Home Designs

The Benefits Of Log Home Living

A beautiful and sturdy Log Home constructed by Loghouse of Ireland

It’s hard not to be wooed by the charms of log homes. When we think of them, our imagination instantly conjures up images of cozy, rustic dwellings surrounded by trees, perhaps covered by a blanket of snow, with warm light coming from the windows, inviting us in. However, many people won’t even have considered a log home when thinking about building a home, despite there being so many benefits to log home living. Here are a few of the main advantages of a log house.

Aesthetically Appealing

A Log House is aesthetically appealing and easily blends in with nature – Photo Courtesy: Loghouse of Ireland

First and foremost, log houses are hard to beat when it comes to aesthetics. Not only are their exteriors rustic and beautiful, they also fit in much better with their natural surroundings than conventional homes made of brick, so for those who want to feel in touch with nature, log homes are the perfect option.

Building Materials

Log Homes are very sturdy and can last for generations.

Log homes are made of wood, which is a renewable resource and, as such, is a much more environmentally friendly building material than steel or cement. Log homes can also be built far more quickly than conventional homes and are well capable of standing the test of time – there are log houses out there that have been standing for over two hundred years now! You can expect your log home to last for two or three generations at the very least, making it a great investment in the future.

Financial Benefits

The cozy confines of a log home interior.

There are also financial advantages to choosing a log home. To begin with, building a log house can cost you significantly less money than what you might pay for the construction of a house made of bricks and mortar. They are also more energy efficient as the tightly-packed logs provide great natural insulation, meaning you can save up to 15% on energy bills. Plus, the logs are naturally far more soundproof than the walls in standard houses, making your log home a haven of silence and tranquility.

A Do-It-Yourself Home

For the DIY enthusiast, log homes can be bought in ‘flat pack’ form more cheaply than in their fully constructed form, so if you fancy making the construction of your new home a personal project or goal, most providers of log homes will be happy to supply you with the necessary parts and leave you at it, giving you the satisfaction of being able to say that you built your home with your own hands. Those of us who can’t assemble a flat pack desk, let alone a flat pack home, needn’t worry because log house providers are equally happy to do the building work for customers too.

If you are a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) kind of person, then you may build a two bedroom log home like the one shown above or, if not, you could call in professionals like LOGHOUSE to build it for you. Either way, you are bound to just love your cozy log home.

So before you decide on a conventional home, think about what it might be like to inhabit a cozy log home that will save you money on construction and energy bills, as well as making for a warm and comfortable home for you, your children and even your grandchildren!

This article was written by environmental scientist Gerry Hannon who has loved living in log homes for over twenty years now.

Filed Under: Log Cabins & Homes Tagged With: building a home, building materials, homes, log cabins, outdoor living, sustainable building, wooden

Top 5 Things to Add to Your Home Blue Prints

by Michele Filipkowski · Leave a Comment

Photo Courtesy: Brock Builders

If you’re building your own home, there are many things that you should add to your blue prints, while you’re planning. Things like luxury bathrooms, verandahs and three-car garages need to be planned for in advance, but will add both luxury and resale value to your home.

1. Luxury Bathroom

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Photo Courtesy: jingdianjiaju

This is your house, and after the stress of building it, you deserve a place to really relax. Having a luxury master bath will make you feel as if you have a spa right in your own home. However, the steam showers needed to control the temperature and the elegantly built in counters and closets to reduce clutter and maximize relaxation will take up some space. Remember, not only will you enjoy this, but it will also increase the value of your investment.

2. Wine Cellar

Wine celler designed by Danielle Defrancesco in her Baltimore, USA home. Photo Courtesy: Danielle Defrancesco

If you’re already building your own home, a wine cellar can be a lovely addition; both useful while you live there and one more perk for when you’re ready to sell. The effectiveness of the wine cellar is based on temperature, meaning many need to be built into basements. Whether or not you’re certain, you want to finish your basement immediately is less important than making sure the space for everything you’ll need eventually makes it onto the original blue prints.

3. Walk-In Pantry

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A Walk-In Pantry – Photo Courtesy: colby191

Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where you, and your children will gather to talk about the day, do homework, celebrate winning a game and have pancakes on the weekend. You’re probably already putting in the top appliances, granite countertops, attractive shelving; don’t make the mistake of not including enough storage. A walk in pantry will keep your kitchen neat and orderly and make every snack and meal a breeze.

4. Verandahs and Balconies

Verandah by SOL Home Improvements

Unlike a deck, the verandah and the balcony offer an outdoor area still under the cover of your rooftop. This makes the area a little more flexible. It’s easy to install an outdoor bar underneath a ceiling fan. One could even have an entire entertainment unit, and it would still be well protected from the elements, sharing a common wall and roof with the main house.

