Log Home Tour, Part 1: Entry

We just passed the 3rd anniversary of living in the
log home
 our family hand built over a period of 6 years.

I think it takes me at least two years to really settle into a home, 

so after three years,
I can confidently say that all things are as they should be- where they need to be. 

 It has been and whole lot of fun decorating the lodge,

 and there are so many things to show ya all, that we will take it in turns.

 For starters, the porch and entry way.

Winter porch

The front porch is our outdoor living room in the summer,
a work area and wood storage in the winter.

 We built it in scale to the lodge, which is 36x36,
so the porch is 12x36, which seems real big!

  I had defended the idea of a 12' porch by saying that nearly all porches are too small,

 and I desired this porch to accommodate all the seasons with all our family, so 12' it is.

  When we first began designing the house plans, we wanted to take into account the pattern of the sun in each season and arrange the position of the lodge accordingly. 

 The porch gets morning sun, and by noon is in shade for the rest of the day,

 staying cool in the heat of summer.  

It is also on the opposite side of the house as the weather hits,

 so in winter, ice and snow do not blow into it.

  I love our porch.
This is where we park first thing in the morning come a fine summer day.
The summer porch is a great place to take in the sunrise with Bible and coffee.

Summer porch

This too, is where we find ourselves for breakfast, lunch, and dinner a good portion of the warm season.

The rocking chairs are the perfect place to wait out a terrific summer thunderstorm,

 read to the children, or visit with a friend.

The entry is 12x12.  

The coat closet on the right side and the bathroom door on the left side,

 there is enough room for us all to enter the house and take off our boots and coats 

(which are generally worn 7 or 8 months a year).  

One coat closet is never enough in a big family,

 and this is one area I would do differently in hindsight, and may actually be having some changes in the near future to accommodate a more farm like lifestyle.  

The oak dresser (left) was my grandma's 

and is the general dump off place when we come in the door for keys, sunglasses and such. 

 The bathroom adjacent houses a three drawer dresser that holds all the hats, mittens, boot socks,

 and littles shoes and slippers.

Many of the doors, lights, cabinets, and bathroom fixtures throughout the lodge came from salvage stores.  We were able to save a great deal of money when building by purchasing such things when we saw them, not necessarily when we were ready to install them.
 Our kitchen cabinets, and some of the lights, for example.
 sat in storage for a few years (after purchase) before installation.
The front door, bathroom door, and closet doors are all salvaged.

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So here we are at the end of this tour.

Welcome to Providence Lodge!

Next time I will take you through the kitchen.
See you there!