Escape to White Mountain: Planning a Handcrafted Log Home

When Andy and Lisa Johnson began imagining a log home in the White Mountains of Arizona, they saw themselves moving after their two children finished college. But, admits Lisa, “We got too excited, so we ended up doing it a couple years earlier.” Before moving to their 4,260-square-foot mountain home, the Johnsons lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, a busy suburb of Phoenix. The family decided that the White Mountains, where they had often camped, hunted and fished, would be the perfect escape from the traffic, over-crowding and pollution of city life.

The one downside, says Andy, was leaving their friends. Moving three and a half hours away put an end to spontaneous visits. But Andy has noticed that there’s a silver lining to that cloud. “When we do get to see our friends, it’s for a whole weekend and we get to spend quality time with them.” While their guests might make the trek primarily for the company, the mild temperatures, beautiful views and inviting accommodations are certainly a plus. Andy ensured comfort with built-in features (like toasty radiant floor heating), while Lisa added depth and warmth with interior design choices. She used warm colors and cozy fabrics, adding charming touches with items she discovered in their travels—antique skis, sleds, fishing poles and even an armoire to add a lived-in feel to their new home.

Though practicality is a ruling factor in the home’s design (such as the cleverly installed washer and dryer in the master closet), measured touches of luxury make it a relaxing retreat. A sunken hot tub outside the master bedroom provides a delightful spot to enjoy the stars on a summer night or the snow on a winter evening. The Johnsons’ extravagant stone hearth houses both the fireplace and the television. The combination seemed natural to Andy and Lisa, who love to watch sporting events by the comfort of the fire. Customized details like these were easy to achieve with Andy, who has worked in construction his entire life, serving as the general contractor. But while his watchful eye helped construction proceed smoothly, both he and Lisa are also quick to acknowledge that the good experience was due in large part to their log producer, Summit Handcrafted Log Homes.

Before choosing a company, the Johnsons spent three weeks traveling across Canada, meeting with various producers. Summit was their last stop, and the Johnsons knew right away that they had found their manufacturer. Initially, they were drawn to the unique look of the company’s signature flared-end cedar logs, but their happiness with Summit continued to grow throughout the building experience. “They gave me a price on the log package, and it never wavered a penny” reports Andy. “Plus, they delivered the logs on the date they promised me.”

In fact, Andy and Lisa were so happy with Summit that Andy signed on to represent the company for the state of Arizona—and the beauty and comfort the couple has discovered in their log home serves as a ringing endorsement.