Honest Abe Blog

Stories about Honest Log Homes, Log Cabins & Timber Frames Homes

The Honest Abe Log Home Blog shares stories from Honest Abe Living Magazine and other sources of interest to log home enthusiasts. Check event schedules. Read company news, announcements and industry news. Find out about new products. Browse photos from new construction and new house plans.

If you like cooking (and eating), you’ll love our collection of recipes from Honest Abe Living Magazine that were contributed by our owners, employees, dealers, homeowners and friends. Click Honest Abe Recipe Box for all our recipes.

Log Home Features That Set Your Property Apart

Log Home Features That Set Your Property Apart

You can make the most of the distinct charm of log home living with a focus on unique log home features! From customized log-work to eco-friendly solutions, thoughtful design choices can set your log home apart from the rest. Customized...

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Turning a House into a Home

The Art of Personalizing Your Newly Built Haven Welcome to your new sanctuary! Moving into a newly constructed house is an exhilarating journey, but transforming it into a home brimming with warmth, character, and cherished memories is where the true magic lies....

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Revitalize Your Home This Spring

Revitalize Your Home This Spring

Decluttering Closets, Organizing Drawers, Tidying Kitchen Cabinets and Beyond! by Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. Designs Spring is the perfect time to breathe new life into your living space. As the flowers bloom and the days grow longer, it's the ideal...

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Honest Abe Free Literature

Download our overview of Honest Abe Log Homes and learn more about our services, meet some of our homeowners and find out what you need to know to choose a log home and choose Honest Abe to manufacture it.

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Log Raisings are Informative and Inspiring

Log Raisings are Informative and Inspiring

Have you ever dreamt of living in a cozy log cabin, nestled amidst whispering pines and the warmth of a crackling fireplace? The dream feels even more real when you witness its creation firsthand. On April 20, 2024, Honest Abe Log Homes in Moss, Tennessee, is inviting...

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Honest Abe’s Lil’ Piggies in a Blanket Recipe  

Honest Abe’s Lil’ Piggies in a Blanket Recipe  

Join us for an episode of Honest Abe living in the kitchen as we whip up a treat close to Axel's heart – the beloved Lil' Piggies in a Blanket! It's a simple yet delightful recipe that brings comfort and flavor in every bite. All you need are some lil' smokies and...

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Cozy Reading Retreats in Timber Surroundings

Cozy Reading Retreats in Timber Surroundings

Log home libraries meld the rustic beauty of timber homes with the timeless joy of reading. These libraries are more than just collections of books. They are serene havens crafted from the natural warmth of wood, offering a distinctive reading experience. The appeal...

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Romantic Elegance

Romantic Elegance

Tasteful Interior Design Ideas for a Stylish Valentine's Day Valentine's Day is the perfect occasion to infuse your home with love and create a romantic atmosphere that celebrates the essence of the day. Whether you're planning a cozy evening for two or a gathering...

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Log Homes: Beyond Rustic Charm, Lies Financial Wisdom

Log Homes: Beyond Rustic Charm, Lies Financial Wisdom

Log cabins have long evoked images of cozy getaways nestled amidst nature, but did you know they can also be surprisingly budget-friendly? In this age of ever-rising housing costs, opting for a log home might be a smarter financial decision than you think. Let's peel...

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Building a Fortress of Fun

Building a Fortress of Fun

Essential Childproofing Tips for a Safe and Happy Home Bringing a little one into the world is an explosion of joy, but it also sparks a whirlwind of adjustments, especially when it comes to creating a safe and happy haven for your tiny explorer. Fear not, fellow...

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A Home for Raising a Family

A Home for Raising a Family

Designing a log or timber home for raising children is in some ways preparing for a home for retirement. Honest Abe's sales professionals have prepared a list of suggestions to discuss with your sales representative as you begin designing your family home.Safety...

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Honest Abe Part of Log Cabin History

Honest Abe Part of Log Cabin History

Many Honest Abe Customers Create the Look of Historic Cabins for Their Modern HomeThe history of log cabins and log homes in the United States is deeply intertwined with the nation's pioneering spirit, reflecting the resilience and resourcefulness of early settlers....

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The Ultimate Guide to Moving into a Log Home

The Ultimate Guide to Moving into a Log Home

The Ultimate Guide to Moving into a Log Home Going on the adventure of moving into a log home opens a new chapter of living closer to nature. This transition brings a unique blend of rustic charm and modern convenience. Such a move requires thoughtful preparation and...

