Large Log Cabins – A Lifestyle Choice

29.10.2018

Log Cabins

Can You Live In Log Cabins Permanently?

When you talk of log cabins, most would imagine the old-fashioned simplicity of 17th-century cribs but in the 21st century, living in one has gone a long way. It can one or more floors, up-to-date appliances, air conditioning, and more.

To permanently live in a log cabin might be your dream log home and the good news is it’s something you CAN achieve.  Regardless if it represents your desire for a carefree, rustic, and laid back lifestyle, if well-planned, to make one your home is, in fact, possible.

For those who chose this life, it’s a dream come true. There is nothing quite like living in a home made of wood.

The large log cabin lifestyle stands for classic timeless natural looks, an exceptionally healthy living atmosphere with clean resin-scented air, balanced moisture, and great temperature inside.

For the last few decades, living in log homes throughout the UK evolved from the county weekend – or holiday cabins to primary residences as well as to professional and public uses.

For example, one can serve as a garden office for both a company and people working from home, as well as an exhibition space, a place for sports clubs, classrooms, a garden sauna and more!

Read: How to Set Up a Garden Office in the Summer House?

Large log cabins nowadays still have the same rustic beauty, but with the evolution to fit different usages, functionality has increased, as well.

With thousands of log structures built each year, nowadays, customers have a vast choice between different styles, sizes, floor plans, added functionalities, new designs for large log homes are introduced to the market regularly, be it small, medium, or large.

Living in Your Own Log Cabin Home is Just a Few Steps Away

To build your dream log cabin as a log home to live in starts with research for the basics of inhabitable log cabins.

  • Use the web if you don’t have all the pieces
    Use the internet to find out everything you need for an informed decision to be able to finally wisely invest in a large log cabin without any worries. Read our guide on planning or the top 10 mistakes when building your first summerhouse.
  • Stick to your budget
    Balance the costs and limitations set by your budget. A new large log cabin will only serve as the shell for your new home. As a rule of thumb, consider the cost for the large log cabin at about 50% of what you will need to invest for a fully-functional primary residence. If you plan to live in a log cabin permanently, read our guide on “Garden Sheds on a Budget in The UK”.
  • Choose the style you want to live in
    As the devil is in the detail, make sure to choose a log cabin that both has the looks that fit your style but allows you to also plan for more. According to the Gentleman Zone Guide, a fireplace is an absolute must for those seeking the classic log cabin comfort. One can be made to fit into a rustic style or it can look modern, even minimalistic. Also, an open fireplace can be constructed by yourself but it’s best to seek help and advice from your local fire authority.

How does Furniture Fit the Picture?

Furnishing can cost a bit if you insist on having unique and high-quality pieces in your life. The alternative is to build wall cabinets, bookshelves, drawers, shelving and etc. inventory on your own.

Of course, your lifestyle may include more costly accessories. An energy pump like solar or geothermal might strain your budget more in the beginning but offer lifelong low energy bills in the future, especially if you opt for the feed-in tariffs scheme. This way you could rejuvenate your budget in the long term.

Maintenance of Large Log Cabins

To permanently live in a large log cabin takes a lot of effort. That’s why the question of how to paint your log home is crucial to wood preservation and style at the same time. You should recoat it once every 5 years.

There are three things you should keep in mind

  • Wood preservation from the outside
    Here you have several options concerning the type of wood stain. Those range from the type of solvent over colour to UV protection. What you choose defines the entire style of the cabin. A marine style would probably require light colours, a country-style lacquer, Scandinavian or alpine style might lack UV protection and thus let the outside fade to grey under the sunlight to later develop its protective layer. However, preservation on the weather side or preservation that enters the wood instead of establishing a protective layer on the surface might be a viable option.
  • Wood preservation from the inside
    To treat wood from the inside is not necessary. Staining is more a matter of interior design than long-term durability. However, one of the great advantages of natural wood is it breathing. Natural wood can suck up moisture from the air and thus diminishes odours, balances out temperature, and even has a filtering effect concerning dust or pollen. So the general question for you is: Will you use a colour that keeps the pores open and maintains breathability?
  • Gaps and cracks
    They usually appear in large log cabins when the timber dries out and settles. Cracks can also appear when wood is wet from the outside and dried from heating on the inside. Also, the construction of your log home needs to be professional so that changes won’t affect any load-bearing parts. We recommend to only purchasing large log cabins with a warranty of at least 3 years, and it would be ideal to have your log home constructed from kiln-dried timber so that neither settling nor stress cracks are to be expected.

At Summer House 24, we use nordic spruce for all our products.

Designing Your Large Log Cabin

At Summer House 24 we know that ready-built inhabitable log cabins offered by large, renowned manufacturers are not only the option to go with a limited budget but they also boast a broad portfolio of log cabins for you to choose from. Pick the model that fits your wishes and personal style perfectly.

Moreover, with your free choice of stains, colours or sheer colours, and fitting accessories you can achieve just whatever style you always dreamed of. Some popular styles include:

  • Scandinavian
  • Rustic
  • Maritime
  • Beach
  • Minimalist
  • Vintage
  • Victorian
  • Contemporary
  • Asian

And many more.

Search the web, lifestyle magazines, interior architecture outlets, or local furniture stores for the right dose of inspiration.

Whether you use a large log cabin as a log home to live in, to rent it out, or for business purposes: large log cabins are like an open canvas, waiting for you to make it an expression of your style.

For any questions, please write us or call at 020 3807 0369!

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