May-June 2016
From This Day Forward Why Compare Package Quotes Log Homes and the Environment
Small Home Plans & Visit
Our People May-June 2016
In this issue... From this Day Forward, p. 4 Honest Abe Mill Manager Bobby Collins oversees the mill operations, helps maintain and operate the kilns and serves as liaison among the Honest Abe’s sales and design professionals and those who manufacture and deliver log and timber frame homes to customers.
Small Home, p. 8 Small Home Visit, p. 10 Cooking with Lodge, p. 13 Log Raising, p.14 Comparison Quote, 14 Natural Solution, 15
Honest Abe Living editing, design and layout by Claudia Johnson
Melissa Copas has been a designer at Honest Abe for more than 18 years and has helped hundreds of homeowners create the home they imagined in their dreams. She designed the Riley home featured in this issue.
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Greg Watson, Sales Representative at Honest Abe’s Cookeville Model Home, has been selling Honest Abe homes for 23 years, guiding dozens of homeowners through the process of creating their forever home. HonestAbe.com
800-231-3695
YouTube – Watch and learn about log and timber frame homes on our YouTube station. LinkedIn – Follow company and log home industry news on our LinkedIn company profile page. 2
Find Honest Abe Living articles, stunning photography and more information at the Honest Abe Log Homes blog and news room. www.honestabe.com/blog Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
From the President’s Desk
by Josh Beasley, President, Honest Abe Log Homes I don’t want to perpetuate any stereotypes here, and I certainly do not want to start any arguments, but it’s just a fact that men and women have different priorities when it comes to planning a new home.
Many homes now have offices, and both partners expect to plan that space together. However, we’re even seeing his and hers offices in many homes now. Spaces for relaxation as a couple or family are clearly a joint effort. These include patios and porches, outdoor entertainment areas, pools and spas and the family or great room.
In our experience at Honest Abe working with hundreds of couples, we’ve noticed that women are usually much more concerned about the design of the kitchen and dining area than their partner, unless, of course, it’s the man who handles most of the culinary responsibilities.
Of course, there are no rules here. Every situation is different, but it may be helpful to discuss this subject early on. As exciting as it is to build a home, admittedly, it can be stressful.
Women like to plan the master suite, and that includes the closets, dressing areas and master bath. Actually, women are more concerned with all the bedroom planning, especially for the children.
In interviewing Honest Abe homeowners for feature stories, blog posts and webinars we often hear a couple discuss how communicating each person’s desires, ideas and expectations while recognizing their interests, strengths and passions made the process more harmonious and produced the home both people imagined.
Men tend to focus on the areas they most envision themselves using. They’re very outspoken about the den, game room or bar. They usually have a plan for the outdoor buildings like garages or carports, sheds or workshops.
This issue of Honest Abe Living features the Riley home. I thought Mrs. Riley summed it up well when she said building a home together is a “once in a marriage” experience.
Guys are surprisingly vocal about the bathroom they will be using most, or at least about the area where they will be getting ready for the day.
July 16, 9 a.m.-Noon
Log Raising
Honest Abe National Headquarters
Families Welcome Lunch Served Indoor Event Registration Required
800-231-3695 HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
Photo: James Melton
HonestAbe.com
Photo: James Melton
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
From This Day Forward By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes Director of Marketing
Building a home is a once-in-a-marriage deal, according to Lucinda Riley, who along with husband Richard completed their Honest Abe log home last year. “Richard and I always had a dream of living in a log home,” Lucinda said. “We had lived in a nice conventional home for 30 +/- years. There was never a discussion of building a conventional home. It was either stay in the home we had always lived in or build a log home.” To learn more about log home construction, the Rileys attended an Honest Abe Log Raising in 2012.
Building a home is a once-in-amarriage deal. – Lucinda Riley
“We loved everything we were shown,” Lucinda recalled. “Darlene Dawson was the first person to call us and help us get the ball rolling. I guess it was Darlene’s enthusiasm that helped us to choose Bear’s Den and Honest Abe Log Homes.” Lucinda said she and Richard looked at and “played with” different house designs for many years before they actually met with Darlene Dawson and husband Rodger, owners of Bear’s Den Log Homes.
Photo: James Melton
“I kept coming back to the one we settled on as my base foundation and reworked the floor plan to suit our lifestyle,” Lucinda said. “It is just funny how it works out, but we both agreed on the log style and pretty much everything else that we picked out. Our tastes are very similar.”
