NRV Homes: Log Home

Where Rustic Meets Elegant Quite Comfortably

Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos by Kristie Lea Photography

There’s one angle to log houses that awakens a passion for nature and a sentimental feeling toward this rustic home environment and its western flair. Visions of pioneers chopping down trees, sizing logs and building their own homes are blended with the simplicity of an uncomplicated lifestyle.

Then there’s the perspective of today’s contemporary log home with all the amenities, comforts and luxuries of stickbuilt houses, while still exuding the enchanting, natural warmth that only logs can deliver. This Blacksburg property gracefully melds the nostalgic longing for a natural ambiance with the desire to live with modern accoutrements. The large front porch spans the entire width of the house and offers copious options for a bistro dining set, thick chair pads on wicker and the requisite rocking chairs. There’s plenty of space for dining, relaxing and rocking. In just the past 18 months, the homeowner has meticulously removed dying or crowded trees, and installed some professional landscaping. The circular driveway, leading to a 3-car garage, has been smoothly paved. Curb appeal here is 10 on a scale of 1-10. Stepping inside envelops the visitor instantly in a warm aura. From the generous foyer space, one can turn right, pass a powder room and stroll into the spacious gourmet kitchen. Straight ahead, natural daylight streams through windows and the new, high quality patio doors into a spacious open living room. These Pella sliding doors flank the stone fireplace [gas], which is outfitted with the ease of remote operation. Miniblinds encased in the glass offer convenience of shading as needed without any strings or manual up-down motion. This recent update opens to a newly expanded deck facing south in a fenced yard. The property has woods behind and in front, with minimal traffic on a short, dead-end street. While only a

mile from shopping, it feels like a frontier oasis.

Five substantially large, log, vertical columns create interest like sentries supporting the log open balcony. A soaring, cathedral ceiling lowers to offer a more cozy feel in the adjacent dining room, which can comfortably seat a dozen or more. The kitchen is welldefined with a large breakfast or wine bar on the dining room side. New slide inout shelving in a very large pantry offers convenience for seeing what’s there and retrieving it. The center island offers the gas range and oven with counter space on both sides, and there is the requisite kitchen window over double sinks. Granite counters nudge up to a log backsplash for the natural materials, while stainless steel appliances provide state-of-the-art aesthetics and advantages. Kitchen lighting has been strategically placed with five glass pendant lights over the island, classy track lighting over the breakfast bar, and motion task lights under finely-crafted oak cabinets. There’s an appropriate 4-light strip of bulbs over the sink and a couple small double small ceiling track lights. Larger single ceiling lights near the