Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.6.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Town + Country Cedar Homes Custom log homes ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://www.cedarhomes.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Pages - [Home Page](https://www.cedarhomes.com/) - LIFESTYLES... Crafted in Cedar Custom Log Home Designers + Builders Whether it’s a luxury custom log home or a handcrafted timber home, a contemporary mountain architectural marvel or a Thoreau log cabin in the woods, it’s your new home.But, as a toes-in-the-sand stroll on the beach or a mountain trail hike with almost endless vistas - [Trending](https://www.cedarhomes.com/trending/) - 1 2 3 … 34 Next » https://www.facebook.com/towncountrycedarhomes/ - [Our Work (Journey New)](https://www.cedarhomes.com/journey-our-work/) - DESIGN REFINED RUSTIC Let's see some craft Let's see some style Let's see some water Let's see some horses Let's see some warm 'n fuzzy - [A Process](https://www.cedarhomes.com/a-process/) - Get INSPIRED - [Sophisticated Photo Gallery](https://www.cedarhomes.com/sophisticated/) - EXPLORE More - [Refined Rustic Photo Gallery](https://www.cedarhomes.com/refined-rustic/) - Over-stuffed/over-sized leather seating, massive handcrafted King Post trusses, boulders the size of Volkswagens. Combination gun safe room / wine cellar. Probable moose above the fireplace… EXPLORE More - [Our Plans (Journey)](https://www.cedarhomes.com/journey-our-plans/) - We have designed and crafted thousands of homes of quite varied architectural style/feel. With a bit of conversation with us we can provide MORE EXAMPLES. Expanding/contracting/combining plans, adding/deleting elements all can be done, as well as timber/log/board&batten/stone/etc. can be changed or combined. Or, as many have done, IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, WE CAN PRODUCE - [H2O Photo Gallery](https://www.cedarhomes.com/h2o/) - EXPLORE More - [Equine Photo Gallery](https://www.cedarhomes.com/equine/) - EXPLORE More - [Design](https://www.cedarhomes.com/log-home-design/) - CRAFT - [Craft](https://www.cedarhomes.com/craft/) - BUILD - [Build](https://www.cedarhomes.com/log-home-construction/) - An INVITATION - [Get Inspired](https://www.cedarhomes.com/get-inspired/) - Some see custom log homes, hand crafted timber homes, shingle style homes. We see run-abouts, blue sky powder days, wine tastings and classic pickups—LIFESTYLES.A collection of dog-eared timber home magazines, architectural digests, and torn out log home plans. Maybe, eight Pinterest boards with hundreds of photos of your favorite log home kitchens, ultimate timber style - [Cabin in the Woods Photo Gallery](https://www.cedarhomes.com/cabin-in-the-woods/) - EXPLORE More - [An Invitation](https://www.cedarhomes.com/an-invitation/) - 366 W. Levering Road Levering, MI 49755 Contact - 2025 InstagramThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.Name(Required) First Last Country(Required)Select CountryUnited StatesAfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial - [Our Plans (from nav)](https://www.cedarhomes.com/our-plans/) - We have designed and crafted thousands of homes of quite varied architectural style/feel. With a bit of conversation with us we can provide MORE EXAMPLES. Expanding/contracting/combining plans, adding/deleting elements all can be done, as well as timber/log/board&batten/stone/etc. can be changed or combined. Or, as many have done, IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, WE CAN PRODUCE - [Our Work (from nav)](https://www.cedarhomes.com/our-work/) - Let's see some craft Let's see some style Let's see some water Let's see some horses Let's see some warm 'n fuzzy - [Thank You for Your Interest](https://www.cedarhomes.com/thank-you-for-your-interest/) - 366 W. Levering Road Levering, MI 49755 - [Who We Are](https://www.cedarhomes.com/log-home-builder/) - An EPIC Testimonial Meet our Director of Client Fulfillment in this episode of EPIC LOG HOMES Our ROOTS Town + Country Cedar Homes was founded on a commitment to quality. From the trees we choose to build with to the painstaking attention to detail that we give each and every log home we design and - [Trending (duplicate)](https://www.cedarhomes.com/trending-duplicate/) - Trending LOAD More https://www.facebook.com/towncountrycedarhomes/ ## My Templates - [Default Kit](https://www.cedarhomes.com/?elementor_library=default-kit) ## Easy Slider Pro - [Cabin in the Woods](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/refined-rustic-2-4/) - [Equine](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/refined-rustic-2-3/) - [H2O](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/refined-rustic-2-2/) - [Sophisticated](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/refined-rustic-2/) - [Refined Rustic](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/refined-rustic/) - [Make a Splash](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/firewood-art-2-2/) - [Dressed in White](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/firewood-art-2/) - [Firewood Art](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/firewood-art/) - [Bathed in Luxury](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/white-christmas-2/) - [White Christmas](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/white-christmas/) - [Fall Framed](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/how-to-speak-door-2/) - [New Lakeside Log Cabin](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/new-lakeside-log-cabin/) - [How to Speak Door](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/how-to-speak-door/) - [Island Time](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/island-time/) - [Build It and They Will Come](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/build-will-come/) - [Eclectic](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/eclectic/) - [Hudson](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/hudson/) - [Charlevoix Lodge](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/charlevoix-lodge/) - [Shanty Creek](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/shanty-creek/) - [Wildwood](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/wildwood/) - [Oaklawn Lodge](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/oaklawn-lodge/) - [Glenwood](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/glenwood/) - [Aspen Lodge](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/815/) - [Carlton](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/stordahl-residence/) - [Sky View](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/kioke-meister-residence/) - [Winslow](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/peterson-residence/) - [Wadsworth](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/lau-residence/) - [Pine Lodge](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/winkel-residence/) - [Alcott Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/alcott-floor-plans/) - [Black Bear Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/black-bear-floor-plans/) - [Boyne Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/boyne-floor-plans/) - [Bristol Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/bristol-floor-plans/) - [Colonial Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/colonial-floor-plans/) - [Drummond Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/drummond-floor-plans/) - [Eagle's Nest Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/eagles-nest-floor-plans/) - [Elk Lake Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/elk-lake-floor-plans/) - [Glenwood Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/glenwood-floor-plans/) - [Hamptons Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/hamptons-floor-plans/) - [Harbor Point Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/harbor-point-floor-plans/) - [Hawthorne Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/hawthorne-floor-plans/) - [Heather Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/heather-floor-plans/) - [Hudson Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/hudson-floor-plans/) - [Lakota Lodge Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/lakota-lodge-floor-plans/) - [Mackinac Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/mackinac-floor-plans/) - [Northville Lodge Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/northville-lodge-floor-plans/) - [Pine Canyon Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/pine-canyon-floor-plans/) - [Portage Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/portage-floor-plans/) - [Preserve Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/preserve-floor-plans/) - [Rocky