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 WIDE
OPEN COUNTRYBACK Story by Teresa Wolff Photography by Roger Wade For more than 20 years, the owners vacationed at their ranch near Yellowstone National Park, falling in love with the log architecture of the Old Faithful Inn. The inspiration of the inn led them to the construction of their own log home on the high plains of Colorado. Fortuitously, Log Knowledge is on the route between the owners' full-time residence in Denver and their getaway ranch. "We felt we ought to just stop by and check them out since they were in such close proximity to our property," the owner says. "At the same time, we were talking to other log home companies in Colorado and Montana. The stop was well worth it. After checking out homes built by Log Knowledge, we chose the hand-peeled, custom log construction which is their trademark."
"Brad was terrific. He knows what he is doing, and he is honest and fair," the owner says. "We found him to be excellent, both personally and professionally. All of Brad's subcontractors also gave us a professional job, and Tony Harrison, the lead carpenter, did beautiful work." With the exception of the dormers - which where conventionally framed, covered with drywall and finished with exterior cedar siding - the entire home is log construction. Brad frequently cautions people about the use of logs on interior walls if the rooms are small because they can create an overwhelming sense of mass and darkness. However, because the rooms in this home are exceptionally large, Log Knowledge was able to use logs for interior walls to create the amount of living space the owners requested. Though the house is almost 6000 square feet, the owners view the floorplan as very simple and straightforward.
To maximize the use of available space for an entertainment area for the couple's two teenage sons, the recreation room was placed on the lower level - under the great room - and features a walkout patio. The family was able to get away from the basement atmosphere through the use of day lighting with windows, patio doors, wainscoting and low accents. Log Knowledge finished the exterior lower level with rock veneer in keeping with the natural granite outcroppings in the area. A major consideration was the need for a garage large enough to accommodate the two vehicles plus ranch equipment. Placement of the garage on the east side of the home provided for an entrance that would be sheltered from the bitter, northwest winds prevalent in the area during the winter months.
The owners are very involved with outdoor activities and consequently designed a mudroom with a slate floor to accept hard use and enough expanse to shed their gear after a day of recreation. A large loft with adjoining bath sits atop the mudroom and affords an area for relaxation, overlooking the great room with a southwestern panoramic view of the Colorado Rockies. The home's fourth living space includes the kitchen and pantry on the main level and guest bedrooms on the second story and basement level. The project took approximately six months from groundbreaking to completion. "Every Friday we would go up to meet with the subcontractors and to do the cleanup. Every week's construction and progress were very exciting," the owner says. "We loved watching the home take form." The couple had many viable options for the location of the log home on their ranch, but they ultimately selected a hill overlooking a pond. The contours of the land accommodate the walkout basement design while taking advantage of main-level entrance. "The lower level allows for overflow of entertainment and is a less expensive way to attain more square footage, as opposed to adding a wing onto the house," Brad says. A favorite feature of the home is the interplay of beams in the great room. "I never get tired of looking at them," the owner says. Presently,
the owners are able to use their log home on the weekends and holidays,
but their lifestyle has changed as their desire to be in the home
motivates them to leave the city behind and enjoy more family time
together out in the country. -- |
The
owners gave Brad Burgat, president of Log Knowledge, a sketch of
their floorplans. Brad modified the plans to include all of the
details the owners wanted, within the capabilities of log construction.
The
home is constructed in four main living spaces on each of the three
levels. The owners' desire for a large great room dictated the overall
size of the structure. "The great room was of such dimensions
as to accept a 28-foot ceiling," Brad says. 
Because
the owners wished for a spacious master bedroom suite, these rooms
were situated strategically over the garage on the main level with
a guest bedroom on the second story. This also allowed the owners
an eastern exposure and south-facing deck in their bedroom from
which to enjoy the balmy Rocky Mountain summer mornings. With windows
on two sides, the master bath has a wonderful connection to the
outdoors.