5. A Three-Car Garage

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A Three-Car Garage of a nice home in the town called Sandy in Oregon, USA. Photo Courtesy: 12120MarshRd

You may only have one of your two cars now, but think down the line. The kids will get older and whether they start to drive or you finally get the time for a hobby, you’ll be happy for the extra space. Even if your family manages to keep only two cars, the extra space can be used for storage and extra fridge or an impromptu game room. The possibilities are endless and, as always, it’ll up the resale value.

Michele Filipkowski is a part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites. Follow her @micheleashley89

Filed Under: Blueprints & Floorplans, Home Building And Construction Tagged With: garages, home addition ideas, home additions, home construction, home design, verandah

Building An Orangery: The Home Improvement That Could Improve Your Health!

by Robbert Sas · 1 Comment

A beautiful Margam Orangery built by Paramount Orangeries of UK

More and more people around the United Kingdom are opting for an orangery to extend their house or to let in a little bit more light into their living rooms. And they are right to do so. Because a contemporary orangery will look and feel like it has always been part of the building, while providing your living quarters with something that will greatly improve your health – light.

A lot of people are not aware of it, but light, especially natural light, is incredibly important to our well-being. It makes sure our internal body clock runs smoothly; bright light in the morning wakes us up, while dimmer light in the evening and night makes us sleep soundly.

Let the Natural Light Come In

Dr Victoria Revell, a Chronobiologist at the University of Surrey says, “Light is critical for our health and well-being. Ensuring that we receive adequate light levels at the appropriate time of day benefits our alertness, mood, productivity, sleep patterns and many aspects of our physiology”.

And this light cannot just be electrical light! Although your lamps are perfectly fine for most evenings, according to research recently published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, spending too much time in electrical light increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer. This is one of the main reasons why more and more people are looking to find ways to let more natural light into their living rooms. Enter the Orangery.

Origin of Orangeries

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An Orangery by Paramount Orangeries of UK

Orangeries were first seen in Europe in the 17th century. Rich Europeans had gotten a taste for Mediterranean citrus fruits like oranges. Since oranges and lemons do not grow in colder climates they were forced to find creative ways to protect their trees from the cold weather. They built large, many-windowed buildings in which they could put the trees during the winter months. This kind of building was only available to the wealthiest of nobles. The European nobility loved only one thing more than their oranges; flaunting their decadence. So, often they would invite friends for tea in their orangery in the winter months, unknowingly improving their health by spending time in natural light.

Luckily nowadays the orangery is no longer just available for wealthy European nobility! Even families with a small budget will be amazed with today’s orangery prices and quotes. And because of the long history of the orangery, even houses in conservation areas can be granted a planning permission (when designed properly). Many older houses are not designed to let in a lot of natural light, as more windows used to mean more draft and higher heating bills. With modern techniques however this just isn’t true anymore, which is why many people with dark living rooms are finding ways to increase natural light indoors.

Benefits of Adding an Orangery

Families with members that spend a lot of time indoors, such as small children or the elderly, are greatly benefited by having living space with a lot of light. Installing an orangery will instantly make any house livelier and the mood of you and your loved ones will improve overnight. Not only that, but adding an orangery will greatly increase the value and attractiveness of your house, which is certainly a big plus if you are selling your house in the current market.

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The comfortable inside of an Orangery.

There are many benefits to adding an orangery to your house, but none of them are as important as increasing the health of you and your loved ones. If have trouble sleeping, feel depressed or lacking productivity, getting an orangery might just be your ticket back to health. Bring natural light back into your living area and you will be surprised at the benefits.

All Orangeries pictures featured above: © Paramount Orangeries

Robbert Sas is a professional blogger who writes on behalf of Paramount Orangeries, part of the Crownfold Group.

Filed Under: Conservatories & Orangeries Tagged With: health and wellness, home improvement ideas, orangeries

Looking for a Conservatory Quote?

by Robert Good · Leave a Comment

A beautiful Conservatory designed by Ideal Conservatories of UK

What to Ask When Looking for a Quote

If you are considering having a conservatory installed, then you no doubt have a few apprehensions as well as a plethora of questions. When you decide to make such a large investment, that will also be a major undertaking, you need to be sure that each intricate detail is clearly discussed.

As such, you want to make sure that before you even consider signing on the dotted line that you have weighed up all options available and received a full and detailed quote for the project.

Here we lay out the best course of action on the way to getting your conservatory.

Do Your Research

The first thing you need to do is decide what your preferred options are. This will allow you to present them with an accurate representation of what you want and, as a result, get a more accurate initial quote.

The Inside & Outside of a Conservatory

Consider the type of conservatory you are most interested in, what materials you would prefer and what kind of space you have available. Make sure to check the size of the build area and also whether the area is on a slope or prone to flooding.