Exposed beams, naturally finished wood interiors, walnut trim and
locally crafted cabinetry were incorporated into a plan created by Honest Abe designer Melissa Copas from ideas the Rileys had developed over decades of research. The wrap-around porch with its high front gable was the perfect setting for the wedding of the Riley's daughter last year.
Photo: Lyndsey Wyatt
HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
Photo: James Melton
The Dawsons traveled to Mayfield, Ky., where the Rileys' new log home was to be located within two miles of the couple’s existing home. “It was like being with someone I had known for many years from the first time we met Richard and Lucinda and sat at their kitchen table talking about their vision, their dream,” Darlene said. “Honest Abe designer Melissa Copas worked with the Rileys and Bear’s Den to draft custom plans, finally putting their dream to paper.” To build the 2,945 square foot, 8x8 D-log home the Rileys chose Glenn and Kenny Perrin of H.H. Log Sales, who, like the Dawsons, are Honest Abe Independent Dealers. “I cannot put into words what a special group of men built this home,” Darlene said, explaining that Richard Riley also worked on construction and finish. “This home was a labor of love. It HonestAbe.com
is different; it’s a home that has created special memories from the first shovel of earth.” Although construction could not begin until a 1960s-style house was demolished and a number of trees were cleared, Lucinda has positive memories of the actual building process. “I think we would rate our construction experience very high,” she said. “Glenn Perrin and his crew allowed us to be a part of every aspect of the construction of our log home. They seemed to truly care about our thoughts and wishes. We would (and do) recommend them to anyone considering building a log home and can’t say enough good about Glenn, Kenny and crew!” Darlene expressed equally strong feelings about Bear’s Den’s collaboration with H. H. Log Sales in creating the Riley’s home. 6
“Glenn was my rock, my thinker and a special person that has touched my life forever,” said Darlene, who praised all of Perrin’s work on the project, specifically pointing out the intricate gable customizations that give the house its distinctive look. “The Rileys chose a c o m b i n at i o n h e av y t i m b e r a n d conventional roof system with 8” round porch posts, and Glenn customized the web trusses on the gable porch lines.” With three bedrooms and two and a half baths, the house features rich, solid walnut trim and doors throughout. Local craftsmen created the cabinetry and flooring, and the Rileys completed some of the finish work themselves. “If I had it to do over, yes, we would still make the same choices that we did,” Lucinda said. “There are a few things as far as design goes that I would have changed, but it is hard to think about everything until you live in the home.” Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
“We farm,” Lucinda said. “Richard comes home very dirty! I wanted him to be able to enter through the garage into the utility room, strip off his dirty clothes and walk right into the shower. I also wanted our closet to be close to or a part of the utility room. This keeps him from tracking tons of dirt all over the house.” Lucinda may not want the dirt in the house, but there’s no denying she and Richard are proud to be among the generations who’ve farmed the land covered by it. The log home they’d imagined for a lifetime is only a couple of miles from Richard’s parents, and all three of the Riley children make their homes within five miles. Last summer their daughter was married on the porch, and the home is often filled with the laughter of grandchildren. “Lucinda and Richard had vision of a home that would create new family memories, and they have started that vision,” Darlene said. “The Rileys are wonderful people, I’ve been blessed that God let us cross paths.”
If we had it to do over, yes, we would still make the same choices we did. – Lucinda Riley The open design of the Rileys’ kitchen (below) allows for interaction with guests during gatherings with friends and family. A strategically designed laundry room (right) features open and covered storage, a work counter and a full shower. The use of natural-finish cabinetry and well-placed light fixtures keeps both rooms bright and functional.
Photo: James Melton
Photo: James Melton
HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
Small
Home
By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes
When some people imagine their forever home, it’s a spectacular log or timber frame home. Over the past 37 years, Honest Abe Log Homes has met many of those dreamers, which is why thousands across the United States – even in other countries – are living in a home just like they imagined.
