The living room and the kitchen are the hearts of the home. Many people are drawn to log homes because of the warm and beautiful living rooms common in so many. When you build a log home, you can finally have the living room you have always dreamed about: a log home is a custom home that is built to your exact preferences. You do not have to settle for what someone else built.
There are several key decisions to make about the design and location of your living room.
The first decision will concern whether you want the living room in the front, back or at the end of the house. Do you want access to porches or decks from the living room? Do you prefer an open floor plan to the kitchen and/or dining area or do you want to have separation of these areas by walls, fireplaces or stairs? An open floor plan is a very popular design in log homes and allows for the ultimate in family gathering.
Do you envision a flat or vaulted ceiling? Will your fireplace be the focal point of the room? What other design elements will you consider, such as beams for the ceilings, custom shaped glass in the living room or any special space considerations? How much wood or drywall do you want in the room for the walls and ceilings?
Do you want the living room to be the central feature of the home?
If you love a floor plan, then this decision is probably made for you. If the living room needs to capitalize on your view at the site, you may be looking for a plan that fits your site. If you want a living room with lots of windows, you may want the living room to “stick out” from the rest of the home so it has three exterior walls. If you want a great room that combines living/dining/kitchen, this is easily accomplished with the living room on the end of the home.
Will your fireplace be the focal point of the room?
The first decision to make is whether you want the fireplace on an outside wall or in the middle of the house. A central fireplace can serve as a divider between the living room and the kitchen/dining area. Central fireplaces typically cost more as there is more stone or finished material required. They are usually quite large and take up a lot of space, so usually are only used in larger living rooms.
Gastineau Log Homes has over 40 years of experience helping people realize their dream of building a log home. Contact us today and let’s explore your log home dream together.
