| Choosing a smart log home floor plan is not rocket | | | | have some reasonable effect on your maintenance |
| science. You simply need to determine what you | | | | costs, heating & cooling costs, as well as initial |
| want, what you need, and what is practical in a good | | | | construction costs if you need HVAC upgrades due |
| plan for your family's lifestyle. Combining all three of | | | | to a complicated floor plan design. |
| these ingredients can be a little tricky. Choosing a | | | | Many log homes in the south have large porches for |
| floor plan can also be very exciting and this is where | | | | protection from the elements due to higher humidity. |
| the "Gingerbread Glaze" factor can cloud your | | | | Log Homes in the west follow more of the chalet |
| judgment if you are not careful. | | | | style of construction. Wherever you live... keep in |
| A few years ago, my folks wanted to build their own | | | | mind how your design will effect the home's optimum |
| log dream home. As the weeks turned into months | | | | functionality. Boy... That's a mouth full! |
| my mother's drawings and plans changed from a | | | | You will also want to try to limit the amount of log |
| moderately well designed home for two, into a | | | | corners your plan calls for. This is one of the most |
| sprawling monster that when finally built, was... way | | | | expensive features of any log home. Any more than |
| more home than they really needed. They realized a | | | | (6) corners, and you will face some noticeable extra |
| bit too late that a bigger commitment to | | | | costs in your building budget. |
| maintenance, heating and cooling energy costs, and | | | | In any case choose a floor plan that is right for your |
| cleaning... came with this much larger home. So you | | | | family and your lifestyle. Don't be drawn in by a false |
| must be careful in choosing a floor plan that is right | | | | standard mindset that says a kitchen should cost |
| for your lifestyle and budget. | | | | $50,000.00 to be a full functioning Kitchen. I'm all for |
| Most log homes are built with at least some | | | | prosperity and the right for anyone to achieve their |
| exposure to a vaulted ceiling, which even for a | | | | dream of having the best money can buy... but if you |
| 1200-1500 sq. ft. home can seem very spacious. I | | | | really don't need it, or do not have the means to |
| suggest that before you decide on a plan design, go | | | | support that desire... then simply be smart...be realistic, |
| and tour some open houses to get a sense of the | | | | and enjoy a more debt free life!The previous and (in |
| kind of space you feel comfortable with. Then your | | | | my opinion), more careless kind of thinking is what |
| choices will become better defined. You will also want | | | | has caused our country's leadership to make |
| to consider how your floor plan fits on your building | | | | decisions that have created so much debt for us. |
| site. For this reason a small log cabin floor plan may | | | | If you error on the side of being frugal and practical |
| be a better choice for you. | | | | When choosing the right floor plan, at the end of the |
| Yet another consideration is the climate where you | | | | day, you will be surprised how much more you will |
| live. Choosing the right floor plan for your region will | | | | enjoy the log home lifestyle in years to come. |