertime Log Home Show Opportunity
Generally because home construction is a warm-weather activity, we use our fall and spring “downtime” to exhibit at log home shows across the country. However, an expo in the Lake George, N.Y., area offers a great chance to get away with the family and check out the latest log home information. Johnson’s Log Home and… Read more »
Katahdin Through the Years
A little over four decades ago, three men embarked on a partnership to pool their skills and start to build log homes. Forty years later the mill that produced a single log home a year has grown and evolved into to one that could manufacture twice that number of homes in a single day—Katahdin Cedar… Read more »
No-Mow Lawns Have Many Benefits
America’s obsession with the green, perfectly manicured lawns have developed some unintended consequences over the years. Putting aside the amount of time and investment many homeowners apply to lawns, these suburban carpets of green are also heavily taxing our water supplies. As many areas of the country battle drought, and municipalities impose water use restrictions,… Read more »
Stairway to Heaven – Designing a Statement Stair
Many log homes owners present the hearth or fireplace as a central focus in a home. But a beautiful and dramatic staircase can really enhance the open plan home. There are a number of ways to achieve an attention-getting staircase from adding a few design elements to add visual interest to having a custom staircase… Read more »
Green Tip: Salvaged Light Fixtures and LED Bulbs
If you love the look of antique light fixtures, you’ll now be able to enjoy significant energy savings as well. Most LED light bulbs now can fit into standard incandescent sockets. With that innovation, homeowners have some new energy saving options when used with salvaged and antique light fixtures. Most people have switched over to… Read more »
BREAKING NEWS: Maine-based Katahdin Cedar Log Homes & MESys Team Up to Cut Customers’ Energy Bills in Half
Automated Wood Pellet Boilers Are Sustainable, Effortless and Cost-effective OAKFIELD, Maine, May 16, 2013—Katahdin Cedar Log Homes and Maine Energy Systems (MESys) have teamed up to offer customers in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts significant savings on a MESys wood pellet boiler for their new or existing Katahdin Cedar Log Home. The fully-automated MESys… Read more »
Porch Swings Brighten Outdoor Areas
There’s nothing like a porch swing on a warm summer day. A traditional New England porch swing has been resurrected by Maine-based Penobscot Bay Porch Swings in Brunswick, Me. Owner Sarah Bloy first encountered what was commonly called a Gloucester Bed Hammock when chaperoning a children’s field trip on Vinalhaven Island. These original swings were… Read more »