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BY TERESA HILGENBERG P H OTO S © 1 9 9 9 C Y N DY WAT E R S U N L E S S OT H E R W I S E N OT E D BELOW: The “Fair Oaks” plan from Appalachian Log Structures was modified to create this beautiful 2,100-square foot log home. Situated on a wooded, waterfront property near Tazewell,Tennessee, the home has been outfitted with some of the newest products on the market.
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here it sits on wooded, lakefront property outside Tazewell, Tennessee: the log home of your dreams. A shingled green roof reflects the trees and other natural features found on the lot. Stonework on the basement exterior mirrors the craggy drive through the foothills that brought you to the home. The quiet lapping of water draws you down the sloping property to a beautiful lake setting. A neat walkway flanked by newly-planted flowers draws the eye to the front porch. But it is the wood, Eastern white
pine timbers cut and shaped into 8" D-logs, that draws you in. This is the Appalachian Mail Order Home, brought to realization through the cooperation of Appalachian Log Structures, Inc., and the sponsorship of dozens of national suppliers. Log Home Design Ideas is proud to be one of those sponsors.
THE TEAM Along with Appalachian Log Structures and LHDI, leaders in the home products industry have supplied everything from the fireplace in the great room to a central vacuum system
installed on all three of the home’s levels. But one team member stands out among the rest — Emily’s Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Syracuse, New York, and dedicated to preserving families that have lost a child. The foundation was formed in memory and honor of Emily, a young woman killed in a violent car accident in 1995. Her parents felt the organization would be their daughter’s lasting legacy by providing families with the tools they need to stay together through the healing process after losing a child.
BELOW (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT): The view from the property before construction began: “perfect” for a log home with its wooded, lakefront setting. With masonry walls in place, the basement floor is poured; a state-of-the-art in-floor heating system will keep this bottom level heated through cold Tennessee winters. Logs bearing the 8" D-log profile for which Appalachian Log Structures is known are delivered to the site and ready for placement.The rear of the home, with a two-tiered deck, impressive prow and dormers, is as beautiful as its surroundings. Staff Photos
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Together with Appalachian Log Structures and other project sponsors, Emily’s Foundation hosted preview and open house fundraising events held at the mail order home. The group was also the beneficiary of funds raised through donations and tour fees.
THE “FAIR OAKS”
No detail was overlooked, inside or out, when the finishing touches were put on the home. Jason Davis of Davis Brothers Nursery, Inc., Rose Hill,Virginia, brought his crew to the site to spruce up the exterior with a beautiful landscape plan.
The mail order home is a variation of Appalachian Log Structures’ “Fair Oaks” plan, one of the company’s most popular designs. Its 2,100 square feet of living space includes a master suite with walkin closet on the main floor, an expansive 19 foot by 20 foot great room with cathedral ceilings, spacious kitchen and dining areas, and two bedrooms on the second level that include their own baths. A deck runs from one end of the home to the other to take advantage of the property’s spectacular setting, and the front porch welcomes visitors. A unique design feature is the bottom floor of the home, actually a drivein garage and basement. Stepping out of this third level, you’ll find yourself
on a walk-out deck covered by the upper tier of the deck off the home’s main level.
STEP INSIDE For anyone who has ever built a home, the inside of this mail order home may be just as attractive as the charming exterior. Why? Because when you look beyond the exquisite craftsmanship poured into every detail of the home’s construction, you notice something else: everything is there, beckoning you to come in and stay. From beds and bedding to appliances and dinnerware, sofas and chairs to artwork and other accents, the home is filled with the pieces that turn a house into a home. All of the home’s furniture and furnishings was selected from the catalogs of participating mail order companies by the staff of LHDI. The concept of a mail order home is a unique one; how many people can say they bought their house and everything in it — even the kitchen sink — without ever leaving their easy chair?
Mail Order Log Home Floor Plan
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Second Floor
In the March 2000 issue of Log Home Design Ideas, we will bring you into the Appalachian Mail Order Home for a complete look at the home, how it was decorated, and the people who made it happen. Hope you can join us!
PROJECT SPONSORS
Reprinted with permission from Log Home Design Ideas January 2000. ©2000 Home Buyer Publications, LLC, Chantilly, Virginia, 800-826-3893.
Acucraft, Inc. Aiphone Beam Industries Caradco Windows Carriage Carpets Hardman’s Lumber Kemper Company, Inc. Progress Lighting Sika Corp. Unico System Union Church Millwork Wilsonart International, Inc. Wirsbo/Home Technology Group
PARTICIPATING MAIL ORDER COMPANIES Berea College Student Crafts Bombay Co. Country Curtains Domestications Gardener’s Supply Co. King Arthur Flour Kitchen & Home L.L. Bean River Valley Rustic Furniture Southwest Style Sturbridge Yankee Workshop Vermont Outdoor Furniture
RIGHT, TOP: An impressive prow, two-tiered deck and unique windows make the rear of the home as attractive as the front. RIGHT, MIDDLE:The view from the road provides perspective for the mail order home’s setting.Trees tower over the home while Lake Norris and mountain vistas create the perfect backdrop. RIGHT, BOTTOM:The front elevation of the Appalachian Mail Order Home speaks to the simplicity of log home design: clean lines and an overall blending with nature.
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