Now that Jim and his wife, Mary, owned land where they could build a second home, the only question was what kind of home. Jim and a potential contractor were standing at the top of the ridge enjoying the panoramic view of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. "He just looked at me and said, 'It would be a sin to build anything here but a log cabin.' That was the revelation I needed," Jim says.
It so happened that Jim and Mary had friends who sold log homes. Pete and Jackie Pyles own Country Comfort Homes and are independent dealers for Appalachian Log Homes of Knoxville, Tennessee. Pete and Jim knew each other from when Pete built Jim's hardware store. Pete encouraged the Rorers to look at other companies. They did, but found no reason to choose another company. Jim says the clincher was seeing how well the Pyleses' 15-year-old log home had held up.
By this time, Jim had sold his business and Mary had retired. Jim decided that his engineering background and years in the hardware business qualified him to act as general contractor for the project. Since the Rorers' permanent residence is more than two hours away, Jim bought a 33-foot camping trailer to live in while he was on site and set about building their log cabin.
For the décor, the Woods worked to complement the rustic walls with sturdy, simple pieces, such as aspen-log bed frames and dressers, cherry cabinets and leather couches. Outside, stained log chairs, rockers and tables are accented by green cushions that mimic the verdant landscape.
Pete asked the Rorers for a basic design and the dimensions of all of their major pieces of furniture and then used a computer-assisted design program to lay out the rooms, the location of the windows and doors, and all of the wiring. "This allows me to give the home a sense of proportion and symmetry and assures the light for the dining room table will be exactly over the center of the table," Pete explains.
On the 1,000-square-foot main level, Jim and Mary situated their open great room, kitchen, dining area and sunroom. The master bedroom suite includes a two-room bath-one with the vanity and washer-dryer, the other with the tub and commode. "The 600-square-foot second story is finished with a loft sitting area and a guest bedroom and bath that I finished myself in the walk-out basement," Jim says. "This gave me a great sense of accomplishment."
One problem the Rorers encountered was where to put the laundry room. Initially, they tried fitting it on the main level, but that would have resulted in a very small master bathroom. "Jim suggested we just put it in the basement, but I was adamant that my days of hauling clothes up and down the stairs were over," Mary says. "We hit on the idea to use a stackable washer and dryer and place them behind the door in the master bath. It was the perfect solution."
The Rorers wanted a nice house, with good quality and functionality providing the overriding theme for the interior décor. "Quite by accident, each of the rooms has a theme as a result of items we purchased or gifts given to us by our friends," Mary points out. "We shopped to get the best buys without compromising value. In one instance, we were able to purchase the maple butcher block at a local lumber store for $600 less than it was priced at one of the large national chain stores."
Mary's mother grew up in a log house and had taught Mary how to quilt, sew and knit. Mary used her mother's preference for natural fibers to create an Early American country style for their log home.
Even before building the home got under way, Jim purchased a tractor with a loader on one end and a blade on the other. He cleared the property for construction and dragged rocks from the creek and mountainside for retaining walls next to the one-car garage and the driveway. "Landscaping the property has been a definite challenge," Mary says. "It doesn't seem to matter what we plant, whether it is rhododendron or mountain laurel, the deer eat it down to the roots. As much as we love watching the does and their fawns, we do find it is a constant battle to have a garden."
One feature Mary absolutely had to have was a split-rail fence. In the course of clearing the land, Jim located enough old locust-wood fence posts from the original farm to erect the enclosure she desired. He also has successfully created an orchard that includes heirloom apple trees that have been grafted from those found on old farms in the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains.
After all their work, the Rorers realized they didn't really need all 26 acres. "I cleared the land and sold three nice lots on the creek for more than I had originally paid for the entire parcel," Jim says. "We retained 14 acres for our use and still have access to the creek and the fabulous views."
Time at their log cabin is devoted to relaxation, relaxation and relaxation. Jim still loves to fish, while Mary prefers to cook or sit in the sun reading or on the porch, weather permitting, knitting or playing her lap harp. "When I am here, I just feel good," Jim says. "I am up here almost every week, and I have a hard time going back to the Piedmont. There is such a sense of serenity here. We have dreamed of having a second home in the mountains, and today it is a reality. The Lord has truly blessed us."
