If you are considering building your luxury log home from Western Red Cedar, then your plans include the very top of the line wood species for this style of homes. Western Red Cedar is one of the most stable woods. It is resistant to rot, mildew, and insects. Also it possesses the deep red heart with lighter outer that only red cedar can lay claim to. The very best way to showcase the Western Red Cedar dimension of your luxury log home is to incorporate features where the logs themselves become the focal point. This can be accomplished through building a handcrafted log style home, using interior log walls with archways, exposed log beams for the roof system, a full log staircase, and even adding flared log ends on the corners and support posts.

Handcrafted Log Homes

When people think of luxury log homes they usually imagine larger diameter logs. Very seldom do we see the larger log homes built from an 8 inch milled log. Instead beauty and grace become the focal point which is achieved through using hand peeled logs which are at least 13 to 14 inches in diameter at the center point.  A handcrafted log home is just that, fit together and crafted by hand — not a milling machine. Each log is individually selected for placement within the log shell. With the deep red of the handcrafted log the red ‘hearts’ are revealed as the logs are beveled back at each corner.

Interior Log Walls

If logs are limited to the four exterior walls you loose the charm of log archways. With a handcrafted log home the log lengths are up to 50 feet in length. When a wall of a home is longer than about 48 feet max, interior log walls are used. The interior walls serve as dividing walls. They are commonly found along the sides of the great room and where a log garage is attached to the log home. Archways allow for the creativity of custom cuts with swags, smooth arches, or other innovative features. Also the deep red ends of the logs come into view. The deep red of the cedar also peeks out around the door and window openings where they are beveled back for the finish trim.

Exposed Log Timber Roof System

A huge log ridge beam, log rafter or purloins, and a log truss or two are a big part of a WOW factor in a log home. Sometimes it is only when it is not there that you feel that something is missing. I recently viewed a log home in the Midwest that looked so attractive from the outside. But when you got inside there just a bunch of airy space in the cathedral ceiling areas. Take a look at this ceiling instead. Log ridge beam, 2 log purloins, and two log king trusses. Put this together with a tongue and groove wood ceiling and the effect is stunning.

Log Staircase and Log Railing

For a log home with a loft, an owner is missing out on some of the log home feel if he chooses anything other than a solid log staircase. Almost all log shells come with a log staircase and railing so that they match. Notice the texture that is gained with the hand peeling.

Western Red Cedar Flair Logs

And the last feature that is perhaps the first thing people think of for Western Red Cedar log homes is the flares. When a log is harvested with the wider base a fluted bottom results. For really rustic looking luxury log homes these flares are built into the corners and bottom of the support posts. Some homes also have almost a whole tree in the entry way or foyer of the home.

Luxury Log Homes in Western Red Cedar

So when your turn comes to build luxury log homes be sure to go for the features which will transform your log home design. We have found cost to be less important and additions like interior log walls, log archways, flared cedar corners, and log staircases innate to magnifying the beauty of your custom luxury log home.

Cowboy Log Homes