 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Country's Best Log Homes presents Vacation Log Homes,
Spring 2003 “Georgia
Getaway”
Driving along, you have probably seen one -- an antique-looking cabin nestled into a picturesque setting. It's the type of place that when you step onto the porch and cross the threshold it feels like you've stepped back in time. “That's precisely how we dreamed of our future getaway,” say Atlanta residents Teri and Doug Morris. “It's such an American thing to want a cabin that looks like it's always been there, and that's exactly what we got.” To build a vacation cabin with that ideal in mind, the couple chose Hearthstone, a log home manufacturer that considers itself a niche builder of just this type of style. “We didn't have to go far because Hearthstone
had a model located right down the road on I-75,” says Teri. “Actually, the Morrises came to just the right place. We're restorers of the true Appalachian, antique-looking log home,” says Steve Hall, Hearthstone's vice president of technology. “We have perfected the look of recreating the old-time square-sided log home but using new logs.” “When I first met the Morrises,” recounts project manager John Ricketson, “they had just visited our office in Macon, Georgia.” John, a 26-year veteran sales rep with Hearthstone, was eager to help the couple who owned property in Pike County, northwest of Macon and south of Atlanta. “They had over 150 rolling acres filled with wild turkey and deer that they felt was perfectly suited for a cabin.” When Teri sat down with John, she pretty much knew what she and her husband wanted. “It wasn't all that difficult. Basically we looked through the company plans and chose a single-story, three-bedroom, two-bath plan with vaulted ceilings. I believe the model we chose was called the Eastwood. We really liked the look of the plans that called for a 1,528-square-foot vacation home but wanted to add a screened porch on the backside of the house for additional room,” she says. “I really did my homework, talked to people
from Colorado to Montana,” says Teri. “I even visited a lumber mill to see
their procedure.” All this led them to Hearthstone. The Morrises' site, located in the foothills of the Pine Mountains, was cleared of debris and the foundation for a crawl space had been poured. “I think it took roughly six or seven weeks before the logs would be ready to ship. Once they came, the cabin of Eastern white pine logs went up relatively fast,” says Teri, “in about a week.” The house, which the couple built in October of 1993 with the help of local contractor Johnny McLeroy, really was built without a hitch. Finishing the interior took approximately eight months. The result is a soft, weathered-gray cabin that has aged gracefully over the years. Hearthstone has found that the size of their logs
thick, 12 inches high, and up to 40 feet long to their size, length, and degree of
heartwood. Another benefit of logs this long is fewer cuts and joints, making for a
very secure structure. “To ensure that the walls are in alignment after a year
or two each opening in the home squared and weathertight. The company also uses a
vertical through-bolt and compression spring system to take care of any settling and
shrinkage,” says Ricketson. “In the case of the Morris home,” he continues, “we used a half-dovetail notch on all the corners. And, as in all our homes, between logs in the walls we install a foam- based insulation, which keeps out the weather and keeps in warmth. Lots of rolled insulation is used in the ceilings.” “One thing I made sure of when we were starting to investigate building a home was that it had to be low-maintenance and low-hassle” says Teri. That is what they got. And the home has stood up very well to the hot, damp Georgia summers. “This property is large and heavily wooded with a lush variety indigenous Georgia trees such as pine, oak, and sweet gum. The getaway home has an inviting front porch, just like an old-time cabin. We added a screened-in porch to the back that overlooks my garden and Doug's one-hole putting green. It just couldn't be prettier,” says Teri. “I'll tell you, this house stays relatively cool in the summer with little problems from any dust (like you get in the city). And it's warm in the winter,” says Teri. She adds that some of that warmth comes from the three skylights they called for. They also like the sunlight that the skylights allow in. According to Teri, she and Doug had nothing but
praise for contractor McLeroy and his head foreman “Poochie.” “When
you've done as much research as I did on just what type of home we wanted, you'd feel
comfortable letting a man like Johnny take charge of the building process. Johnny
had built log homes before, which is one of the reasons we trusted his judgment. He
was terrific,” says Teri. Teri was vigilant about coming out to the building site at least once a week during construction. “It was really fascinating to watch and we couldn't have had a better crew working on the house,” acknowledges Teri. But if you ask the couple about the look of their cabin, Teri and Doug will keep returning to the notion that they didn't want a getaway cabin that appeared new. “There's a lot to be said for a place that looks like it had always belonged on the land.” The couple's land has passed through many hands over the years. “It has been a turkey farm and a cotton farm. As we walk around with our dogs we inevitably find relics. We've also found many Indian artifacts such as flints and arrowheads.” The Morrises try getting away to the cabin at least
once a week. They go for weekends and holidays, and for longer stretches whenever
they can. “It's only an hour and a half from our home in Atlanta. Our
little granddaughter loves to visit. We will all go down to one of our two ponds and
catch catfish or bass. I really love to cook, I think it's just my Southern heritage
and appreciation for great Cajun recipes,” says Teri. Teri likes her
all-electric kitchen. “We have painted the birch cabinets mint-green, which
complements the dove-gray interior log stain. The nearest grocery store is
approximately 16 to 18 miles away so the Morrises bring the groceries from their home in
Atlanta. Or, Teri will fetch vegetables from her garden, which unfortunately is also
favored by the local deer population. There's no problem inside, however, Teri says. “Because the kitchen opens up onto the great room, the hardwood floor is seamless from room to room. Our air conditioning handles the Georgia heat. In winter, we burn in the fireplace wood gathered from the property. When we need more heat, we turn on the heat pump.” The fireplace and hearth feature stone that has been gathered from the Morrises' acreage. The Morrises love their property and enjoy sharing it with others. “We will invite friends over who inevitably love to stargaze. When the Hale-Bopp comet was making its return visit some years ago, we had friends bring their telescopes so they could look to their hearts' content,” says Teri. When family comes, the Morrises' nieces and nephews find the loft the absolute best hideaway. “The rest of us will watch TV, have a picnic under one of the many shade trees on the property, or fish and relax. We wanted nothing very citified in the furnishings, so there's lots of quilts, comfortably overstuffed sofas and chairs, and in the one of the bedrooms, bunk beds for the kids to enjoy (although many times they prefer the loft),” says Teri. Overall, the house the Morrises had built for easy maintenance has proven to be a success. Teri reiterates, “We really wanted a getaway that wouldn't burden us with upkeep. We are very satisfied to find a company that would do exactly what they said they were going to do.” Builder: Johnny McLeroy, Griffin, Georgia. |
© 1996-2002 Hearthstone, Inc. All rights reserved. |
