
In keeping with the small size of this room, decor has been wisely left simple. The couple has used earth tones and animal themes for accent — nothing too bold or strident.
This process took a couple of months, but Jim and Maraul knew what they wanted and were aware of how important it is to make needed changes and alterations in the plans while they are being drawn instead of during construction. They had two lists of must-haves for the house. In the “lifestyle” column was an open floor plan with a spacious great room, a loft with covered deck space on three sides of the house, and lots of glass so that they could enjoy their mountain views from almost anywhere in the house. They also had a more technical list. The house would have to include well-fitting logs to prevent heat loss, bug damage, and shrinkage. These logs had to be treated to prevent all of these possibilities. Jim and Maraul got what they wanted. From the technical aspect, the home exceeded expectations. “We had owned and sold another log home about the size of this one,” Jim says. “Each year we used 800 to 1,000 gallons of propane gas. In this house, we use only about 400 — that’s how tight this house is. And after two years, we have seen no shrinkage and no evidence of any bug damage.”
From a lifestyle perspective, their wish list was also answered. Although the footprint of the great room is relatively small, the living room portion of the space is two- story; this gives the room a bright and airy ambiance. The Boulwares also kept the television and other electronic entertainment upstairs in a loft family room, maintaining the downstairs living room as an uncluttered place for conversation and visiting.

Who needs a swimming pool when you can have a hot tub (or cool tub in the summer) right outside of the deck from your bedroom?
- Covering the decks that were in the original plans to changes them into porches. This gives them a great deal more outdoor living space for at least three seasons a year.
- Expanding the porches to 10 feet deep instead of the more building-traditional eight feet that appeared the original plan. The Boulwares get more breathing room and the house appears larger.

Ceramic tile backsplashes, granite countertops and wooden cabinetry — all natural materials that blend with log walls — are accented and highlighted by a touch of stainless steel in the stove, microwave and appliances.
More information on this home originally appeared in the Floor Plans 2007 issue of Country's Best Log Homes.