A New Hampshire Log Home With a View

Photos courtesy of Natural Element Homes

Originally from New Jersey, the owners of this home fell in love with New Hampshire (and the log home lifestyle) after renting some cabins in the area. They were so enamored, they decided they needed to own their own log home retreat and rent it out to others. However, once the house was built, the plans changed slightly.

“My clients designed the home with a bedroom and bath on each level (three suites in all) for the sole purpose of serving three rental couples simultaneously,” says Bob Carper, the builder of this home and a dealer for its log provider, Natural Elements Homes. “However, now that it’s built, they won’t let anyone rent it,” he adds with a chuckle. 

And it’s no wonder the owners don’t want to share. For starters, the house looks upon the stunning Ossipee Mountain range to Mount Washington, which is about a 40- to 50-mile-long panoramic view. Comprised of 8-inch D-shaped white pine with saddle-notched corners, the 2,625-square-foot plan maximizes every inch of space — a feature important to the couple, as they were trying to save money everywhere they could without sacrificing the look or feel of the house. One of the ways they accomplished this is by keeping the layout basic.

“The design is a simple rectangle with a big wall of glass on one end,” explains Natural Element Homes’ owner, Robert Lambert. “This is a very popular style and a great way to keep costs down.”

Extensive porches and decks give it the perception of size and create additional living and dining space at a fraction of the cost of increasing the actual footprint of the home.

Other areas where Bob Carper was able to save his client money can be found in the high-quality stock cabinetry, the prefinished maple flooring and, most of all, in the roof system. 

“In some of our homes, the exposed rafters you see structurally support the actual roof load. It looks great, but that kind of roof system can be quite expensive,” Bob explains. “This house uses a conventionally framed truss system hidden beneath the ceiling, and the beams you can see are purely decorative. You get the same great look, but at a much lower cost.”

And due to New Hampshire’s heavy snow loads, having the best roof you can afford is essential. 

But for all the money-saving efforts that went into this home, you’d never know it to look at it. All you see is the charm and comfort that only a log home can bring. And that is priceless.

Home Details:

Square Footage: 2,625 (not including basement)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3 full, 1 half

Log Provider/Builder: Natural Element Homes/New Hampshire Log & Timber Homes