Our log cabin journey started in the late 80's when we began to talk about our desire to someday have a second home in the country. As it turns out, one of the log manufacturers we initially contacted was Appalachian Log Homes out of Knoxville, Tenn. Their sales representative, Tom Crawford, sent us a number of floor plans and some general information, which we filed away.

In 1992 we purchased a small farm in east Wake County and picked out a spot that we felt would be a great cabin site. By 2000 we had built a pond and made other improvements in preparation for construction. Now came the time to select the log system we would use and the floor plan that would best fit our life style. What followed amounted to information overload. It seemed there were so many companies, so many designs and so many features that we would need to narrow the alternatives or the trip could end in confusion. Fortunately, an article in the November 2001 issue of, 'Log Home Design Ideas', titled "Home Away From Home", described a planned community near Boone, N.C. This article caught our eye and seemed to offer us a good place to see log homes that had been built for several years and others that were under construction. Our day trip and site visit confirmed our impression that the Appalachian Log Home, Lonesome Pine III floor plan, had many of the details we were looking.

Back in Raleigh we began to make follow up calls and discovered that the most knowledgeable person regarding Appalachian Log Homes was Pete Pyles, owner of Country Comfort Homes Inc., out of Tobaccoville, N.C. Pete lived up to his reputation and we soon were finalizing a floor plan and construction budget. We broke ground on July 9th, 2002.

Let us share some of the features that we decided on and some of the contractors and suppliers that have helped make our log home a special place for our family. We chose the 6" x 12" Hemlock log system with 2" chinking. A tin roof not only offered the look we were after but also low future maintenance cost. Baker Roofing, Raleigh, N.C. was selected and Woody Baldwin, CEO, and his staff did an outstanding job of installing the 5V 24 gauge galvalume metal panels to include an ice guard system that protects against water penetration, ice damming and wind driven rain. Inside we decided to use white pine for our walls and cabinets, lightly stained to highlight the beautiful wood tone of the logs and planks. Caulking, staining, and chinking work was expertly performed by Vincent King, owner of Appalachian Log Services, Inc. Our family room has a large fireplace constructed using East Tennessee fieldstone and we also added an outside fireplace surrounded by a stone patio. Joe Valles, a third generation stone mason, did a great job both inside and out to include the stone veneer around the cabin foundation. For our flooring, we selected cypress boards that were cut and milled from "river logs". Using this source, we wee able to get long (8-12 ft.) and wide boards (6 in.) with both character and an interesting history.

Every trip should include fun places, interesting people and good memories. Our cabin adventure fit these criteria. Logs from Canada, a mule-deer antler chandelier from Montana, stone from Tennessee and flooring from old growth cypress that was salvaged from the bottom of a Florida river. People who build log homes seem to have unique qualities as well. We found them all willing to help, to show and to share their experiences and we in-turn are trying to follow in that tradition by making our home available to Pete's prospective clients and to others who just want to take a look.

Our log home is now constructed, our photo album is nearly full and the memories will be shared for many years to come. We believe if you choose Appalachian Log Homes, and let Pete Pyles help you with your design, you too, will have an exciting and successful journey.