By Lynn Gastineau
President of Gastineau Log Homes, Inc.

Welcome to the January 2018 issue of The Oak Leaf! For new readers, this is a monthly newsletter that is sent by e-mail to those that have expressed an interest in Gastineau Log Homes. We use this as a way of communicating technical, design and industry information. For more information, check out our web site at www.oakloghome.com.

Please "Like" Gastineau Log Homes on Facebook! There are LOTS of photographs of our homes in the Photo section!

This Month: Gallery of an Oak Log Home This month, we are going to focus on one home: a modified Seven Gables in Maggie Valley, NC. By using photos from only one home, we hope to provide the view of "a total home" so that you can see the overall impact and feel of a Gastineau Log Home.

Trivia Question: How many trees are there currently in the United States that are over 1" in diameter? (See the answer at the end of the newsletter.)

The living room: The photos above and below show the large living room with custom windows. The fireplace and television were placed on opposite walls with seating that will work for either. The 18 feet of glass doors frames the long range mountain views that are the real attraction....

Front porch/Front door: The full length front porch below is 8' wide so there is plenty of space for seating. The back of the home has all open decks so this is the perfect spot to sit when you want to enjoy a summer rainfall. The front door was custom designed and made for the homeowner.

Foyer/Entry: The front porch/front door lead into the entry/foyer. From the front door, you can see through to the living room and that magnificient view. The dormer above the front door allows natural light into the space. The stairs lead to the loft above which looks down into the foyer on one side and the living room on the other as a type of large "catwalk."

Kitchen: The living/dining/kitchen areas are all open to each other in an "L" shape. This kichen cabinet design allows for plenty of cabinet space and natural light. A triple window is over the sink plus there is a 6ft glass door that provides... guess what? Long range mountain views!

Dining Area: Between the kitchen and the living room is a very large dining area. The "standard" Seven Gables model has the fireplace between the dining room and living room. This client chose to move the fireplace to the exterior wall, opening up the entire dining/living/kitchen areas. A table to accommodate up to 16 people would comfortably fit into this space.

Loft: This loft area is between the two second floor bedrooms. It looks down into both the foyer and the living room. The living room gable windows provide amazing views from this loft area as you can see even in the photo below.

Master Bedroom: The master suite has the bathroom and closet toward the front of the home. This allows glass doors to frame the view as well as access to the deck on that side of the home.

The two bedrooms upstairs: The two photos below show the two large bedrooms on the second floor. A large compartmentalized bathroom is also on the second floor; a second bath could be added if you wish. Both of these bedrooms were finished in drywall and painted. You do not have to have all wood in a log home! Feel free to "mix it up" as you want and as it fits your decorating taste!

Guest bath on the main level: Small spaces does not mean small impact! The vanity, mirror and light fixture turn this functional guest bath into an unforgetable room!

The finished lower level: The family room in the lower/basement level is walk out which allows for lots of windows and doors. This eliminates the feeling of being "below ground" and is living space that is very economical to finish. This family room is directly under the living room and has the same doors to match the main level.

The bunk room in the lower level: The large bedroom on the lower level provides enough space for a bunk room for multiple guests and sleeping arrangements.

Outdoor living spaces: This home has 4 distinct outdoor living spaces with two on the main level and two on the lower level. Although connected on each level, each space provide privacy and serves a unique purpose. The lower decks are protected by the upper deck so they provide a "dry" area when it rains or snows. And look at that view!