“There are those who wish for a cabin by the sea or a lake,” said Fred Kendall, design director for Honest Abe. “Some dream of a retreat in the woods or mountains. Others just want to retire on the family farm.” Kendall said these homeowners often found what Monticello they were seeking among Honest Abe’s Legacy plans, or they have worked with the Honest Abe design team to create their own custom plan. “Sometimes there’s a person who wants something really small,” Kendall said, adding that these requests are not always just for sportsman’s cabins or vacation retreats. “Tiny houses are in demand for primary residences now more than we’ve ever seen in the past.” The standard American home is around 2,100 square feet, whereas the typical tiny house is between 100 and 400 square feet, according to thetinylife.com. However, some sources include homes up to 1,000 square feet, characterizing them as “small homes.” “Honest Abe offers three plans that fit squarely into the small home category,” Kendall said. “The Monticello and the Creekside are from our Legacy Collection, and Cumberland Cabin is a custom plan offered in our Customers’ Creations Catalog.” The Monticello is a 624 square foot cabin that features a living room with a fireplace, a kitchen/dining room combination and full bath on the first floor and an open loft accessed by an internal staircase on the second floor. “Stairs reduce floor space,” Kendall explained. “That’s why it’s important to design understair areas for maximum use. We’ve also looked at creative ways to minimize the amount of square footage taken up by a staircase while still making it safe Monticello, 624’, 2 floors HonestAbe.com
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and functional.” Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
At 960 square feet the Creekside is small enough to be cozy but spacious enough to be welcoming. There are two bedrooms, a full bath and an open kitchen, living and dining area in the single floor design. An optional basement-level two-car garage can be accessed from a hidden stairwell. “If the homeowner does not want the basement, the space gained from elimination of the staircase can be used as a small office, a pantry or even child’s sleeping quarters.” Creekside, Both the Creekside and the Monticello have full covered porches 960’, 1 floor across the front, with the Creekside having a back deck and the Monticello sporting a full covered back porch. “Just as with larger homes, porches and decks expand the living space,” Kendall said. “Owners of small houses often treat these areas like extra rooms, using them for entertaining, dining or even working from home, weather permitting, of course.” Cumberland Cabin emerged from the imagination of an Honest Abe client, Kendall recalled. “This is almost the quintessential tiny house,” Kendall said. “It’s only 560 square foot on two stories.” Downstairs there’s an open efficiency kitchen and an enclosed full bath. A wall of windows floods the first floor great room and second floor loft with natural light. Outside, the porch Cumberland Cabin, 560’, 2 floors wraps the façade, covered on either side of the tall windows and open directly in front of them. “The cabin’s owner allows us to share the plans,” Kendall said, adding, “We’re looking forward to the challenge of creating other small or tiny wood or timber homes.” With its popularity increasing every year, especially – and surprisingly – among baby-boomers with advanced degrees and higher than average income and among women homeowners, the tiny house movement appears to be more than merely a fad. “It’s a personal choice,” said Kendall, who has been with Honest Abe for more than 35 years. “One of the things we’ve tried to do here is make sure we can help people have the home they want, no matter what the size.” HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
t i s i V e m o H l l a m S
m o o R g n i v i L The Blair home was created for Honest Abe customers using the Monticello plan. HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
Bedroom Dining Area The Monticello has 624 SF, 2 stories and 2 full-length porches
Entrance
Kitchen HonestAbe.com
Fireplace 11
Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
Cumberland Cabin was created by Honest Abe from original customer design concepts.
Open First Floor
Front
The cabin has 560 SF, 2 stories and outside living spaces
Kitchen & Loft
n o i l i v a P
Explore all of Honest Abe’s floor plans at www.honestabe.com/floor-plans HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
Gooey Chocolate Skillets 1 (9-oz.) package chocolate wafers 3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter 3/4 c. bittersweet chocolate chips (60% cacao) 3/4 c. sugar 1/3 c. all-purpose flour 1 1/2 t. vanilla extract 2 large eggs, beaten Vanilla ice cream, for serving 1. Preheat the oven to 325˚. 2. Process the wafers in a food processor fitted with the metal blade until crushed or seal them in a zip top plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Melt 1/4 c. (1/2 stick) of the butter in a medium saucepan. Add to the wafers; pulse to combine or work into the crumbs with your fingertips. Press the wafer mixture into the bottom of six 5� cast iron skillets. 3. Melt the remaining 1/2 c. (1 stick) butter and chocolate chips together in the same saucepan over low heat. Remove from the heat and whisk in the sugar, flour and vanilla. While whisking, add the eggs and beat well. Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared skillets. Bake for 18 min. (they will not look set at this point). The centers will be slightly gooey. Do not over bake. 4. Serve lucky guests their own chocolate skillet, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Serves 6
With 200 recipes curated from Lodge's network of chefs and fans, Cast Iron Nation boasts a diverse array of recipes, stories and spectacular photography. Get it at www.lodgemfg.com. HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
Let Honest Abe Compare Home Package Quotes for Best Price Honest Abe is so confident about package prices for log and timber frame homes, they are backed up by the Honest Abe Honest Value Guarantee. Honest Abe will meet or beat the price of any competitor’s comparable log home, log cabin or timber frame home package. Simply submit a detailed item-for-item quote from another company. If it’s lower than the Honest Abe package, Honest Abe will meet it. Customers ask how such a guarantee can be offered. It's because Honest Abe’s time-tested procedures have proven to be the best possible solution for new log home buyers. Expert design engineers create dynamic, yet efficient floor plans. State-of-the-art manufacturing processes produce high-quality packages with less waste. Plus, everyone on Honest Abe’s experienced staff is readily available to assist customers each step of the way. To become familiar with what is included in Honest Abe packages, visit www.honestabe.com/log-packagecontents.