Point Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/rocky-point-floor-plans/) - [San Juan Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/san-juan-floor-plans/) - [Shanty Creek Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/shanty-creek-floor-plans/) - [Stillwater Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/stillwater-floor-plans/) - [Stoney Creek Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/stoney-creek-floor-plans/) - [Whitman Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/whitman-floor-plans/) - [Roycroft Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/roycroft-floor-plans/) - [Wildwood Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/wildwood-floor-plans/) - [Northville Lodge](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/northville-lodge/) - [Alcott](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/alcott/) - [Black Bear](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/black-bear/) - [Boyne](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/boyne/) - [Colonial](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/colonial/) - [Cowell](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/cowell/) - [Drummond](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/drummond/) - [Eagle's Nest](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/eagles-nest/) - [Edelweiss](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/edelweiss/) - [Elk Lake](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/elk-lake/) - [Hamptons](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/hamptons/) - [Harbor Point](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/harbor-point/) - [Heather](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/heather/) - [Lakota Lodge](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/lakota-lodge/) - [Mackinac](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/mackinac/) - [Pine Canyon](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/pine-canyon/) - [Portage](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/portage/) - [Preserve](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/preserve/) - [Rocky Point](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/rocky-point/) - [Roy Croft](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/roy-croft/) - [San Juan](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/san-juan-lodge/) - [Stillwater](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/stillwater/) - [Stoney Creek](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/stoney-creek/) - [Whitman](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/whitman/) - [Edelweiss Floor Plans](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/edelweiss-floor-plans/) - [Hawthorne](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/hawthorne/) - [Bristol](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/bristol/) - [slider1](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/slider1/) - [](https://www.cedarhomes.com/easyimageslider/621/) ## Cedar Home Posts - [Where There's Smoke...](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/whitefish-dip-recipe/) - There often is Smoked Whitefish DipThere’s a certain kind of snack that feels inseparable from a Michigan summer. You’ll find it in marinas along Lake Michigan, in paper baskets at roadside fish shacks in the Upper Peninsula, and sitting in plastic tubs at family cookouts next to the potato salad. Smoked whitefish dip isn’t flashy, - [The Four Seasons](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/the-four-seasons/) - There’s something quietly iconic about Northern White Cedar. It doesn’t shout for attention the way flashy ornamentals do. Instead, it settles into the landscape and becomes part of the rhythm of the place—especially in northern forests, lakeshores, and cedar homes where the scent of wood and fresh air seem to blend together. Spend a year - [Spring in a Bowl](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/spring-in-a-bowl/) - When we aren’t designing, sculpting, crafting, producing, building, or something to do with White Cedar, we cook… Ingredients: mound of cleaned fresh morels, coarsely chopped mound of cleaned ramps, chopped into pieces 1 tablespoon butter bacon bits to taste (home-made or packaged) ¼ cup dry white wine ¾ cup whipping cream ½ cup chicken stock - [We've Got You Covered](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/we-have-got-you-covered/) - If you’re looking to level up your backyard, a gazebo is probably on your radar. But not just any gazebo—let’s talk about log gazebos. Northern White Cedar gazebos. They’re like the rustic, cozy cabins of the outdoor world, combining charm, durability, and a slice of nature all in one. Whether you’re imagining a spot for - [Hamptons Style... Sort of](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/hamptons-style-sort-of/) - Not really that catchy, right? We have struggled with this. Clients have struggled with this. Builders, Real Estate Agents and Design Book/Plan-Book Publishers have all struggled with this. Outside of the actual Hamptons, what should this style be called? 1. East Coast Style on Gull Lake, MichiganOne suggestion was EAST COAST STYLE. The last three we - [Log Home Design 2024](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/log-home-design-2024/) - or “Will It Go Round In Circles”… BIMThe US National Building Information Model Standard Project Committee has the following definition:Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility. A BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its - [Town + Country Cedar Homes and Wine?](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/town-country-cedar-homes-and-wine/) - If we grew grapes and made wine…It is laborious, cold, wet, time-consuming, and meticulous. It involves teams of dedicated professionals and tons of moving parts. It’s not as easy as some would be led to believe. Now, this may sound like we are talking about building our over-the-top custom log or timber homes, but this - [When Mother Nature Is Your Building Partner](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/when-mother-nature-is-your-building-partner/) - “The good building is not one that hurts the landscape, but one which makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built.”– Frank Lloyd WrightWe live in a time when much of what surrounds us has divorced itself from its roots and ignores the time tested principles of geography – land, - [2024 Town + Country Cedar Homes Holiday Gift Guide](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/2024-town-country-cedar-homes-holiday-gift-guide/) - A few that come to mind… For the folks we design the ultra-cool wine caves for:Robb Report 672 Napa Valley Wine Club MembershipOn average each shipment will cost $600, not to exceed $650, plus tax.Four times a year, Robb Report and wine experts curate the best of the best, extremely rare, premium red wines from California - [Dog House](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/dog-house/) - …or, a house without an dog is not a home, especially a log homeAll dogs are perfect, period. But they aren’t always the best roommates — they shed, they climb on furniture, they drool, and lick themselves incessantly. There is no denying that a dog in the home causes some challenges, particularly design-wise. Here are - [Into the Woods We Go](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/into-the-woods-we-go/) - …and not for Northern White Cedar this timeYou all know how Mother Nature has blessed us here in northern Michigan with Northern White Cedar, the gold standard for our log homes, timber homes and Cedar homes, as well as, of course, sprinkled us with her elusive culinary pixy dust, the morel mushroom. But there is - [Invitation to the Party](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/invitation-to-the-party/) - We often talk about the TEAM, the CORE GROUP or the COLLABORATIVE we are made up of and what it takes to be invited into this circle — that 110%, overachiever, extra mile attitude thing. I’m not referring to just our Town + Country family, but all involved in the journey of handing over the - [Does this color suit me?](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/does-this-color-suit-me/) - One of the most exciting (and honestly, kind of intimidating) parts of building or refreshing a log home for our clients is choosing the color. Unlike slapping a coat of paint on drywall, a log home