Making It Their Own
March 2011
Greg and Stephanie Shoulders wanted something different the second time around. No, this is not their first Honest Abe home, it is their second. They had built an Honest Abe Log Home years before, and had really enjoyed the log home lifestyle and experience. For their next house they knew they wanted to make some changes and really make this one their own.
When they came to the Murfreesboro, Tennessee office, they knew they wanted to build a Timber Frame home. They liked the idea of the Timber Frame because they had more options for the exterior and interior of the home. On the exterior, they planned to incorporate a fair amount of stone and other rustic elements into the design.
The floor plan they brought in was their own. Greg had drawn up a rough draft and after sitting down
with Greg and Stephanie to tweak the plan a bit, we had a design they were happy with. The home is around 2,400 square feet over a full basement. They have three boys, so they needed room for them to grow. The house has Honest Abe’s Heavy Timber roof system that nicely compliments the post and beam system of the Timber Frame as well as the exposed ceiling beams of the second floor. When they built their log home they bought the package from Honest Abe, and had a thirdparty contractor construct it. For the Timber Frame, they knew they wanted Honest Abe to do the dry-in labor. For this, Honest Abe sent Darrell
Elliot, who has been doing dryin labor on log and timber frame houses for years. The Shoulders were very pleased with the job Darrell and his crew did. The house has some very unique features. The floors are reclaimed
March 2011 barn wood that Greg picked up as far away as Kentucky. He would shop around and buy what he could whenever he could find it. He even found a little bit of American Chestnut that he used for the floor in the entry way. The spindles for his handrails are cedar limbs that he cut from their property. The exterior of the house is stone and cedar lap siding. They even used cedar lap siding for some of the interior walls in the house. A nice touch was the carport, they built it to look like the heavy timber roof system with the exposed rafters and 2x6 tongue and groove. It is open on the sides, and gives a good preview of what to expect on the inside of the house. Greg is a landscaper by trade and has done a very nice job with landscaping this house. He has used rock for his retaining walls, and to step down the grade in the front yard. It compliments the stone on the house very well. Greg and Stephanie have definitely made this house their home by putting in so many personal touches. Article by: Dan Smith, Sales Representative of Honest Abe Log Homes
Join Us For A Log Raising! These demonstrations allow you to see first-hand how an Honest Abe Log Home is built. We’ll show you how to stack the log walls, install beams and ceiling, and apply the roof system. Tour our manufacturing facility, and have the opportunity to speak with the people involved throughout the process. Honest Abe staff will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. So join us at our National Headquarters in Moss, Tennessee on March 19, 2011. Seating is limited, so please call for more information and reservations at 800-231-3695. View a YouTube preview by clicking below!
March 2011
Under Construction: The Walsh Home These photos are of a custom home being constructed by Hutchcraft Log Homes of Canon City, Colorado. Owners, Ray and Linda Hutchcraft, are Independent Dealers of Honest Abe Log Homes.
This is considered a hybrid home, meaning a combination of building systems are used to construct the residence. First, Honest Abe’s RuStick Series is used, utilizing conventional 2x6 “stick-framed” construction and insulation. The RuStick Series conventional framing is covered with weather wrap and typically faced with log siding, or in the case of this project, cedar lap siding. The second and more unique system is Honest Abe’s Big Sky series which introduces 10-inch round log purlins and trusses into the roof design of the home. This home was custom designed and built for Keith and Jennifer Walsh. The skilled craftsmanship for building and assembly was provided by Ray and Linda Hutchcraft and their crew. This project is finishing up beautifully. Article by: David Everitt, Regional Dealer Manager of Honest Abe Log Homes
March 2011
Home of the Month: Shiloh
The Shiloh is yet another one of Honest Abe Log Home’s new models that will appear in our upcoming floor plan catalog due out in May. Consisting of only one story, it accommodates the now frequent request of our customers to eliminate the need to go up-and-down stairs. While the plan is a modest 1,128 square feet, it has a lot to offer to those only needing one bedroom. A walk-in pantry, walk-in closet and double vanities in the master bath are features normally only found in larger homes. A halfbath is located off of the foyer for guests, and a utility room. This is a great floor plan as a vacation or investment property. It can also serve well as a retirement get-a-way. This is just one of many floor plans available through Honest Abe Log Homes. Talk to your sales representative to find out how to see more.
March 2011
Eastern White Pine
6x12 Dovetail D-Log Corner Section of a Log Wall - Eastern White Pine
Honest Abe Log Homes started out manufacturing log homes with the Poplar species of logs. However the Poplar was difficult to work with, checked (or split) excessively, twisted and warped. Other wood species were tried, but Eastern White Pine proved to be the wood with the most favorable characteristics. Eastern White Pine does not shrink or swell excessively with changes in moisture. It is also known for its superior stability, light weight and thermalmass insulating properties. Due to the superior characteristics of Eastern White Pine, this is Honest Abe’s choice of wood species to use for our log wall and porch systems. Article by: Rachel Meadows, Sales Manager for Honest Abe Log Homes
Before you turn your nose up at this recipe, give it a chance. Chocolate gravy seems to be a regional delicacy to the Middle-Tennessee area. There are many variations of this dish. I had always used Grandma’s method using a little of this and a pinch of that, so I had never actually measured Ingredients: out the ingredients until now. 1 Cup Sugar Growing up, my family always 2 Tbsp Flour made it with little to no flour, 3/4 Cup Milk which made more of a choco1/4 Tsp Vanilla Extract late syrup than gravy. My 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder wife’s family used much more Mix dry ingredients in sauce pan. flour and not as much sugar, Pour in milk while stirring. Con- creating a consistency more tinue stirring over medium heat. like true gravy. To try and At the first sign of a boil, reduce please everyone, we’ve come heat to medium-low and continue up with our own balance of stirring. Cook until chocolate gravy reaches desired thickness. ingredients to give us someAdd or reduce sugar, flour or cocoa thing in the middle of the two. to taste. I always have to dare people to try chocolate gravy, and then they find out they love it. So, here it goes, I dare you! Pour it over biscuits and add butter to taste!
Chocolate Gravy?
Receipe by: Joshua Beasley, Director of Advertising for Honest Abe Log Homes