A Lakeside Log Home in Washington

A lakeside log home in the Cascades rises as a testament to perseverance and hope.

For the better part of two decades, Greg and Linda Hughey knew they wanted a log home. They went to home shows, talked to developers and toured properties in scenic areas. But they also had three daughters to raise and a telecommunications business to run in Woodinville, Washington, located about 20 miles north of Seattle. So their dream home was postponed. Then, the unthinkable happened: Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer, and those plans were derailed again. After Linda successfully beat the disease—"I'm five years clear," she says proudly—and their daughters were grown, the Hugheys were ready at last to build their second home. At a home show in Seattle, they saw a stunning photo of a property overlooking Lake Chelan, a scenic waterway in the mountainous North Cascades. They didn't quite believe that the property's lake view could be real until they ventured to the site, located at nearly 2,500 feet, to see it for themselves.



The view was, indeed, real, and the couple quickly purchased the property and sought out a log-home dealer, settling on International Homes of Cedar (IHC), headquartered in their home town. The prime location made working with IHC president Rodney Robertson even easier, Greg says. Together, they customized one of the company's basic floor plans to maximize the site's spectacular panoramic vistas. "They were initially looking at country ranch-style plans, but those weren't geared toward taking advantage of their expansive view," Rodney says. The 2,480-square-foot house is built with interlocking flat-faced cedar logs. The two-story structure features a prow front, double banks of large windows and an open floor plan that includes a great room, kitchen and dining room, all oriented toward the lake.



The upstairs, accessed by a spacious landing that overlooks the great room, includes three bedrooms, each boasting a window that takes in the lake or the mountains. The couple decorated the house to be rugged, plush and bold—marrying the comfort of country decor (without the clutter and heavy florals) with the rustic romance of log-home living (without going overboard with Western or outdoorsy items, Greg says). Sofas and chairs are upholstered in brown and red leather, and iron bed frames, candle holders and other accents lend elegance. To complement the home's wood tones, the Hugheys incorporated painted drywall in select areas to differentiate spaces such as the kitchen and dining room.



"The Hugheys have a great design sense, and it's a better-looking home because of the architectural details and color," Rodney says. "I think it's one of our prettiest homes and certainly one of the best settings." This month marks the three-year anniversary of the house's completion. The Hugheys are now "semi-retired" and make the 150-mile journey from Woodinville as often as they can, usually staying for a week or two at a time. Someday, they'll live full time at Lake Chelan. "It's where we kick back," Linda says. "It's a private slice of heaven."

Home Plan Details:

Square Footage: 2,840

Log Company: International Homes of Cedar