has personality, history, and texture built right into it. The color you choose doesn’t just sit on the surface—it - [Whatever Floats Your Boat (Plane)...](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/whatever-floats-your-boat-plane/) - If you’ve ever visited a lakeside community where the hum of a floatplane echoes across the water, you already know—there’s a certain kind of magic in places where log and timber homes meet aviation.There’s something timeless about log and timber homes. They fit naturally into forested shorelines, mountain valleys, and tucked-away coves. They feel permanent - [What, Were You Born in a Barn?](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/what-were-you-born-in-a-barn/) - There’s just something about sliding barn doors that hits the perfect mix of cozy and cool. Maybe it’s the farmhouse nostalgia. Maybe it’s the satisfying glide along that metal track. Or maybe it’s simply that barn doors make any room feel like it got a personality upgrade overnight. Whatever it is, we (and Pinterest-addicts) are - [Lift Your Spirit](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/lift-your-spirit/) - Once, a home elevator was a big, clunky add-on, often requiring a shaft, a noisy hydraulic motor, and a house architectural overhaul. These days, the picture is very different. Thanks to smarter engineering, new materials, and shifts in homeowner tastes, lifts are becoming sleek, subtle, and something that almost blends in with our home styles. - [Cabin Fever](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/cabin-fever/) - What would you picture if I asked you to close your eyes and imagine a cottage? Would it be a cozy wood-sided house in a beach town, a quaint thatched-roof home in the countryside, or maybe a Tudor-style house straight out of a fairytale? As it turns out, after researching this concept a bit more - [You Say Tomato...](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/you-say-tomato/) - ‘TIS THE SEASON! Heirloom tomato season! As you all already know, we don’t just craft over-the-top luxury log homes, we cook (eat). Sometimes even grow things… other than trees… like tomatoes! Cassandra’s Tomato Tart 2 ¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 ½ teaspoons salt 2 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar 1 ¼ cups grated Gruyere cheese 2 sticks plus 1 tablespoon cold - [Luxury Log Home Designs — Redux](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/luxury-log-home-designs-redux/) - Are you in the exciting process of designing and constructing a luxury log home? The best laid plans demonstrate a harmonious vision of the surrounding property and your own personal style. Did you know that the design you ultimately choose reflects as much about you as it does the land around it? Personality and Style - [A Sappy Log Home Company](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/a-sappy-log-home-company/) - Yes, those people that live in the great North, live the log home lifestyle, that hew timbers by hand, that chop and cut and haul and scribe and craft and build those custom log and timber homes no matter the time of year or weather, get sappy around the holidays. How can you not? The - [The Forest Through the Trees](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/the-forest-through-the-trees/) - Northern White Cedar Northern White Cedar, or Thuja occidentalis, is a small to medium sized tree that can be found along streams, in bogs and cedar swamps. It is easily recognized by its small, flat, scale-like leaves that are tightly bound to the twigs. Small cones are often present. When crushed, the needles will produce - [Make a Splash](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/make-a-splash/) - Yes, many of the homes we do for clients are situated on lakes, but, for those “less fortunate”, there is always the option to add a pool. Some of our favorites… - [Dressed in White](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/dressed-in-white/) - Why. We. Love. Winter. “You can't get too much winter in the winter”…..Robert Frost - [Light Up the Night!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/light-up-the-night/) - You have had this dream log home ratting around in your conscience for some time, daydreaming about it in meetings, sketching it on the back of napkins, pointing out similar photos that come across your social media feed to anyone in eye-shot. Every detail. Interior trusses. Exterior rooflines. Great Room windows. Stone masonry. Flooring, plumbing - [There's No Place Like Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/theres-no-place-like-home/) - Pro-tips on visiting us this time of year Fall Color It’s everywhere; no more words necessary… Food Traverse City has acquired a reputation as one of the country’s up-and-coming foodie towns. For two years in a row, Midwest Living magazine has listed Traverse City among its Five Top Food Towns -- and Bon Appetit magazine - [The New SUV](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/the-new-suv/) - …or Sport Utility Vacationhome I’m a log home fanatic … and an automobile fanatic. After recently reading an article about how SUV’s are overtaking sports cars in popularity, it got me thinking about how those worlds truly intersect and how we have actually redefined a segment of the vacation home market without really knowing it - ["Show Me Your Good Side"](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/show-me-your-good-side/) - When taking group pictures, it's more than likely that you've been forced to switch places with your friends because "that's not my good side" or "I look better on the left." Personally, I am fine standing on the left or the right, the middle, the front, or even the back of the pack. I don’t - [Morels: The Northern White Cedar of the Fungi World](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/morels-the-northern-white-cedar-of-the-fungi-world/) - As you all of course know, northern Michigan is best known as the home to White Cedar and our little White Cedar log home company (at least that is our opinion…)*. But a close second has to be that elusive, unpredictable, Springtime king of the mushroom realm — the morel. Our neighbor just down the - [TGIF](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/tgif/) - Noon on a Friday. Your watch seems to be stuck and moving nowhere. The temptation is to buzz your assistant and clear the rest of the day; it’s been one. of. those. weeks… Your focus has long since left the building and made its way to your favorite watering hole — TGIF! TGIF is the - [Holiday Spirit(s)](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/holiday-spirits/) - Online, people constantly peruse our log home plans because they possess a little something extra, something special. Every Tuesday on Facebook (Truss Crush Tuesday, of course) they like, love and comment on our photos of our log trusses and timber trusses, again, because of the extra craftsmanship and artistry that our people add. When crafting - ["My Stack Is Bigger Than Yours"](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/my-stack-is-bigger-than-yours/) - We have been in the business of natural wood homes since 1947. Custom log homes, hand-crafted timber frame homes, cottages, cabins, McMansions. From simple, warm and fuzzy Cedar paneled to way-over-the-top, gnarly, organic log. It’s always been about the wood…and the ones that worked that wood. These, that work with the wood, they are passionate - [The Move to Move](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/the-move-to-move/) - ... A twist on working remotely The recent COVID-19 pandemic has seen many employees, across a span of sectors, quickly forced to work from home. From the local TV meteorologist bringing you the weather, favorite coffee mug in hand, live, from a kitchen studio complete with the five year old’s masterpiece on the fridge as - [Back to Spring Planting](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/back-to-spring-planting/) - We are officially back out in the world, and, yes, of course, playing by all of the rules, doing what we can to avoid that nasty little buzz-kill of a virus. It seems this little bugger doesn’t much care much about architectural style, scenic building sites or geography. Rustic Colorado mountain log home, Lake Michigan - [We're Here](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/were-here/) - “Everything we do before a pandemic will seem alarmist. Everything we do after a pandemic will seem inadequate.” — Michael O. Leavitt, former Secretary of US Department of