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Serenity Log Homes Named Dealer of the Year 2023

Serenity Log Homes Named Dealer of the Year 2023

Serenity Log Homes in Florence, Alabama, owned by DeWayne and Sherry Crumley, has been honored as the Honest Abe Log Homes Dealer of the Year for 2023. Since joining as Honest Abe dealers in 2017, the Crumleys have consistently expanded their dealership, driven by DeWayne’s lifelong passion for log homes

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Visit Us in July During Log Cabin Month

Visit Us in July During Log Cabin Month

Honest Abe Celebrates Log Cabin Month 2024 “National Log Cabin Month 2024 is a great opportunity for our guests to experience first-hand the quality and beauty of a log home,” said Josh Beasley, President of Honest Abe Log Homes, a 45-year-old, family-owned custom...

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Single-Level Layout Advantages

Single-Level Layout Advantages

Single-level floor plans offer a variety of advantages over multi-level layouts, making them an increasingly popular choice for homeowners of all ages. Here are some of the key benefits of single-level living: Accessibility and Safety: Single-level homes eliminate the...

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2024 Log Raisings

2024 Log Raisings

Honest Abe Log Homes invites you to visit its National Headquarters in Moss, Tenn., for any of our 2024 Log Raising and Manufacturing Tours. January 27, 2024 April 20, 2024 July 20, 2024 October 12, 2024 Each event begins at 9 a.m. with a Log Raising,...

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New Year, Fresh Decor: A Refreshing Start for Your Home

by Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. Design As the new year unfolds, it's the perfect time to take a fresh look at your home decor. Do the furnishings and accents still resonate with you? Are there changes you'd like to make, even if you're working within a budget? In...

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Timing the Tidings

Timing the Tidings

When Is the Perfect Time to Deck the Halls for Christmas? by Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. As the air turns crisp and the holiday spirit begins to stir, the age-old question arises: When is the right time to start decorating for Christmas? In this blog post, we delve...

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Contractor Engineered Red Edge Levels

Contractor Engineered Red Edge Levels

Looking for a Christmas gift for the contractor or DIYer in your life? Contractor Engineered Red Edge Levels are the perfect choice for shoppers looking for high-quality, durable and accurate levels. The ideal gift, these levels are available in three lengths: 24”,...

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Effortless Seasonal Transition

Effortless Seasonal Transition

Simplifying Your Shift from Summer to Fall As the seasons change and the vibrant warmth of summer gives way to the cozy embrace of fall, it's time to infuse your interior decor with autumn charm. The challenge lies in achieving this seasonal transition seamlessly and...

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Project Planning Guide

Inspiring Homes Product and Planning Guide Honest Abe Log Homes Inspiring Homes Product and Planning Guide is a 52-page online publication that features information specific to our products, company history, manufacturing process, green practices, building systems,...

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Timeless Charm

Timeless Charm

Interior designer Molly Cooper of Cooper & Co. shares seven inspiring
ideas that will transform your log or timber frame home into a haven
of classic elegance by incorporating vintage or antique architectural
components.

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Perma Chink-Catalog 2023

Honest Abe provides Perma-Chink products with our packages. Download the catalog to see what they offer. Some of the beautiful homes Honest Abe's customers have created are featured on pages 2, 6 and 42.

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Log Home Décor: How to Create a Cozy and Inviting Space

Log Home Décor: How to Create a Cozy and Inviting Space

Log Home Décor: How to Create a Cozy and Inviting Space Your log home can be a sanctuary of comfort and peace all your friends will love visiting. All it takes is a bit of work on the décor to make it a very cozy and inviting space. Here are some things you can do to...

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Bring on Spring

Bring on Spring

By Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. Design Helloooo Springtime! It's my favorite time of the year. I love all seasons, but spring has always been my favorite. It is a time to get outside and shake off the winter "cabin fever" blues. Everything comes back to life,...

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A Daughter’s Memory

A Daughter’s Memory

In this message from April Smith Patterson, the daughter of Honest Abe's founders, Doug and Janie Smith, April shares one of her special memories of her late father and her mother, who along with April and her brother, Shane, operate Honest Abe and the other companies...

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It’s Time! Decluttering and Spring Cleaning

It’s Time! Decluttering and Spring Cleaning

It is inevitable, just likes bill come in the mail month after month, spring cleaning comes around year after year without fail. Don’t dread it, but learn how to dive in make it easier, and commit to your decluttering decisions and in the end your home will sing of...

