Here’s a little cabin that I built years ago.
I recently returned to this log retreat to give her an inspection and to do extensive filming of it for the upcoming Handmade House Academy where I will go step by step through how she was built and discuss even the smallest details. (I am running a bit behind on the course, trying to make it as great as I can… so, it will likely be a few more weeks… make sure and sign up to the email list if you want to receive the coming announcement).
And… if you’ve read this far… lol… here’s a response I wrote this morning to a member who asked about my availability to help them build their dream handmade home… It’s a quick summary of where I am in life…
“”What do I do now?” That is a loaded question. lol
I could probably write a short novel on answering it fully.
I’m in a transformational period of my life. Maybe it has something to do with approaching 60… a man at this age has another good ten years to make his mark in the world (hopefully more). And so time becomes his most precious commodity.
Behind me is nearly thirty years of running a construction company that has specialized in building unique, one-of-a-kind, handmade houses… cabins, barns, farmhouses, historic restorations, timber frames, stone cottages, etc. I’ve likely had over three hundred people apprentice with me, and I’ve done my best to please over a hundred clients throughout those years (which was the most challenging part of building those homes, by far)
A number of months ago I came upon a pause in my workload and so I seized the opportunity to take a “time-out” to reflect on where I had been all these years and how I might want to change things going forward. I absolutely love building handmade homes… I know the process better than anyone…. but the stress associated with the business aspect of it all had taken the joy out of it.
Moving forward I would like to share with a broader, appreciative, audience all that I know and have learned, and to encourage them to undertake the home of their dreams, so I’m establishing an online presence and creating educational products… “The Academy” being the first of those, where I’ll share hours of my time through a video series that I hope will do just that. I also plan on building my next home in the near future (I can’t wait).
I do have a few folks that are tempting me to come build their home…. I’m not certain how, or if, those opportunities will work out… I don’t want to find myself back in same rut. We’ll see.
If someone came to me and said that “I have the most wonderful piece of land, I want you to design and build the perfect home there… cost is not an issue”. I’d jump all over that… my tools would be loading up on the truck within hours!
I’m always interested in helping good people out… If there is something I can do to help you out with let me know.
Handmade homes, built well, are expensive to have when someone else builds them. If you are the type of individual who is willing to do a lot of the work yourself you can save a ton of money and have a great time doing it. Log cabins that are already built do come onto the market from time to time and you can save a ton of money in buying one that way, but most have “issues” and are not tailored to your wants and needs.
I would encourage you to build your dream home. Do it right the first time… and have a home that will last you your lifetime, and, be a blessing to future generations.
Noah
Originally posted 2016-01-13 16:06:21.