On Sale Now – Design America magazine featuring stunning log and rustic country home plans!

If you love Log homes and rustic home designs with a country feel, take a look at the latest issue of Design America magazine. Here you will find a wide array of log and rustic country home plans from designers and architects all across the country in many different styles and sizes. There’s also some great articles on how to landscape your log home so it fits well in its surroundings as well as cozy decorating ideas for the interior. This issue is the perfect place for those who have always dreamt of living in their very own log home!

Design America Magazine issue 6#2 cover

If you are interested in finding the Log home of your dreams, the latest issue of Design America magazine can be found in all Lowe’s stores across the country. Or, visit www.houseplansandmore.com for a large selection of beautiful log and rustic home plans!

Take a look at these stunning Log Home Interiors and Exteriors brought to you by House Plans and More

Here’s some of the finest Log Home Interiors and Exteriors brought to you by House Plans and More. What’s your favorite home plan featured?

Click on the link below to view the video.

watch?v=WBkOpfw5l7s

House Plans and More has a variety of beautiful home plan videos available for viewing on their YouTube channel. if you’re planning on building a new home, check out these fantastic videos for the best home trends and home ideas!

Ever wondered about the history of Log Cabin style homes?

Although the Log Cabin seems as American as apple pie, Log Cabins originated in America when central Europeans starting building them here. Take a look at the History of Log Cabins below and learn how this style of home design became iconic in America. What’s your favorite thing about Log Cabin living? And, if you live in a Log Cabin home, share photos of your home with us!

beautiful rustic log cabin home design

History of the Log Cabin Style Home

When Central Europeans came to America in the 17th and 18th centuries, they brought their log home construction knowledge and skills. The Swedish, in what is now known as Wilmington, Delaware, built the first log homes in America around 1638. With a small push from the Homestead Act of 1862 and the low cost to build these homes, log cabins quickly became the most popular form of shelter in early America.

The Homestead Act gave settlers 160 acres of land so long as they farmed the land and built a home at least 10’ x 12’ with one window; the purpose of the act was to encourage development in the West. Most homes were 15’ x 20’ and consisted of one room and a small loft that could be reached by ladder. There was one, sometimes two, windows and only one door. Very commonly, a fireplace would be installed; but these fireplaces were much larger and much more functional than a fireplace you would see in a home today. This fireplace would heat the whole cabin and provided a place to cook meals. Early colonists lived simply, which is perhaps why they were able to accomplish the things that they did.

Log cabins were built with trees that were cut down with an ax and then shaped to fit. Notches were cut to fit the logs together to create corners, since nails were not available. Twigs and mud were shoved into the gaps, in a technique called daubing, to prevent wintry air from entering the home. Considering the low cost and easy construction, log cabins were considerably sturdy and rainproof structures.

Location, location, location-it was more important then than it is now, if you can believe it! The site where the log cabin was built had to be chosen wisely and carefully. The site had to provide the right amount of sunlight and drainage for the homeowners to more easily survive the harsh frontier life. It also needed to be an ideal location to manage the farm or ranch from.

Unfortunately, there are very few “original” log cabins still standing today. Most of these homes were intended to be temporary, so they were used as animal shelters and storage units whenever the family was able to build a larger, more sophisticated home. Log cabins have withered in popularity but the rustic feel of these homes still grabs the attention of many.

For more information on log home living and log cabin plans, visit www.houseplansandmore.com for a large variety of log homes and cabin plans.

If you were building a new home, what would you make sure to include?

Admit it, you’ve dreamt of your very own dream home. A home with everything you can imagine from a spa-style master bath to a kitchen fit for a world-class chef. Of course, dreaming isn’t reality if you are building a home. Corners have to be cut to stay within your current financial situation. But, there is usually one or two things homeowners refuse to go without. Maybe it’s a large backyard? Or how about a media room? Chances are, there’s a feature you would prefer to keep on your wish list. We’d love to hear what that is!

Do you have any cost effective gift ideas this holiday season?

This year has been one that has made family and friends think before they spend. So, how does someone go into the holiday season not worrying about overspending? Many people gravitate toward gifts with more meaning, something from the heart with a little thought put into it rather than emptying their wallet on the latest gadget or game. While some people are creative enough to make their own gifts, others are not so versatile. So, share some of your favorite ideas with everyone here and hopefully you’ll make the holiday season less expensive and thoughtful for everyone. Happy Holidays!

How do you keep garden pests away?