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Do you know how to… common and simple how-tos. 

Do you know how to… common and simple how-tos. 

I am often asked how to how to this or can you show me how to do that? Things I guess I take for granted and think most everyone is comfortable with doing, simply is not always the case…but I am here to help. What are some things you’d like to know? How to dress a...

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The Callahans – Dealer of the Year

The Callahans – Dealer of the Year

Dealer of the Year, 2022 Honest Abe Log Homes wishes to congratulate Robert and Dianne Callahan of Little River Log Homes on being named the 2022 Dealer of the Year. The Callahans, based out of Ft Payne, Alabama, have been independent dealers with Honest Abe...

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Glenn Perrin – Dealer Spotlight

Glenn Perrin – Dealer Spotlight

By David Everitt, Dealer Manager Glenn Perrin, pictured above with Honest Abe VP Jeff Clements, has been an Independent Dealer with Honest Abe Log Homes since 1998. A general contractor in South Central, Illinois, Glenn is also a dealer for Nudura ICF forms in...

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The Pros and Cons of Living Off-Grid in a Log Home

The Pros and Cons of Living Off-Grid in a Log Home

It's likely that you already possess some characteristics conducive to off-grid living if you've decided to build a home away from the primary utility grid and devote yourself to a simple life of complete independence. If you're like most people, you're a dogged...

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Do Your Love Your Home?

Do Your Love Your Home?

by Molly Cooper, Interior Designer, Cooper & Co. For most, February is the month of Love. Love is not just for relationships though, it can be for all things in your life. For instance, do you love your home? Do you love waking up every morning and seeing that...

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How to Choose the Right Ceiling Fan for Your Room

How to Choose the Right Ceiling Fan for Your Room

Soaring ceilings in the design of Honest Abe Log Homes lend themselves to functional ceiling fans. Here are tips about selecting the right fan for your log cabin. Size: The size of the fan should be proportionate to the size of the room. A larger fan is typically more...

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Securing and Insuring Valuables

Securing and Insuring Valuables

How to Secure Your Valuables in a Log Cabin or Timber Frame Home When planning a log cabin or timber frame home, it is important to consider how and where you will store your valuables and keepsakes. The Honest Abe Log Homes Design Team can help you plan compartments...

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Inviting Office Reception Areas

Inviting Office Reception Areas

Whether you are creating an office in your home or whether you are building commercial space using the Honest Abe Log Homes commercial building division, the Honest Abe Log Homes Design Team has tips for creating a reception or waiting area that is inviting and warm....

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Wine Storage for the Home

Wine Storage for the Home

There are some things to consider if you plan a wine collection in your home. Honest Abe Log Homes customers have incorporated certain appliances and design features to keep wines fresh. Storage capacity: Consider how much wine you need to store and choose a storage...

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Designing for a Refrigerator

Designing for a Refrigerator

Gone is the refrigerator that had a freezer on top and a cooling space underneath. While you can certainly find those, today’s refrigerators offer tray storage, transitional compartments for freezing and cooling, beverage service stations and panels that can hide the...

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Door and Window Options for Wood Homes

Door and Window Options for Wood Homes

Known for entrances that make a statement and the soaring walls of windows, the Honest Abe Log Home design team and our sales consultants and Independent Dealers work with homeowners to select windows and doors that help define the log cabin, log home or timber frame...

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Adding a She Shed

Adding a She Shed

A she shed can be a great addition to any backyard, providing a cozy and stylish space for relaxation, work, or creative pursuits. Honest Abe Log Homes loves designing these escape sanctuaries for our customers whether they are afterthoughts to an existing home or...

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Autumn Maintenance Checklist

Autumn Maintenance Checklist

Following a fall log home maintenance checklist for your log cabin can make for a much less expensive autumn, winter and spring. Here is the Honest Abe Log Homes' checklist for preparing for colder months. 1.    Clean gutters and downspouts: Leaf debris can...

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Propane Heating for Wood Homes

Propane Heating for Wood Homes

Propane can be a heating solution for homeowners, especially when the property is remote. For Log Home and Log Cabin homeowners, propane is sometimes the most reliable way to set up a heating system. Honest Abe Log Homes can help you determine whether this is a good...

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Innovative Log Cabin Floor Plans to Consider in 2023

Innovative Log Cabin Floor Plans to Consider in 2023

Many homeowners are looking to break from the cookie-cutter vinyl look of suburban America. As such, log cabin designs are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to create a timeless, homey ambiance. The good news is that choosing a log cabin does not have to...

