Chestnut Lodge
Second homes for vacation, retreat or investment have been increasing in part due to the “buyers” market in real estate. By 2012 that number will top 10 million second home owners in the United States. A significant number of second home buyers are choosing log homes. The trend is up for several reasons. One of which is the pure look and feel of a log home. There is an inherent honesty with log homes. What you see is what you get. We are also looking for a respite, a place to go to recharge our batteries and renew our spirits. The North Georgia Mountains is an hour away and a world apart from the pace of metro Atlanta.
Additional Trends……….
Less is more. Many customer want smaller houses with greater amenities. No one wants a house that requires more work. They would rather have fewer rooms, but greater quality.
Good design sells. A well designed house uses the square footage and volume to its best advantage. Many rooms are multifunctional. Typically the living room, kitchen and dining rooms are one space. “Cozy” rooms are smaller spaces that may function as a study as well as a guest room. Loft spaces double as additional living space and become a sleeping loft for Spillover Company.
High tech has created a desire for high touch. Log cabins have become popular in part because people want something that is as it appears to be. Log houses are honest. If the house is well constructed it shows, if poorly built it shows. You can’t hide behind drywall. Also, people are tired of surfaces they can’t touch for fear of getting it dirty or damaged. Rustic doesn’t mean primitive, it means friendly, touchable, usable, durable.
The heart of the home. The kitchen is it. It needs to be open to the living spaces so the cook is not left out of the conversation. They are getting larger with multiple prep areas, double ovens, six burner stoves, etc. One house currently being designed has a brick pizza oven, an adjacent fireplace and soft seating in the kitchen.
Multi-generational house. This is even truer for second home buyers. Families can share the cost of a house among, grandparents, parents, siblings, etc.. This drives the necessity for one or two master bedroom suites on the main level withADA accessibility in kitchens and bathrooms. Remember, the boomers are aging.
Size matters. This is a polarized issue. Many second home owners want a cabin that is 1200 to 1500 square feet or they want 3500 square feet on multiple levels. They also want convenience. When a second home is purchased, the buyer wants the process packaged so they know what they are getting, for how much and when.
What we do best at Modern Rustic Homes is to identify and define the scope of the project, design the cabin to meet the lifestyle and aesthetic expectations, provide the construction drawings and builder to turn the log home dream into a reality.