Quick Quote

The first thing to do is go online and apply for a quick quote for your project. Once again, try to be as detailed as possible regarding what you want out of the build, including the type of installations you are most interested in and any additional features you may feel come as standard.

Most conservatory companies provide free initial quotes through their websites. While these will be fairly rough estimates the process will eliminate companies who are too expensive or won’t be able to cater to your needs.

Visit the Showroom

While you will probably be able to see examples of their work through the website, these will never give as accurate a depiction of their work as example builds in their showroom. Visiting them directly will also allow you to pose any potential questions you have directly.

Survey the Area

Let the company survey your property to suggest a suitable Conservatory.

Once you have lain out to the company what you want, ask them if they can visit your property at a suitable time to survey the area of your property for the proposed build. Not all companies will be willing to do this for free but if they do, they will be able to determine how suitable your situation is for the build you require. They will also be able to determine whether planning permission is required and propose alternative options that may be more suitable.

Additional Options

Once you have the main aspects of your proposed build confirmed, you can move onto the fine details. Specifically the materials to be used, the flooring and even UV reflective or argon gas insulation.

Once you have all of this covered, you will be able to make an informed decision on your choice of conservatory.

Robert Good works for a conservatory company. He is adept at the installation of UPVC windows.

Filed Under: Conservatories & Orangeries Tagged With: conservatories, conservatory, replacement windows, replacement windows for home, upvc windows

Three Novel Ways to Use Your Conservatory

by Liang · Leave a Comment

This superb Victorian style conservatory in Daresbury, Cheshire uses Crystal pilasters and dentil mouldings to achieve a restrained elegance.

Many people simply don’t appreciate the allure of a conservatory until they give it some serious consideration. Some choose to add a conservatory not simply to extend their home and create more space, but also to connect the inside with the outside. Without the constraints of brick walls, you can get closer to nature whilst benefiting from all your home comforts, opening up your living area to appreciate the views of your garden. This offers major appeal to those who simply want a space to sit with a glass of wine or cup of tea in the evening, relaxing after a busy day. This idyllic sanctuary is also a space where you can put your feet up and take it easy during the day – inviting friends, family and neighbors around to enjoy your new conservatory with you.

How you design your dream conservatory and what you use it for is entirely up to you, but if you need any inspiration or an extra incentive to start drawing up the plans, then read on to discover more about the three most popular uses for a conservatory.

1. Studio or home office.

Three Novel Ways to Use Your Conservatory 2 - twin-gable-conservatory-poynton

When one thinks of an elegant conservatory in a traditional British garden this can’t be too far from the reality of that thought.

More and more of us have flexible working arrangements which allow us time out of the office or we require a study space for coursework, pursuing interests or for the kids to quietly get on with homework. Conservatories also make an ideal environment within which budding astronomers can observe the stars. So, if you’re looking to create a quiet room where you can concentrate get creative or expand your mind away from the chaos of the rest of the house, the good natural light created by a conservatory, together with your chosen blinds and furnishings make for a great studio or home office.

2. Playroom

This Victorian Conservatory was constructed by Crystal Windows and Conservatories of Cheshire in Northenden, Manchester and at night gives a glowing example of outside living.

When people hear the phrase ‘playroom’, different connotations spring to mind, which highlights the true flexibility offered by adding a conservatory to your home. If you want to create a safe room in which the children can play away from danger, then you can specify your health and safety requirements in your conservatory plans. Using your conservatory as a playroom also boasts the added benefit of providing one designated space for storing all the children’s toys, away from your other main living areas. Or if ‘playroom’ shouts a space for adult entertaining, then you may opt to create a special leisure space where you can invite friends over for a game of darts or to shoot some pool. Just think of the scope for party nights!

3. Greenhouse

Green Conservatory, Cheshire – This stunning T-Shaped green conservatory is yet another example of the effect colored windows and conservatories can create.

For the green-fingered budding horticulturists amongst you, think of the scope to create a little bit of ‘The Good Life’ in your own home by using your new conservatory as a greenhouse. Many conservatories are luxurious and elegant these days, hinting at the conservatory’s origin in the 16th century when wealthy landowners sought to cultivate citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges that began to appear on their dinner tables brought by traders from warmer regions of the Mediterranean. Centuries later, the old time greenhouse gradually evolved into conservatory providing many other uses for modern homeowners, whilst the original function has slipped. In fact, conservatory offers many advantages over greenhouse– manual temperature control, light control, rigid structure, and easy access. So if you fancy a bit of green fun, don’t give it up just because you don’t have a greenhouse, your conservatory will function better.

All images used above belong to, and are Copyright reserved by Crystal Windows and Conservatories of Poynton, Cheshire, UK

Filed Under: Conservatories & Orangeries Tagged With: conservatory, home improvement ideas, lifestyle