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Play Yards for Your Home

Play Yards for Your Home

They're only kids once. That's what we say to remind ourselves how fleeting childhood was for us and how quickly it will pass for our children and grandchildren. It's also the reason that some homeowners opt to create a home play yard, fenced in for security. ...

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Planning a Safe Room

Planning a Safe Room

With the current lack of stability in the world and the ever-changing weather patterns, more homeowners are including a safe room in their custom floor plans. A safe room, sometimes called a "panic room" or a "storm shelter," is a fortified room in a residence that is...

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Walkout Basements are Popular with Log Home Owners

Walkout Basements are Popular with Log Home Owners

At Honest Abe we're often asked about designing a basement for a client's new log or timber frame home. One popular option is a walk-out basement. A walkout basement is a type of basement that is built partially above ground and includes one or more exits that lead to...

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Is a Basement Right for Your Home?

Is a Basement Right for Your Home?

Basements may or may not be a part of a home plan for a log home or log cabin. There are cost and design elements to consider with the Honest Abe Log Homes design team to understand whether a basement makes sense for your home. Beyond the considerations of the land...

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How to Stay Safe in a Remote Location During an Emergency

How to Stay Safe in a Remote Location During an Emergency

Living in a remote location can be beautiful and peaceful, but it can also be challenging in an emergency. First responders may have difficulty reaching your home, and communication may be limited. This is why it is important to be prepared for emergencies and to have...

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Bathroom Flooring

Bathroom Flooring

Bathrooms have become small spas and sanctuaries in many log cabins and log homes. The flooring in a bath space has also evolved. Here are some thoughts from the Honest Abe Log Home design team: Bathroom Flooring Options Ceramic tile: Ceramic tile is a popular choice...

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Designing a home for a Furry Friend

Designing a home for a Furry Friend

Four-Legged Love February is a month when everything focuses on love. Chocolates. Flowers. Romantic dinners on Valentine's Day. There are so many ways people celebrate relationships with each other, However, there is a type of relationship that does not involve all...

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Spiral Staircase

Spiral Staircase

Spiral staircases, either wood or metal, are a popular choice for both residential and commercial buildings because of their compact size, stylish design and durability. WhenHonest Abe Log Homes decided to completely renovate its oldest model home, located in...

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7 Tips for First-time Homeowners

7 Tips for First-time Homeowners

It's important to do your research and be prepared before taking the leap into homeownership. Here are seven general tips for getting started on your plan. Don't worry. At Honest Abe we are experienced in guiding new homeowners though this process along with planning...

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Cleaning Pet Stains from a Hardwood Floor

Cleaning Pet Stains from a Hardwood Floor

They are part of the family, but pets can be hard on hardwood floors! Below is a step-by-step guide for removing pet stains from hardwood floors from wood flooring experts. Honest Abe Log Homes encourages you to always test the cleaning on a small area before cleaning...

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6 Tips for Planning a Kitchen for Growing Older

6 Tips for Planning a Kitchen for Growing Older

Honest Abe Log Homes builds "Forever Homes" for our customers. Over the years, we have worked with homeowners who are building retirement log cabins or timber frame homes. Designing kitchens that can remain safe and functional for aging requires some thought as you...

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8 Ideas for Designing a Bathroom for Aging in Place

8 Ideas for Designing a Bathroom for Aging in Place

Designing a bathroom that ensures you'll have a safe and accessible log home is easy if you incorporate these ideas from the Honest Abe Log Homes team as you formulate your layout and choose your features. Install grab bars: Grab bars can provide support and stability...

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Creative Ideas for Mantles

Creative Ideas for Mantles

Fireplace mantles often become focal points of the entire room. The textures, mounting, materials and the items that sit on them. Here are some creative ideas from some of Honest Abe Log Homes' homeowners for mantels for fireplaces in log homes: Natural wood: Use a...

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Safety Tips for Fireplace Enjoyment

Safety Tips for Fireplace Enjoyment

Fireplaces can be a beautiful and functional addition to a home, but it is important to follow proper safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire and other accidents. Here are some general safety tips to consider when using a fireplace: Inspect and clean regularly:...

