Noah Bradley, Author at Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley

29 06, 2019

Classic log cabin design

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:02:00+00:00

Why is this cabin so visually appealing? You have to admit… she is a beauty.
But upon close inspection, her logs appear to be narrow and unimpressive, and the chinking that is applied between them is as rough as a stormy sea.
The chimney on this end is also a mess. It appears cobbled together… as if some mason came in to repair the original stone chimney and took it down to some random point and then rebuilt it with new brick.
And, don’t get me started on the satellite dish that is attached to the gable of the house… couldn’t they have put that out in the yard somewhere? lol
Clearly, there are some shortcomings in the details seen here on this cabin… but the fact remains… she is beautiful… and why is that?
I can come up with two reasons.
(Maybe, you can come up with more?)
First, her design is an enduring classic. For centuries this style has been proven to be appealing to the eyes. I would say it is “timeless”. Build a house like this and it will always be admired.
And secondly… she is handmade. Even though the house clearly has “detail issues”, she has lots of character. Perhaps, some minor visual flaws in a home make a house more human, more comfortable to be around than the sterile perfection of most new homes?
I encourage you to go ahead and imagine this house build of manufactured logs, or covered in vinyl siding, can you see what is lost by doing so?

Originally posted 2015-10-07 12:27:46.

Classic log cabin designNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:02:00+00:00

29 06, 2019

The beauty of an old barn

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:59+00:00

The barn is full of hay.
There is a beauty to be found in old barns, made of wood, by the hands of farmers, that has been lost with the new fabricated steel barns that now are being built.

Originally posted 2015-10-06 19:08:54.

The beauty of an old barnNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:59+00:00

29 06, 2019

A log cabin porch

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:58+00:00

I’m afraid that the days we have left to enjoy the front porch are few in number.

There is something about adding a bright color to a cabin… it somehow makes it more “civilized”.

Originally posted 2015-10-06 16:01:37.

A log cabin porchNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:58+00:00

29 06, 2019

A country cottage

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:57+00:00

Is this little red house trying to hide behind that pine tree? lol
What a sweet little home.
This house has been “placed” perfectly… visually she is safely tucked-in next to the hillside behind her.
I would have designed and built the addition a little differently… perhaps recessing it a bit so that the charm of the main part of the house was more up “front and center” and thus focusing my eye mainly on it.
But other than that, I’m green with envy over this red charmer.

Originally posted 2015-10-06 14:34:58.

A country cottageNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:57+00:00

29 06, 2019

A real log cabin

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:56+00:00

We are so fortunate to live in a world that offers us wood in which to build our homes.

Originally posted 2015-10-05 15:18:17.

A real log cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:56+00:00

29 06, 2019

Two very different stone cottages

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:55+00:00

Here we have two wonderful stone cottages.
Each of equal size and craftsmanship.
Which would you choose?

The artsy one… (the one with big boulders)?
Or, the traditional one?

Originally posted 2015-10-05 12:56:01.

Two very different stone cottagesNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:55+00:00

29 06, 2019

A colonial fireplace

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:54+00:00

To paint something red is a bold move.

Originally posted 2015-10-04 21:54:15.

A colonial fireplaceNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:54+00:00

29 06, 2019

Quality vs Quantity

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:53+00:00

Oh my.
She is so fine.
When contemplating the design and construction of a home, the first decision to be made is “quality vs quantity”.
The owner of this small stone home chose the highest level of quality. They could have had a vinyl clad home, twice as large as this one, for the same price.
It’s a tough choice to make.
Living small is challenging, while living large is so tempting.
We naturally want both, quality and quantity, but few people have the financial resources for a large home built as well as it can be.
So, is quality worth the cost?

Originally posted 2015-10-04 16:55:45.

Quality vs QuantityNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:53+00:00

29 06, 2019

Backwoods cabin

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:52+00:00

There is something wonderful about owning a home that is located at the end of a trail.

Or along a river…

Originally posted 2015-10-04 15:50:10.

Backwoods cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:52+00:00

29 06, 2019

Trees and log cabins

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:01:51+00:00

Trees have a tendency to sneak up on log cabins… sometimes they even try to get up on the front porch!
I have found that people who love log cabins also love trees and that they find it very difficult to cut any of them down. This photo, of a tree encroaching upon this cabin, is a scene that I have witnessed many times.