Health & Human Services. We would add “during,” as well. There is a lot to worry about in this seemingly scary time. This thing is here and - [The Cedar Snooze Button](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/the-cedar-snooze-button/) - Or why SPRING AHEAD can be a wonderful thing Trying to keep the early-bird title of the Town + Country Cedar Homes crew had me battling the snooze button on this first Monday after that dreaded spring-forward calendar day – Daylight Savings. Daylight Saving Time is the practice of advancing clocks during warmer months so - [Split Decision](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/split-decision/) - Once again, the outdoor chores of this log home lifestyle have got us thinking. Thinking about those specific chores, about options available, about the abstract, about cost/benefit analysis. This time it’s cost /benefit analysis of firewood. We have already discussed, and continue to discuss, at length, the trade-offs of gas v log fireplaces; that is - [A Horse of a Different Color](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/a-horse-of-a-different-color/) - err HOUSE... Spent the better part of the day yesterday with a leaf blower strapped to the back. There is something oddly relaxing about the Fall chill and the drone of a blower motor adding a layer of bass to the private Pavarotti concert playing in high quality Skull Candy earbuds; almost Zen-like. As the - [Fall = Ratatouille](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/fall-ratatouille/) - The classic dish, not the movie… There is something about that Fall wind, swirling those colorful leaves outside your window, the chill in the air while walking your Berner in the woods or the geese squawking their goodbyes for the season, that makes you crave that soul comforting bowl of inner warmth – Ratatouille. This - [This is the Pits](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/this-is-the-pits/) - Bonfire season is fast approaching (Note, for some of us the season lasts all year…) Yes, we love to talk about our log homes and show off the old-school massive stone fireplaces that set the stage of our Great Rooms, or photograph the sleek linear designs of our Contemporary Mountain Home fireplaces; functional art at - ["Can I Quote You on That?"](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/can-i-quote-you-on-that/) - Architecture — Log home design, Timber Frame design, Hampton style, Mountain Contemporary, Cottage and “Up North” style, to name a few of what we do; it’s quite the portfolio. The varied styles are as varied as our clients. Those clients all carry a “White Cedar dream home” in their minds, a long list of “I - [Bathed in Luxury](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/bathed-in-luxury/) - ... and surrounded by White Cedar. We often begin and end our days in our bathrooms. While we want our baths to be functional, today we also want them to offer a modicum of comfort—even a sense of pampering. Spacious master bathrooms have become one of the most considered spaces in log home design; bathrooms - [I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas ...](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/im-dreaming-of-a-white-christmas/) - A White Cedar One! Cedar greetings to all! - [Talkin' Turkey](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/talkin-turkey/) - Here, at Town + Country Cedar Homes, we obsess. We obsess about wood. We obsess about design. We obsess about systems, planning and quality control. And at Thanksgiving time, we obsess about our turkey. This has been on our table for the past ten years. You’re welcome… Maple-Brined, Wood-Smoked Grilled Turkey By John Ash, Fine - [Fall Framed](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/fall-framed/) - “Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” – Stanley Horowitz You provide the “artwork”, we will have it framed… - [Into the Woods](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/into-the-woods-2/) - Being in the natural wood home business, particularly with our 71 year history, we attract an amazingly wide and varied category of informational inquiry caller – “I am an appraiser and need help appraising a log home”, “I would like to talk to someone about some log home decorating ideas, please”, “Tell me about chink”, - [Timeless ... Spotted While Browsing Amazon : )](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/timeless-spotted-while-browsing-amazon/) - Cedar Homes: Ideas for Log & Timber Frame Designs (Schiffer Design Books) Hardcover – July 22, 2003 by Tina Skinner (Author) Hardcover $34.17 27 Used from $2.69 7 New from $23.99 1 Collectible from $45.00 Award-winning photographer Roger Wade takes you on an intimate tour of more than two-dozen exquisite top-end log and timber frame - [From the "Did You Know? ..." Department](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/from-the-did-you-know-department/) - For more than 70 years, Town + Country Cedar Homes has built some of the most luxurious, sought-after luxury log homes in the nation. Our custom Cedar homes have won numerous awards, but our greatest reward is exceeding our clients’ expectations. And we even added travelers to that list. Unlike most airport terminals in the - [How to Speak Door](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/how-to-speak-door/) - com·mu·ni·ca·tion kəˌmyo͞onəˈkāSH(ə)n noun: communication Communication (from Latin commūnicāre, meaning "to share"[1]) is the act of conveying intended meanings from one entity or group to another through the use of mutually understood signs and semiotic rules. Verbal communication is the spoken or written conveyance of a message. According to Wikipedia, Human language can be defined as - [Don't Be a Sap!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/dont-be-a-sap/) - All trees have layers of growth commonly referred to as 'rings'. A crosscut of a mature tree trunk, with outer bark removed, reveals two different sections of rings easily distinguished by color. The outer rings are sapwood, and are lighter colored. This is the part of the tree through which sap flows to sustain tree - [The History of the Log Cabin](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/the-history-of-the-log-cabin/) - In the U.S., we associate log cabins with pioneer days; intrepid early Americans leaving their homes in the East or Europe to build a new life on the frontier. For many of us, the first image that comes to mind when we think of a log cabin is Little House on the Prairie. The original - [White Cedar Burger …That’s figurative, not literal, please!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/white-cedar-burger-thats-figurative-not-literal-please/) - I was sitting in my “office” yesterday, contemplating the menu for the upcoming holiday weekend, Memorial Day. As it often is, the local familial clan will be gathering at our home, a Town + Country White Cedar log home, to remember and to celebrate what those who fought and fell have given us. Somehow, our - [Built From Memory](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/built-from-memory/) - Log homes house many happy childhood memories for Charles and Margaret Ondrick. Margaret reminisces about visits to an aunt’s log home in Michigan. Charles remembers the great stone fireplace in the log cabin where his family stayed during fishing trips in Canada. One day the Ondricks dreamed of owning a luxury log home their children - [Where's the Remote?!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/wheres-the-remote/) - March Madness has millions of eyes locked on TVs across the planet. Cafes, pubs, and the Disneylands of fandom, the sports bar, where dozens of screens are carefully placed to never allow a static glance or field of vision devoid of action. Design here is simple – sensory overload. Quite the opposite of residential Cedar - [Log Home Living … in Texas?](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/log-home-living-texas/) - You don’t typically find log homes in Texas — and understandably. Timber is few and far between. The sun is strong and hot. It’s difficult to even find local log home builders. Building a log home in Texas is a challenge. But Town + Country Cedar Homes never shies away from a challenge. Griff and - [Fire Breaks Out at Town+Country Cedar Homes Mill Overnight](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/fire-breaks-towncountry-cedar-homes-mill-overnight/) - Business at Town+Country unaffected despite damage to the company’s newly expanded sawmill. Boyne Falls, MI — On Tuesday evening, March 6, a fire started at Town+Country Cedar Homes’ Michigan sawmill. No one was injured and damage is limited to one building that housed a recent sawmill expansion, completed in 2017. Buildings containing the company’s other - [Island Time](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/island-time/) - Spring Break season is upon us and has many thinking about their favorite island, dreaming of relaxing with their favorite beverage while sampling the freshly prepared local cuisine, surrounded by their favorite getaway feel and style. Some yearn for barefoot cottagy, others, high-style, refined luxury. Quite honestly, not that indifferent to what we will be - [Wake Up and Smell the Coffee ... and White Cedar!