Log cabin KITCHEN reno... PLAN advise appreciated!!!
Maine Susan
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
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Maine Susan
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agodebrak_2008
8 years agoRelated Discussions
2nd set of Prelims-addition to log cabin
Comments (27)I need to shave off some sq footage. Here are my thoughts: Smaller Mbath/closet and shaving 1' down the left side MB and Child's room. Can anyone help me with tightening up the side entry to include mud room, pantry and possibly create a booth or window seat area with dining table. We are limited on adding to the right any further (driveway). The existing structure is a log home. I'm trying to do from top to bottom: living room, kitchen an dining or just kitchen, dining then the vaulted living room (existing home). Thank you for any suggestions and assistance. Here is a link that might be useful: Existing structure...See MoreRemodel Plans - Please critique - All opinions appreciated
Comments (6)You sound like a very careful planner and researcher. Good for you! You have also already identified that this is to be an income property of some sort, either as a flip or a rental. Has the economic downturn affected your target market? What is your bottom line return? And more importantly...your budget? Do you have a realistic contingency fund for those unpleasant little reno surprises? One of the most important things to remember will be that you are NOT designing for yourself. Moving walls, plumbing and electrical are very expensive. But how much of that is really necessary here? You have a pleasant, conventional colonial as it is with a floor plan that may be somewhat dated but is certainly workable. Having said that, I would suggest only minimal structural changes, directing your efforts (and money!) instead towards modernizing the kitchen and bathrooms, the fixtures and the finishes. In other words, the "funnest" stuff. The only structural changes that I would advise are: 1) Move the laundry centre from the kitchen to the room that you designated as the office. Let's rename it as the utility room, since it appears that you have no basement and only a small garage. The washer and work sink would tap into the already existing plumbing of the adjoining bathroom. Incorporate a new pantry and other storage area in this room as well, maybe by re-purposing the old kitchen cabinets. A folding/sewing/craft area could be made from the old kitchen counter top placed under the window. 2) Demo the little closets from the kitchen previously used for the w/d and the pantry. The passage between the kitchen and the DR would now be wider without sacrificing any kitchen wall space. In fact, do not knock down any walls. Gut the rest of the room from floor to ceiling and start again using attractive stock cabinets, lighting etc. I do think that the "L" shape as you drew it would work well. I also have some added suggestions. I would forgo any upper cabinets on the "L" in favour of a bank of cabinets and built-in microwave on the wall with the fridge. I would centre the stove on the short arm of the "L", topping it with a architectural type of exhaust fan. An island would have been nice but you have to have 3' clearance in all directions to avoid traffic congestion. Doesn't work here. A peninsula is not really necessary either since you have a long stretch of counter space and there is both a kitchen table and a dining room table only a few paces away. 3) I would be tempted to convert the jut-out back to the original screen porch - it does look rather like an unhappy after thought, both from inside the house and on the exterior. Don't you have bugs in NC? Especially if you decide to extend that awkwardly shaped back deck for the kids to play on. It would ultimately depend on the structure itself, whether it is worthwhile saving. Remember, it's NOT for you - you deserve the biggest bang for your buck. That's it - no more structural changes. And you have some wonderful wood flooring and trim already in place. Strip away all the wall paper, the panelled half-walls, kitchen linoleum, undesirable bathroom fittings and worn carpeting. Then, start to fluff. Aim for the average consumers' taste - clean, welcoming, predictable. Repaint all the rooms in the same neutral tone throughout the house. Don't remove the brick in the FR (a horrendous job) but paint it the same colour as the walls. Add a substantial mantle piece. The flooring should also flow together seamlessly from room to room. The new bathroom cabinetry ideally would reference that in the new kitchen. Of course,stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops are what everyone want. With that, I'm done. Take what suggestions you fancy and leave the rest. Just remember the mantra - it's NOT for me, it's NOT for me......See MoreLooking for cost of finishing a log cabin
Comments (11)I'm currently finishing up my log home construction. The thing is, area prices WILL vary. And perhaps what the log supplier company provides. Mine has provided the logs, the roof, the subfloor, the porch, windows, two of my exterior doors (I opted to upgrade the others), and the drafting work needed to adapt one of their plans to my needs. They were not responsible for any of the log staining, but pointed me at two reputable companies to choose from. My build is 2100 square feet. Anyhow, it's going to depend on your market, your layout, what kinds of finishes you want, and so forth. My contractor charged about double what the price of the shell was - my house is going a little over, not drastically, in part because I wanted quartz countertops, and because I decided to put in a couple rooms in the basement that I was going to worry about later (so as not to disrupt the cats when I do move), and because I will be adding in solar (which I'm contracting for, not the GC). But it all depends on what you what do do, how you want your home to look. There are way more challenges with a log shell. for example, electricians will have to bore through the logs to fish wire. Also cabinetry may have to be very custom, because you can't just hang a box off a curved surface and expect good results. My dad has a log cabin and while the shell was very reasonable, the finishing took forever and was very costly because so much had to be custom. It helps to know in advance where the light switches will be. They will design to pre-drill the logs for any switches, and the outlets in my house run along the baseboard. Obviously, pre-drill by any doors, and on the proper side! As for the kitchen,the exterior wall with the range on it is partially sheetrocked over that section of exterior wall, and they (GC and subs) attached cabinets to that, and did all their wiring so that area can't be seen, and it is effectively like any other house. So you can go IKEA or you can go custom for your cabinetry. (All my internal walls are sheetrock) But you do need to find contractors who know how to deal with the fact that logs, fresh logs, will shrink a little over the first few years. Indeed, my log company insisted I go through GCs that have had prior experience with log, whether their log or someone else's....See MoreAdvise on fireplace reno and main living area layout (pics in post)
Comments (3)Please do not mount the TV above the fireplace use the wall to the left past the window I often just kind of ignore corner FPs they are so have to arrange furniture . If you must have the secetional just turn it so you still can see the FP but the TV is now your focal point you can even do a whole wall of TV storage and display on the left wall The bonus is you will be able to see the TV from the kitchen too....See MoreMaine Susan
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
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8 years agoMaine Susan
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8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoLavender Lass
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoLavender Lass
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years agoLavender Lass
8 years agoMaine Susan
8 years ago
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