Blog - Page 70 of 123 - Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley

The importance of classic design

Here’s the back of a nice cabin… but… wait a minute… it’s not a log cabin!
It has the classic historical log cabin proportions and design that we all know and appreciate.
It does have some really nice stone work too.
And, there is plenty of natural wood to be seen thanks to the weathered board and batten siding.
Given the choice between manufactured logs with a modern design, or a cabin designed like this with no logs, hands down, I’d take this place any day!

Originally posted 2015-09-17 19:46:20.

The importance of classic designNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:23+00:00

The ruins of a handmade house

Even the ruins of an abandoned and neglected handmade home is attractive.
This is not a toxic waste site.
No need to haul everything off to a landfill.
The remains can be enjoyed by all, or the materials reused.. and even at this stage, the house could be restored, and once again occupied.

Originally posted 2015-09-17 16:10:05.

The ruins of a handmade houseNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:22+00:00

Build tall

Now here is a cabin that REALLY impresses.
And, why is that?
It’s because she is just SO tall.
Log cabins by their very nature often look low and “squatty”.
Logs are heavy so builders tend to stop laying log courses quickly as the height of each hoist increases.
Also, all those horizontal lines found in a cabin tend to create a visual effect of shortness.
I have never seen a cabin that I felt was too tall. When the time comes to build your dream cabin… once you think the cabin is tall enough… add two more courses. Once it’s completed you’ll be tempted to send me a thank you card for how well it looks.

Originally posted 2015-09-17 15:59:23.

Build tallNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:21+00:00

Living in a log cabin

I have found that many who live in log cabins tend to have gentle souls.

Originally posted 2015-09-17 15:42:40.

Living in a log cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:20+00:00

Strength

One of the great features of living in a classic log home is in the knowing of the strength of the structure… you fear no ill wind.
Take a look at the size of this barn and imagine the weight these logs must bare when the barn is full.

Originally posted 2015-09-16 14:13:30.

StrengthNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:19+00:00

Log and stone

Such a clean design on this cabin.
No frills.
She is a classic.

Originally posted 2015-09-16 14:05:41.

Log and stoneNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:18+00:00

White cabinets

I’ve always admired white farmhouse-styled kitchen cabinets. There is something “homey” feeling about them. Especially when there is a grandma in the photo.

White cabinets might not be as rich looking as natural wood cabinets but they are universally loved, easy to clean and hold up better than natural wood finishes.

Originally posted 2015-09-16 13:38:11.

White cabinetsNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:17+00:00

Staircase size

Problem solved.
I’m often amused when I see hand sketched floorplans from folks that have drawn their future home plans on the back of an envelope and I notice how small they have scaled the size of their staircase.
Often these stairs are shown to take up about the same amount of space as a closet, or less. Not once have I seen someone draw the staircase too large, rather they are always too small.
The reality is that staircases are hogs when it comes to eating up our interior square footage.
One trick is to throw the beast outside like this stone building has done.
Of course this does make life “more interesting” when venturing from the bedroom to the kitchen. lol

Originally posted 2015-09-15 22:02:59.

Staircase sizeNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:16+00:00

The power of the number 18

Tall and Proud.
Almost all farmhouses that I have encountered are 18 feet wide.
And I’ve been in hundreds of them.
Anyone care to guess why eighteen?

Well, there are several reasons…

One, is that an 18 foot floor joist provides a stout floor… and a 20 foot floor joist is “bouncy”.

Two, is that 18 foot floor joists tend to stay straight and true for centuries, whereas anything longer tends to sag.

And three, an 18 foot sill log is manageable to put into place with the aid of two men, buy it takes four men to move a 20 footer.

Originally posted 2015-09-15 15:16:18.

The power of the number 18Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:15+00:00

Texas log cabin

Clearly, Texans know how to build a log cabin.
And of course, by their very nature they just have to do things differently than everyone else.
Folks in New England often build their chimneys on the inside of their homes to get every ounce of heat they can from the warmed masonry.
Here in the Mid-Atlantic and further South everyone builds their chimneys on the outside of the house (the theory being that the chimney can be pulled over to save the house in case of a bad chimney fire)
But Texans… if you look at this cabin… want it both ways. This chimney is half inside, and half on the outside of the home.
God Bless Texans.

Originally posted 2015-09-15 15:05:22.

Texas log cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:21:14+00:00