Green Tip: Sustainable Recycled Counters
Many people love the idea of recycled glass countertops. It makes tons of sense and adds a beautiful, durable element to a new home. The downside is that some recycled counter products can carry a hefty price tag. Portland, Maine based company Beachstone is taking a different approach that creates no waste, while offering a custom…
Katahdin Form + Function: Dealers and Contractors
Many times at log home shows, visitors to our booth express confusion over Katahdin Dealers, their relationship to Katahdin and the contractors who ultimately build their home. Katahdin Dealers work based on their assigned territory, or as Log Home Planning Specialists from the corporate headquarters in Oakfield, Maine, if there is not a Dealer in…
Green Tip: Rain Gardens
Storm water can have a big effect on neighboring bodies of water, even if they are quite removed from your home. A rain garden is designed to absorb and fix large amounts of rainwater, then release it slowly into the soil around it. Rain gardens are a beautiful way to counteract the effects of runoff…
Kitchen Colors Add Pizzazz to Your Log Home
Log homes can feel darker on the inside, which is why lighting and windows play an oversized role in them. Interiors can become too monochromatic with wood walls ceilings and floors, so it’s a good idea to break up the brown tones with selected color accents. One surprising new place for color infusion is the…
Water: Designing for the Essential Resource
We noted recently a report that homes in the drought-stricken states of the west have shifted the focus of design from energy efficiency to water efficiency. This trend provides an interesting view into a future where water becomes more valuable and scarce than carbon-based fuels. There are multiple avenues to explore reducing water consumption in…
Surveys: What You Need to Know
Many Katahdin customers find themselves seeking undeveloped land for their building site. Depending on the circumstances, it is important to know and understand the boundaries of your property for many reasons, including: to be able to comply with building and zoning codes and setbacks, understand what you own, and often to qualify for financing. Since…
Construction’s Water Footprint
In sustainable building circles, much emphasis has been placed on carbon “footprint” calculations: tallying up the energy consumption and emissions from carbon based fuels such as oil, gasoline and wood. With drought conditions escalating in many parts of the US, many in building and construction are now turning an eye to “water footprint” calculations to…
Green Tip: “Nutrition Labels” for Building Materials
This emerging trend in building supply information is in its infancy, but the movement for understanding the ingredients-chemicals, substances and other information is moving ahead. The concept is simple: provide consistent labeling on each product displaying its components, percentage content, hazards and other information for things like windows, paint, fabric, insulation and other materials used…
Katahdin Form + Function: Lofts
When the subject of lofts arose, we discovered that many different types of structures are defined as lofts. The one common element is that lofts are located on the second floor of Katahdin Homes, and just how big or small depends on the design. Typically in smaller vacation log homes, a loft is an extra…
Downsizing Your Kitchen
Downsizing is certainly a buzzword as baby boomers shed the large homes where they raised families and look to homes for retirement years that are smaller, easier-to-heat and low maintenance. A smaller home requires creativity in design, as well as furnishings. Furniture manufacturers have been ahead of the curve with right-sized sofas, chairs and other…
Copper Kitchen Hoods Add Style
Copper is a prized and useful finish that mates well with rustic log home décor. When we saw these custom copper kitchen hoods, it seemed like a perfect match! Modern kitchens include large surface areas—countertops, appliances and cabinets—that can work together or conflict in an overall look. Because log home kitchens tend to be traditional…
Maximize Your Porches: Three Season Systems
Log home owners love porches and one way to get the most out of porches is to convert a portion of your porch space to a three-season screen and storm-paneled retreat. The trick is to install a system that makes the area function in most any weather, even providing passive solar heat to an entryway…