Green Tip: Tracking Energy Consumption in Your Home
Most people are unaware of the sneaky power thieves that reside in their homes. The truth is that even when your television/cablebox/DVD player is “off,” it’s still drawing electricity all day every day. (The clue is the little red light on the front of the unit.) However, short of turning everything completely off switch by…
Fall Log Home Events on Tap for Katahdin
We’re planning to hit the road this fall to share great design ideas with you! We’ve planned a busy schedule that will include the larger log home events as well as several Planning Seminars for an in-depth look at designing and building your Katahdin Cedar Log Home. These events offer you some tremendous opportunities to…
Plan of the Month – Modified Bonanza
The photos below depict an appealing twist to one of our most popular plans. The homeowners loved our Bonanza plan but they wanted a less formal feel and a few more open common areas for entertaining. They worked with our in-house design team to convert a first-floor bedroom to an open dining room, add a…
Green Tip-New Products from Recycled Paper
Post consumer recycled products made from paper have been limited to pretty much, well, paper. But a couple of new products caught our eye with applications in the home. The first is Shetka Stone, a pressure-treated low-VOC resin and epoxy-based product for countertops or other surfaces using shredded recycled paper currency called “Counterfeit Green” (left).…
Smart Air Conditioning: Five things you need to know
It used to be that just keeping cool was the goal of air conditioning. This domestic device found its initial development as a means to allow year-round manufacturing in the US while maintaining worker productivity. The first commercial air conditioner was built by Willis Carrier (see right) to cool and dehumidify a printing plant in…
How Katahdin’s Team Designs Your Dream
For many people, building their Katahdin Cedar Log Home is a new adventure, the result of many months of planning, research and ideas. Getting the home you want requires good communication, along with the combined expertise of your dealer (or representative) and the design team. We talked to the senior member of the design team,…
Cedar Ideas Launches New Website
If you love the look and longevity of cedar in your outdoor accessories, you’ll want to check out the new Cedar Ideas website. Since 1991, Katahdin’s subsidiary, Cedar Ideas, has been handcrafting outdoor accessories. The sister company uses cedar pieces that are the by-product of log home manufacturing. Until recently these planters, window boxes and…
Kitchen Design: Rethinking Granite and Stainless
Granite and stainless finally have become the design standard for many kitchens. Yet the combination can begin to feel less than avant-garde, especially when designing for your log home. While many log home owners revel in the contrast between the warm surfaces of wood and the cool and shining surfaces of these two materials, some…
Plan of the Month – Bonanza
The Bonanza is one of the most classic and elegant log home designs available. The home is defined by its full wraparound farmer’s porch, which allows a seemless transition from indoor to outdoor activites. With its open living spaces, four beds and four baths, the Bonanza is perfect for large families and frequent entertaining. Beds: …
Green Tip: Outdoor line drying
Our grandparents had the right idea when they hung their laundry outside to air dry. Today, families looking not only to save on fuel consumption but also keep clothes from excess wear are returning to outdoor drying as a simple money-saving solution. It’s estimated that most families can save about $100 a year by line…
Outdoor Umbrellas Add Shade and More
During the dog days of summer we decided to look at ways to beat the heat with umbrellas. Beyond the standard canvas beach-style umbrellas, companies have developed several unique options to provide relief from the sun and decorative touches. One great source for patio umbrellas is PatioUmbrellaUSA.com, which offers a wide selection of styles and…
Green Certified: What does it really mean?
Green is the buzzword of this decade and we seem to find it cropping up in some of the most unlikely places. In general, most people can agree that managing the environment and controlling our consumption is a responsibility that humans share. But what does green really mean when it comes to shelter? Certainly homes…