Visit a True Log Home Manufacturer Log home manufacturer Honest Abe Log Homes invites the public to visit its National Headquarters in Moss, Tenn., on July 16 or Sept. 17 for a Manufacturing Tour and Log Raising. The guided tour of the manufacturing plant includes the state-of-the art mill, kilns and log storage units. The event begins at 9 a.m. with a Log Raising during which members of the Honest Abe team assemble a small structure, showing and describing the process of building an Honest Abe Log Home. During and after a complimentary lunch guests may spend time with drafting professionals and new home consultants as they learn how log cabins and timber frame homes are designed, financed and more. Families are welcome at the free event, which is held in a climate controlled building at the Honest Abe Log Homes National Headquarters manufacturing complex on U.S. Hwy. 52, 10 miles west of Celina and approximately 25 miles east of Lafayette in the community of Moss, Tenn. Call 1-800-231-3695 or visit www.honestabe.com for additional information or to make required reservations.
2016 Honest Abe Log Raisings
Honest Abe Log Home Raising and Mill Tour July 16, Moss, TN Honest Abe Log Home Raising and Mill Tour Sept. 17, Moss, TN HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
the Natural Solution Log Homes and the Environment By Perma-Chink Systems, Inc. Think GREEN. Log homes are often the only building solution that is totally natural. This abundant, renewable resource is good for your health and the environment. Log homes are increasingly the choice of consumers interested in living “green.” Exposure to toxic chemicals in our everyday lives has led to a significant increase in skin problems, migraines, respiratory illnesses, and a number of other health related problems. It’s no wonder green living is on the minds of builders and homeowners today. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is just one of the conditions caused by indoor air pollution. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that indoor concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can be 2 to 5 times that of outdoor air due to the use of man-made chemicals in conventional building materials. Fortunately, logs are completely natural and do not emit any VOCs or other pollutants. According to the Canadian Wood Council, steel requires 2.4 times the energy and produces 1.4 times the airborne emissions to manufacture than wood, and concrete requires and produces 1.7 times the energy and emissions. Therefore, logs and solid wood are the building material that generates the least amount of air and water pollution, emission of greenhouse gases and solid waste. The miracle of photosynthesis combines natural resources to make a tree grow. Solid wood from trees is the only building material that is beautiful, biodegradable, recyclable, energy efficient and renewable. Thanks to modern forestry practices, growths of new forests in North America have outpaced consumption and can Sladen Home, Honest Abe Log Homes Photo: Roger Wade remain at a sustainable level for the foreseeable future. Log homes are also a sensible solution from an energy conservation standpoint. Studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have compared the energy efficiency of log homes with conventional framed homes. Results show that due to the energy efficiency gained through the thermal mass of solid wood walls, log homes are more efficient to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. Honest Abe homes meet or exceed industry standards. At Honest Abe they follow quality-control processes every day to produce the best possible logs for your home. When a home is made from solid logs, you are effectively taking the carbon contained in those logs out of environmental circulation over the entire life of the home. Eastern White Pine, which is used for Honest Abe’s log homes, is a major species for reforestation, making it a plentiful and renewable resource. Honest Abe logs keep inside temperatures of homes comfortable in all seasons, allowing log walls to collect and store energy, then radiate it back into the home. Provided the home is sealed properly, you can have a super energy efficient home, saving 15 to 20 percent more energy than with a conventional home over a lifetime. To further protect your health and the environment, only water-based, environmentally friendly stains, finishes and sealants should be used to beautify and protect a log home. Perma-Chink Systems is proud to offer a comprehensive line of green products. Contact Perma-Chink Systems at 1-800-548-3554 or visit online www.permachink.com. HonestAbe.com
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Honest Abe Living May-June 2016
First Floor
Second Floor
3,441 square feet 3 bedrooms 3 bathrooms
See this plan and many others at
www.honestabe.com
9995 Clay County Highway Moss, TN 38575
800-231-3695 info@honestabe.com