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/wake-smell-coffee-white-cedar/) - Very often here we talk about log home floor plans, timber frame truss design, log connections, flare bottoms, cottage style cedar shakes versus board and batten, etc., etc.. Many clients start their dream-home journey with those elements in mind. They search the two-dimensional universe of visuals on the internet and collect them in old school - [It’s All About Family](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/its-all-about-family/) - More than wood goes into building a Town + Country home. Careful thought, research and planning precedes every build. Take our Glenwood model, for instance. This log home was built with a very specific type of family in mind. Fewer and fewer families are staying in the homes they grew up in. Kids fly the - [Let There Be Fire](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/let-there-be-fire/) - It is safe to say, when presenting or describing their log home or timber frame home dream, EVERY client has a vision of the perfect fireplace. Many times, more than one. If our log home floorplans were jigsaw puzzles, many of the pieces would be fireplace, indoor and out… Log gazebo with fireplace Fireplaces generally - [Change of Scenery](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/change-of-scenery/) - After 20 years spent living in the country’s fourth-most populous city, John and Shanna were ready for a change. But when the financial planner and computer programmer packed their bags and headed out of the Houston city limits, their final destination was a surprise even to them. Originally the couple moved north to Minnesota. But - [Old School v. New School: Lakefront Cedar Living](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/old-school-v-new-school-lakefront-cedar-living/) - Client (him - LL Bean plaid pajama pants, ‘A bad day fishing beats a good day at the office’ coffee mug in hand): “It’s an original Boyne Falls log cabin, Town + Country’s roots. We want to replace it with a 21st century White Cedar log home.” Client (her – Prada beach wrap, DG glasses, - [Anything But Builder Basic](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/anything-builder-basic/) - This timber frame home in Flagstaff, Arizona, doesn’t feature the cookie-cutter style you’d expect from a built-to-sell house. Every inch of its 3,913-square-feet is completely custom and crafted with the homebuyer-to-be in mind. The builders knew that anyone buying a home in this high-end, gated mountain community would likely be older and likely be hunting - [Santa's Most Requested Present](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/santas-requested-present/) - Our Most Popular Log Home Floorplan of the Year The LAKOTA log home plan As we have talked before, floor plan compilations have been a staple of many a client in our history as a log home company. There truly is something emotional about these types of drawings. But, as you know, all of what - [Improvise, Adapt, Overcome — Design Like a Marine](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/improvise-adapt-overcome-design-like-marine/) - Not to imply that what we do is, on any level, in any way, shape or form, as important as what the brave men and women of the Corps do, but sometimes our approach to designing a log home or timber style home channels Clint Eastwood in the movie “Heartbreak Ridge”. Even with today’s digital - [Into the Winter Wild](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/into-the-winter-wild/) - The scenery gets more beautiful and more rustic when you travel north up Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. As you wander through the region’s hardwood forests, you’ll walk under arbors of beech trees and sugar maples and white pines. You’ll encounter many animals, too, from graceful deer and loons to imposing moose and bear. But if you’re - [Build It and They Will Come](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/build-will-come-log-home-floorplans/) - It used to be the bookstore, between GARDENING and COOKING. Here was found the analog version of googling “log home floorplans” – LOG HOME LIVING, LOG CABIN HOMES, COUNTRY’S BEST LOG HOMES, TIMBER FRAME HOMES and at least a dozen different titles of log home floorplans compilations. This was a monthly ritual for would-be clients, - [Animal Instinct](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/animal-instinct/) - As an experienced big-game hunter, Tom Winkel probably doesn’t get lost in the woods too often. So, one might argue that when he and his wife, Carol, made a navigational error and stumbled upon a Town + Country Cedar Homes model in northern Michigan, something was drawing them to it. Once they stopped and toured - [Eclectic](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/eclectic/) - Interior design is all about how we experience spaces. It’s a powerful, essential part of our daily lives and affects how we live, work, play, and even heal. Comfortable homes, functional spaces, feeling – not the space, but how one feels in it… ec·lec·tic əˈklektik adjective deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and - [The Best of Both Worlds: Old World Craftsmanship Meets Modern Innovations](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/best-worlds-old-world-craftsmanship-meets-modern-innovations/) - For Lore and John Wagner, deciding where to build their vacation home – a roughly 2,700-square-foot European-inspired timber cottage surrounded by beautifully rugged landscape and sand dunes – was easy. The two Michigan natives had spent considerable time vacationing in the Great Lakes region. Over time they not only fell deeper in love with the - [Fall Colors All Go With White](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/fall-colors-go-white/) - Autumn leaf color is a phenomenon that affects the normally green leaves of many deciduous trees and shrubs by which they take on, during a few weeks in the autumn season, various shades of red, yellow, purple, black, orange, pink, magenta, blue and brown. It only happens once a year and only lasts a few - [Old World Elegance and Rustic Sophistication](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/old-world-elegance-rustic-sophistication/) - When beginning the process of designing and building a new home, many homeowners know exactly what they want. Debbie Seelye is no exception, but when designing and building her gorgeous 5,200-square-foot log home near Kalamazoo, Michigan, she also knew what she did not want. During many summers, Seelye and her family vacationed in the Lake - [Making the Perfect Place into the Perfect Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/making-perfect-place-perfect-home/) - Where there once stood a 50-year-old 800-square-foot home in a five-acre clearing in some of the most beautiful countryside in rural Indiana, there now stands a 5,000-square-foot, magnificent modern log home. Although the two homes that have occupied this land are dramatically different, the tastes and preferences of the homeowners – and their family – - [Fall in a Bowl](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/fall-in-a-bowl/) - BALTIC / BOYNE FALLS BORSCHT Ingredients Half pack thick cut smoked bacon 1 large white onion, chopped Olive oil 2 carrots, diced 3 stalks celery, diced Half head cabbage, shredded 10 cups vegetable stock 3 peeled and chopped beets 2 bay leaves 1 T dried marjoram 1 can white kidney beans, drained & rinsed 1/2 - [When “Can I get a Pony?” Grows Up](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/can-get-pony-grows/) - Arenas, Arabians, bridles, breeders, stalls and stallions - terminology of the horse world. Fredrick Remington, Far Niente, Rolex, Ralph Lauren, Weatherbys and White Cedar…Town + Country White Cedar – Terminology of the equestrian world. It’s about the whole package, the life … the style. Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots are designed, cut, - [Modern Living with Rustic Roots](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/modern-living-rustic-roots/) - In Northern Michigan the transition from summer to fall begins to whisper with the changing, rustling leaves and cool breezes. What you’ll also find in places like Northern Michigan is that log cabins are not a thing of the past. Modern amenities reside comfortably alongside a rustic ascetic. Boyne Mountain Resorts has become known across - ['Tis the Season](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/tis-the-season/) - College Football Season The best place to be early Saturday in the fall is surrounded by friends, outside of the stadium back at Michigan, Colorado or wherever you spent those carefree learned days…even Notre Dame. The aromas, the stocked cooler, the colors and old college buddies all combine to make the college football experience truly - [From Ashes to a Second Chance](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/ashes-second-chance/) - Before they were married with children, Jim and Darlyn Daratony went camping – sometimes up to 12 times a year – at their favorite spot in Leland, Michigan, near the white-sand beaches of Lake Michigan. Years later, in the early 1990s, they set out to build a dream home in the same location, which also - ["Go to Your Room!"](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/go-to-your-room/) - When it comes to accommodating company, bunk rooms are a fun way to make your loved ones and guests feel cozy and up for adventure in your Cedar home. Bunk beds don't have to look like utilitarian army barracks and require less space, so you can sleep extra guests. The more the better… There are - [Checking In Special Guests](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/checking-special-guests/) - Retirement should feel like a permanent vacation, right? Tony and Fran Fortuna certainly thought so. That’s why they decided that when the time came to leave their jobs, they wanted to commute home to a lakeside resort — where the couple, their friends and their family were the only guests. The Fortunas had the land: - [Eat Like a Local](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/eat-like-local/) - Cheers! - [A Gathering Place](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/a-gathering-place/) - When Peter and Paulette Graves decided to build a summer home along 100 feet of Lake Charlevoix shoreline in northern Michigan, they were certain about two things: 1. They wanted a family-friendly home that would accommodate all of their loved ones. 2. They wanted a log home. Soon they discovered that Town + Country Cedar - [Timeless Summer](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/timeless-summer/) - https://open.spotify.com/user/sveiksx/playlist/7jGHBHrsS7TTzE8EAzcY6P - [Cedar Upgrade](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/cedar-upgrade/) - Sometimes, an upgrade is a new $73 Pfeil gouge. Other times, it's a new $1.6 million, fully enclosed, 156', computerized, West Plains 600 Series, 149 tooth, carbon steel wheel driven, 30,000 board feet per day mill with automated cant return, 3 strand outfeed crossover deck, 3 way lumber separator and air-conditioned operator cab. We are - [Let There Be Light!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/let-there-be-light/) - Selecting a Home Standby Generator System We all know this feeling. But, it’s not always the weather that gets you… The lights are dimmed just so. The caterers have just finished putting the final garnishes on the tapas spread. The jazzy Spotify list you designed over the past three weeks energizes every corner of your - [Long-Distance Design and Build](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/long-distance-design-build/) - Florida residents Diane and Herman Klemick didn’t want their second home to be steps away from a beach where they could sink their toes in the sand. Their dream locale was colder and snow-covered — and within walking distance to ski lifts. For a few years, the couple searched for ski-in/ski-out properties in Mountain Village - [A Fresh Start](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/a-fresh-start/) - When a fire destroyed Steve and Janet Swanson’s traditional three-story home on Walloon Lake in Michigan, they turned tragedy on its head by taking the opportunity to build a new custom log home on their lakefront property that made up for the shortfalls of the other. Some of their requirements: a more authentic lake atmosphere, - [Badda Book, Badda Boom](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/badda-book-badda-boom/) - Cedar Airbnb – no sales pitch necessary Airbnb has opened up a world of travel possibilities. We are no longer locked into hotel locations, prices or having to be sold by the latest chain marketing pitch. And, while the company and hosts have given more options in crowded cities and standard travel spots, they’ve also - [Need a Lift?](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/need-a-lift/) - No, not the Uber or Red Bull kind, we’re talking boats and personal watercraft. The Earth’s angle is finally back in our favor and many of our clients are looking to break out those toys of the season. But, this ritual often first entails tangled wires, grease fittings and servicing belts/gearboxes – the lift station. - [Natural Beauty in the Blue Ridge Mountains](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/natural-beauty-blue-ridge-mountains/) - When Mike and Linda Farrow were seeking escape from sweltering summers in Memphis, Tennessee, they set their sights east to North Carolina’s beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. When they found the land to build their second house within those hills, they headed north to Michigan’s Town + Country Cedar Homes. The Farrows found Town + Country - [Memorial Day](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/memorial-day/) - On Memorial Day, the flag of the United States is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and - [An Heirloom Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/an-heirloom-home/) - The owners of this impressive log home had already spent years making memories along this picturesque lakeshore in northern Wisconsin. They enjoyed spending time together in a quaint cabin on the property and wanted to make even more memories in a new, larger log home. That’s why they didn’t wait to upgrade until after they - [client #00-0001](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/client-00-0001/) - It all started with a fence post Town + Country’s founder, Bernie Kondrat, was raised in Northern Michigan alongside the area’s many lakes and forests. By the age of eight, Bernie was a regular in the woods with his grandfather, getting paid to make fences using Pine, Spruce, Tamarack, Balsam, and White Cedar trees. Through the - [Satisfying the Senses](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/satisfying-the-senses/) - Wilber and Sarah Bontrager built more than a house on their 85-acres of land in northern Indiana, just minutes from the Michigan border. Their 5,000-square-foot Northern White Cedar log home is an experience that tickles all of the senses. See: The log home is certainly a sight to behold. Perched atop a sandy hillside, the - [Back to the Grind](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/back-to-the-grind/) - Work-at-home spaces Wasn’t it Tim McGraw who sang something about “Six lanes, tail lights. Red ants marching into the night. Disappear to the left and right again…” That’s a snapshot of many weekend warriors’ Sunday nights, this, after retreating to the weekend home to “relax”, “unwind” and “decompress”. Contrary to what many believe to be - [Retiring on the Water](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/retiring-on-the-water/) - When Bob and Julie Knode arrive at their retirement log home, they barely have to regain their sea legs. The couple spends four months out of the year sailing; the rest of the time they live in their beachfront log home on Lake Michigan. Their 1.2-acre property was built on the site of a former - [40 Killer Eats You Gotta Taste Now!