Log and Timber Home Living

Take Paul Borchart for example. A native of the Bronx, Paul’s life was as non-stop as the city that never sleeps. He was a successful business owner whose clients were among the mega-wealthy, and Paul, who admits to growing up poor, wanted a piece of that action. Much to Paul’s surprise, when he finally got it, he wasn’t happy. The big house, fleet of cars and “stuff,” as he refers to it, didn’t fulfill him. So Paul did a 180. He became a “minimalism” devotee. He shed most of his belongings, sold his business and set out on the road to the simple life. When it came to his house, he went tiny (like, 396-square-feet tiny) in the farthest thing from the skyscrapers of New York City he could find —…

In society today, we’re inundated with images of grandeur — especially when it comes to houses. Whether it’s some lottery winner’s epic manse on a home-and-garden show or a click-bait link to celebrity abodes on social media, larger-than-life houses, filled with every bell and whistle imaginable, are everywhere. Well, almost everywhere. There are those who think that bigger isn’t necessarily better. A big house creates more to fix, more to clean, more to pay for. Size is just, well, size … having exactly what you need is what really counts. So how do you figure out the amount of space you require to live comfortably? Sure, you can look at a variety of floor plans – and that’s a great start — but a 2D plan doesn’t give you the sense of what…

Design to Accommodate Your Furniture What’s the easiest way to make your home just right for you and your belongings? Design your plan around your furniture, instead of trying to fit your furniture into a plan. Got an L-shaped sectional you can’t live without? Design the great room around it? Will a queen-sized bed do just fine, rather than a monster king? Downsize the primary bedroom so it won’t feel empty (and you can allocate that extra space somewhere you can use it more effectively). Does grandma’s hutch absolutely have to be on display? Create a recessed nook in the dining room to house it, so it doesn’t jut out into the eating area. These simple considerations will personalize your place.…

Put Hallways to Good Use Whether it’s a cozy retreat or a full-time home, when trying to design a place that’s big enough to live comfortably, many designers suggest eliminating hallways completely. But if a hallway or two are unavoidable, think of ways to use that space as more than just a pass-through. One idea we love is setting recessed bookshelves into the wall to create a curated library effect. Another is to incorporate a hallway desk to serve as a home command center or office, instead of using a spare room (which lets that room pull double-duty in some other fashion).…

Any designer can craft a house with limited square footage, but it takes special knowhow to convert a scant footprint into a charming home. These designers and home producers have a knack for creating little houses you’ll love. Blue Ridge Log Cabins One of the only modular log home manufacturers, its “Mountain Architecture” series boasts compact floor plans with explosive style. blueridgelogcabins.com 888-563-3275 CabinTek The DIY home builder will love “The Woody” system — complete log cabin kits you can assemble yourself. cabintek.com 920-390-4999 Canadian Timberframes Designed with luxury in mind, their high-end cozy plans feature a variety of styles from mountain cabins to coastal cottages. canadiantimberframes.com 877-348-9924 Coventry Log Homes Great things truly do come in small packages with their “Cabin Style” series. coventryloghomes.com 800-308-7505 DEN With everything from A-frames to barn-style cabins, DEN’s small-home designs are appropriate for builders and DIYers alike. denoutdoors.com Honest Abe Log Homes This line…

Five years ago, if you asked Paul Borchart what he wanted from life, the answer would have been, “I want it all.” As the owner of a luxury driving service in his native New York City, he ensured that high-profile customers, from corporate CEOs to owners of professional sports teams, got where they needed to go. The job sounds simple, but it could be stressful. “If my clients were in town for a big meeting and something went wrong or they arrived late, guess who was to blame,” he shares. “But I did meet some amazing people, and I learned a lot along the way.” One of those lessons was realizing the wealth his clients had amassed, and he wanted a piece of it … or so he thought. “I was brought…