April showers have come and gone. The May flowers have bloomed and are beginning to wilt. Now, it’s time to continue your green thumb into the summer months by planting more flowers and home grown vegetables you can enjoy right from your backyard. The taste of the first homegrown tomato is just within sight and daydreaming of your favorite recipes to incorporate them into fill your head. But, wait! You head to the garden to reap the rewards of your hard work and you immediately see half-eaten tomatoes! Some are still even green right on the vine! And, your Gerber daisies that were facing towards the sun in the front yard yesterday, are now a small stub of green coming out of the ground! How can you watch your garden every second of the day? Impossible! And, you’ve tried many of the products out there, but they never seem to work. If you have a secret way to keep all those pests at bay throughout the summer, please share. Even the most seasoned gardener often meets their match when it comes to critters and insects. Share your garden successes right here!

How is your family spending time at home together?

With the economic downturn, many families have been forced to spend more time at home doing things together. Although many industries are struggling, some are not. Some of these industries currently prospering include the do-it-yourself project and craft business as well as video game purchases. What sort of activities do you and your family find yourselves doing lately? Are you planning crafts projects together? Movie nights in? Camping in the backyard? Or video game time? Gone are the days of eating out several nights a week, running all over town to one school event after another (if possible) and going to the mall and buying things for the fun of it that aren’t truly necessities. People are becoming more cautious of their spending, but that doesn’t mean all the fun has to end! Share some of the ways you spend time with your family that requires less money, but still an abundance of laughs and fun. Sometimes it’s still the simplest activities that children remember and enjoy the most!

Do you have a Spring cleaning tip?

It’s just about the time when cabin fever starts setting in. Then, there’s that one day when the outside temperature reaches something closer to Spring than the usual Winter days you’ve been experiencing. Then, if only for a moment, the windows fly open and chilly, yet refreshing breezes fill your home and rid it from the stagnant stuffy winter air inhabiting your living spaces. But, it’s just about that time when we take a look around and decide it’s Spring Cleaning time! That fresh air is always a great reminder, that Spring is just a moment away and soon we’ll want a clean, fresh home ready to shine on all those warmer, sunny days. What sort of cleaning rituals are a must for you as Springtime rolls around each year? Do you have any tips for Spring Cleaning that you have discovered by chance? Or, is there something “tried and true” that your family has passed down through the years? Many people swear by cleaning your windows with newspaper to avoid streaking. These are the kind of tips we’d love for you to share as we gear up for Spring and get our homes ready for warmer weather!

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

“The stockings are hung by the chimney with care.” You’ve clung to the roof while hanging the outdoor lights. The Christmas tree has been cut and decorated, and the presents have been bought and wrapped. Another holiday season has come around again. Whether the holiday you’re celebrating is Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukah or another, this is a special time of year for all. And, usually the most important part of this special season is the traditions that get celebrated and enjoyed from year to year. Yes, presents will be exchanged as usual, but as we’ve seen over this past year, times are tough for many. But, this isn’t something to be discouraged about. Even though the Christmas tree may not have as many presents tucked under it this year, usually it’s the traditions, not the gifts that people remember from year to year. Making memories with family and friends is what the holidays are all about. And, this year will especially help us to remember that. So, what is your favorite holiday tradition? Sure, presents are great, but it’s when my family all hold hands in a long chain and sings “Jingle Bells” while running through the house from room to room that makes me laugh harder than I have all year. No, I can’t tell you what I got for Christmas when I was 11 years old, but I can tell you “Jingle bells” was sung and laughter and fun was had by all that year. Sharing these special memories reminds us why the holidays are so special. Share your favorite holiday tradition and perhaps you will give an new idea to a reader and your special tradition may soon enter the home of another family this holiday season.

A Blessed and Happy Holiday to all!

What’s your favorite holiday decorating tip?

Soon we will be singing, “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la …”, as we trim our trees, get tangled in strands of lights and light our Menorahs. This is the time of the year when we dust off the boxes stowed away in our attics and basements and once again bring out the decorations that make the holidays so special and memorable from year to year. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing that ornament their child made in preschool twenty years later hanging on the Christmas tree once again? As a homeowner, year after year, you hang the lights on the roof and try not to fall off the ladder. You also wrestle with the light strand that appears to work perfectly until you tangle it into the Christmas tree only to discover it’s no longer works. Whatever the occasion or holiday, homeowners try to find ways to get all the decorating done quickly and efficiently while enjoying themselves while doing so. Do you have any holiday decorating tips you’d like to share? What’s your favorite decoration? Do you have a special way you get the family involved in the festivities so it doesn’t seem like a chore? Share your special tips and learn from others below on how to make the season festive and merry without the hassle.

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