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/40-killer-eats-gotta-taste-now/) - Add These Local Dishes to Your Bucket List In the neighborhood, touring with us? Thinking about vacationing in our backcountry? Our friends from Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine can help. We guarantee you can’t make it through this article without drooling. It’s too delicious. Fried dough painted with maple frosting; piles of smoky, saucy pulled pork; - [You Say "To-may-to," I say "To-mah-to"](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/say-may-say-mah/) - IPE – the wood no one can pronounce We love our White Cedar, but, in our never ending pursuit of the best, when it comes to open-to-the-elements outdoor deck surfaces, exposed to Mother Nature’s fury, even we have to concede to the tougher-than-nails Brazilian miracle wood – IPE. For you “to-mah-to” people that’s pronounced “ee-pay”. - [April Showers](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/april-showers/) - https://play.spotify.com/user/sveiksx/playlist/12S6E1NrpUA3EC3yRBoHuF - [All Roads Lead Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/roads-lead-home/) - A series of serendipitous decisions led Michael and Kathy Kincaid to their 4,414-square-foot log home on a wooded, 10-acre lot in Wisconsin. Kathy discovered the property while taking a chance drive down a road that had opened only a few months before. As she meandered down the pavement, she spotted a sign that said “Wooded - [A Tale of Two Woodies](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/tale-two-woodies/) - 1947 was a very good year Our first Woodie — a 1947 Chrysler Town and Country convertible. She occupies a special position in automotive history as the only wood-bodied convertible built in series on a luxury chassis. Originally conceived in 1939 by Dave Wallace and introduced in 1941, the Town & Country was initially available - [Into the Woods](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/into-the-woods/) - What could have been a tear-jerker turned into a fairytale ending for Tom Herr and Claire Ewart, a children’s book author and illustrator. They always intended to preserve the charm of the storybook cottage they discovered on a densely wooded lot on Michigan’s southwest lakeshore. But when the couple’s designer, Town + Country Cedar Homes, - [Out With the Old, In With the New](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/) - It’s hard to believe that a dated ‘70s-style tri-level house used to sit on Carl and Kim Reid’s 2.5-acre property on the shores of Burt Lake in northern Michigan. The new home they built on the lakeside, a 6,000-square-foot log lodge, blends naturally into the landscape — like it’s been there for years. That was - [STOW IT!...Garage Storage Systems](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/stow-garage-storage-systems/) - However good your garage looks from the outside organizing pros estimate that only 30 percent of us store our cars in the garage. The reason? Too much stuff. For most homeowners, even log home owners, the garage is the black hole of their home’s universe. Unwanted items from all other areas of the house are - [A Hidden, Custom Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/hidden-custom-home/) - When David and Deborah Bender were searching for property to custom build a vacation home, they had one goal in mind: to get as far away as possible from their home in Alabama. If they were hoping for a change of scenery, that’s exactly what they got. The Benders traded the Gulf Coast for the - [What Goes Around, Comes Around](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/goes-around-comes-around/) - Old-school Valentine’s Dinner Smoked butterscotch light Frappuccino. Barbecued pork belly, kimchee coleslaw and fried clam sushi roll. Everything but the kitchen sink Bloody Marys. Often, the venues are as trendy as these offering. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we prefer our style to be a bit more timeless and enduring, something missing - [Timber Retreat for A Globe-Trotting Couple](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/timber-retreat-globe-trotting-couple/) - Bruce and Gloria Whitestone have traveled the world, but when it came time to select a location for their vacation home, they were drawn to the Telluride, Colorado, area. Perhaps it was the region’s spectacular views and endless activities that stole their hearts. Or maybe it was the picturesque setting that’s often compared to Switzerland. - [Cooking with Cedar](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/cooking-with-cedar/) - It’s wintertime in Michigan, but you are craving one of the Up-North standbys – Cedar Planked Whitefish. You could try it in the oven, but there is just something about that Webber Grill that transforms. As with all things special, it is worth the extra trouble, trust us… Cedar-Planked Whitefish Ingredients: 1 Cedar plank 2 - [A Smaller Scale](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/a-smaller-scale/) - When Peter Welles decided to build a vacation home in Telluride, Colorado, he knew he wanted it to stand apart from the grand log homes dotting the mountain community. Most of the houses in the area are massive with floor plans of 5,000 square feet or more. Peter’s timber home floor plan is 3,000 including - [Promises, Promises, Promises ...](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/promises-promises-promises/) - Home Gym tech, tips and trends to help keep that New Year's Resolution You uttered those words again, didn’t you. People heard you. Some of you even put it out there on social media for half of the planet to bear witness: “I will exercise more, eat healthier and lose weight in 2017!” The Champagne - [A Home-Run Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/home-run-home/) - Bill Freehan spent years in the spotlight. The former catcher for the Detroit Tigers has played in the World Series. He was named an All Star 11 of his 15 years with the team. He won five-straight Golden Glove awards and ranks among Tiger career leaders in home runs, games played and at-bats. When he - [Inspired by Nature … in Every Season!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/inspired-nature-every-season/) - Jim and Cindy Tanner have known that they wanted to build a timber framehome in the Telluride, Colorado, area since the ‘70s. Because they fell in love the location first, they let the great outdoors guide the design of their new timber home when they were finally ready to build. The Tanner’s timber frame home - [The Weather Outside is Frightful …](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/weather-outside-frightful/) - The local meteorologist is comically dressed in a scarf and wool stocking cap, while pointing to a map, painted in array of whites, blues and that dreaded purple - LAKE EFFECT SNOW. Sleeping in was the only calendar entry for tomorrow morning, but it looks as though that will be cancelled and replaced by a - [Perfectly Balanced](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/perfectly-balanced/) - When Deborah Guerrera and Casey Cowell married, they knew they needed to find a bigger space for their blended family of seven — and fast. A mere fifteen months later they moved into their custom home near Traverse City and the shores of Lake Michigan. When you walk through the house, it’s hard to imagine - [Deck the Halls ... Please!](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/deck-halls-please/) - Russ Griswold: “Dad, that thing will never fit in our front yard.” Clark Griswold: “It's not going in our yard, it's going in our living room!” Although Christmas trees first appeared in America in the 1700s, the emergence of the modern Christmas tree actually dates back to 15th and 16th century Europe. Evergreens were used - [Town + Country Christmas Catalogue — 2016 Edition](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/town-country-christmas-catalogue-2016-edition/) - A few stocking stuffer ideas for that new White Cedar home of yours… Speedster Espresso - Kees van der Westen When this Dutch designer debuted the Speedster in 2001, the appliance was a shiny toy for a few well-connected pals: He hot-rodded La Marzoccos, producing souped-up machines with torqued profiles. By 2008, when the Speedster - [A Home Full of (Good) Surprises](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/home-full-good-surprises/) - Lou and Bill Tudor’s custom home on Lake Charlevoix in northern Michigan may look like a traditional log home on the outside, but inside there are plenty of modern touches. The 4,800-square-foot house features five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths, a full bar, recreation room, movie theater, and two three-car garages. It has geothermal heating and - [The Chill of an Early Fall](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/chill-early-fall/) - Summer’s over; there is a distinct chill in the air. Life moves from Margaritas, sand and a lakefront cottage to Cabernet, a roaring fire and a mountainside log home... White Cedar, of course. Where chips and salsa fresca were a Summer staple, they just don’t have the horsepower to feed that Fall soul. So, bring - [The Toys of Summer](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/the-toys-of-summer/) - Lakefront lot—check. Custom Cedar log home—got it. Log gazebo with massive stone fireplace, built in outdoor kitchen and wine chiller—all set. Something is still missing…The toys of summer! What good is staring at the tranquility of all of that water if you can’t get out and stir it up a bit! But, where to start? - [Body Heat: What's Hot with Saunas](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/body-heat-whats-hot-with-saunas/) - At Town and Country Cedar Homes we like to focus on the finer things in life. And we are always on the lookout for simple things that can make our lives happier and healthier. In this blog, we’d like to share with you one of our great passions: the sauna. The benefits of regular sauna - [Cedar AWD: Building Your Dream Garage](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/cedar-awd-building-your-dream-garage/) - The garage is the perfect place to stage life’s adventures. Gearing up for a day on the slopes, preparing for that summer fishing trip, or even just setting out for a quick family picnic. But the fun can be spoiled when the garage is cluttered with disorganized stacks of tools and sports equipment and junk - [Undertones of Cedar: Artisanal Beer](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/undertones-cedar-artisanal-beer/) - As builders of hand crafted homes, it should come as no surprise that we appreciate and have a passion for hand crafted artisanal beers. Just picture it…sitting on the deck of your cedar-built home sipping a craft beer while watching the sunset, or lying on a comfy chair drinking a beer in front of your - [Let Us Entertain You: Trends in Home Theaters](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/let-us-entertain-trends-home-theaters/) - When a client comes to us with ideas for their custom-built home, they often include plans for a home theater, and we are more than happy to oblige. A home theater is a great way to bring family and friends together and is a luxury you will enjoy time and time again. So let’s talk - [Can’t Take the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/cant-take-heat-get-kitchen/) - …to the OUTDOOR KITCHEN Interest in outdoor living continues to grow, with more people transforming their backyard into elaborate extensions of their home each year. Turning your space into a fully functional, luxurious outdoor kitchen you can enjoy takes serious planning and design knowledge. These must-know tips will help guide you through the process: www.kalamazoogourmet.com/design-center/outdoor-kitchens-101/ - [April Showers: Cool Garden Trends](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/april-showers-cool-garden-trends/) - Every masterpiece deserves a beautiful frame just as every custom-built log home deserves a beautiful garden. A lovely garden is the finishing touch to any home. It should be as carefully considered and planned out as your indoor living spaces. At Town + Country, custom homes are our number one passion and a complementary outdoor - [Our Process For Building a Custom Log Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/process-building-custom-log-home/) - The idea of building a custom log home can feel incredibly overwhelming. However, at Town + Country Cedar Homes, we believe it’s our job to make the process an enjoyable and seamless experience for our clients. We follow a simple 4-step building process to make their dreams of a cedar-crafted home come true. Below we - [Black Bear Cottage: A Writer's Retreat](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/black-bear-cottage-writers-retreat/) - Nestled in the woods of Michigan’s southwest lakeshore is a cottage that appears to come straight from the pages of a storybook. The vision of a children’s author and her husband, Black Bear Cottage is the embodiment of what can happen when Town and Country Cedar Homes sets out to fulfill a client’s dreams. When - [Catching the Vision For Your Custom Log Home](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/catching-the-vision-for-your-custom-log-home/) - You’ve been dreaming about it for years, but now you have decided to make it a reality: your very own custom-built log home. You know it’s going to be a long road with plenty of planning and decisions to make along the way. You may feel a bit of trepidation along with excitement, but with - [St. Barth – A Study of Ceilings](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/st-barth-a-study-of-ceilings/) - Mentally taxing, bordering on grueling, fraught with stress, self-medicating and the tossing and turning of sleepless nights…all because of that dreaded disorder – THE MENTAL BLOCK. There are quick fixes available for these flare-ups – pinterest, houzz, the occasional issue of Mountain Living. But at Town + Country, “quick” does not cut it, shortcuts do - [Low & Slow: Ultimate Slow Cooker Recipes](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/low-slow-ultimate-slow-cooker-recipes/) - Cold temps, rosy cheeks and snow boots all make it the perfect season to pull out the slow cooker and cook up some hearty meals. We’re sharing a few of our favorite recipes for these long winter nights. These dishes are refined enough for dinner guests, yet easy enough to pull off on a busy - [Ski Lodges We Love](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/ski-lodges-we-love/) - Here at Town and Country Cedar Homes we admire a quality, wood-built property like an art dealer would admire an original painting. We seek inspiration from the past and present and follow the work of our fellow crafters throughout the world. Often when we think of log-built properties, our minds conjure up images of rosy-cheeked - [Are you Ready to Build a Custom Log Home?](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/are-you-ready-to-build-a-custom-log-home/) - Building a custom log home is no easy task. In fact, in order to do it right, it requires dedicated time and preparation before the actual building begins. What needs to be done before building a beautiful timber or log frame home for you and your family to enjoy for years to come? Here at - [Refined Rustic: Cooking for your Valentine](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/refined-rustic-cooking-for-your-valentine/) - St. Cupid’s Day is just around the corner and if you’re ahead of the game you may be thinking of a special way to demonstrate your love for your sweetheart. Forget the heart-holding stuffed animals displaying amorous sayings or the last-minute wilting roses from the convenience shop. The best way to your lover’s heart is - [2015 Holiday Design Trends](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/2015-holiday-design-trends/) - Decorating for the holidays is a way to welcome the season into your home and will help make this time of year special for you and your loved ones. You can give your holiday look a new flair with these nine design trends for the 2015 holiday season. Incorporate fresh white flowers into your design - [Holiday Spirits: Holiday Wine Primer](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/holiday-spirits-holiday-wine-primer/) - The holiday season is here! This time of year brings parties, intimate dinners, and memorable evenings visiting with family and friends. Wine adds a festive note and cheer to any occasion. To help with your holiday planning, we’ve provided a list of the best varietals for the season along with recommendations of what dishes they - [Luxury Log Home Designs](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/luxury-log-home-designs/) - Are you in the exciting process of designing and constructing a luxury log home? The best laid plans demonstrate a harmonious vision of the surrounding property and your own personal style. Did you know that the design you ultimately choose reflects as much about you as it does the land around it? Town + Country - [Town + Country Craftmanship Featured on Epic Log Homes](https://www.cedarhomes.com/mainpost/town-country-craftmanship-featured-epic-log-homes/) - Town + Country crafts beautiful, one-of-a-kind homes across the country. We're proud that one of our homes was featured on the very first episode of Epic Log Homes.