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Designing an Energy Efficient Home

Designing an Energy Efficient Home

Honest Abe Log Homes designs its log cabins, timber frame homes and log homes with energy efficiency in mind. This saves our homeowners money on energy bills and reduces the carbon footprint. Here are a few ideas: Orient the home to maximize solar gain: Orienting the...

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Options for Off-Grid Heating and Cooling Systems

Options for Off-Grid Heating and Cooling Systems

The idea of designing heating and cooling systems that do not rely on the electric or gas company is appealing to many log home and timber frame home owners. There are several options for off-grid heating and cooling that can be used in a variety of settings,...

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Controlling Insects in an Outdoor Kitchen

Controlling Insects in an Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens are beautiful additions to a log home. They are especially popular with homes in mountain or lakeside settings where visitors are likely. While family and friends are always welcome, so visitors are not. Insects can be a real nuisance. There are a few...

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Are Log Homes More Environmentally Friendly?

Are Log Homes More Environmentally Friendly?

As people are considering a log home or timber frame, Honest Abe Log Home sales representatives and independent dealers are often asked if log homes are more environmentally friendly than stick-built homes. In many ways – the most important ways – they are. Energy...

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Designing a Teenager’s Room for Later Transitions

Designing a Teenager’s Room for Later Transitions

One of the first things the Honest Abe Log Homes design team will ask about is the age of the family members because designing a room for a teenager is a little different than creating space for younger children, infants or even the adults in the house. Teenagers tend...

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5 Closet Considerations

5 Closet Considerations

Closets are a huge part of any design of a log cabin. While nobody wants to waste square footage, it is clear that homeowners, in the end, need more storage that then they often think they need. Designing that storage space requires understanding what needs to be...

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Are Coat Closets Still a Thing?

Are Coat Closets Still a Thing?

Yes, coat closets are still a thing. A coat closet is a small room or space, typically located near the front entrance of a home, that is used for storing outerwear such as coats, jackets, and hats. Coat closets can be useful for keeping these items organized and out...

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Working Out at Home

Working Out at Home

Space Determine the space you have available for your home gym and plan a layout. Measure the space and consider the size of the equipment you want to include and how much space you need around it to use it safely. Use storage solutions such as shelves or racks to...

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6 Tips for Treating Log Home Exteriors

6 Tips for Treating Log Home Exteriors

Is your log home not in the best shape? Has its exterior lost the shine it had when the cabin was brand new? These are common occurrences with log houses. Although they have many advantages, log cabins require regular maintenance. Their wooden walls are directly...

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Outdoor Hot Tub Tips

Outdoor Hot Tub Tips

Log and timber frame homeowners often desire to have a hot tub or jacuzzi as an amenity at their new home. The hot tub shown above was installed for the vacation enjoyment of the family who owns the three-story Honest Abe log cabin in the Smoky Mountains as well as...

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What’s a Knee Wall and How is it Best Used?

What’s a Knee Wall and How is it Best Used?

One way to maximize storage and find some creative ways to use an otherwise unusable space is to create a knee wall. A knee wall is a short wall that is typically used to create storage or living space in a room with a sloping ceiling. There are several ways to use a...

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Planning a Child’s Room

Planning a Child’s Room

More and more at Honest Abe Log Homes we are seeing couples forego waiting for retirement to have their custom log or timber frame home and build while their children are young enough to enjoy growing up surrounded by the beauty of wood. During the design process...

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Is Log Construction Good for Commercial Buildings?

Is Log Construction Good for Commercial Buildings?

Log construction can be a good choice for commercial buildings in some cases. Logs have a number of properties that make them a suitable material for building construction, including: Durability: Logs are a very durable material and can last for many years with proper...

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7 Types of Lighting for a Log Homes

7 Types of Lighting for a Log Homes

There are several ways to effectively use lighting in a log home to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Connie and Alex Diamond wanted their lighting in their Honest Abe Log Home not only to be beautiful and interesting, they needed it to be functional for the...

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10 Ideas for Adding Interest to a Log Home Porch

10 Ideas for Adding Interest to a Log Home Porch

There are many ways to add interest to the design of a porch on a log home: Use different types of wood or finishes: Consider using different types of wood or finishes for the flooring, beams, and railings to add texture and visual interest. Incorporate natural...

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Cold Weather Tips for Stains and Sealants 

Cold Weather Tips for Stains and Sealants 

It is getting cold. It usually does that this time of year and, as in most years, I start getting calls from homeowners as well as contractors asking about what the temperature has to be to apply log home products. Seems everyone is trying to finish up before winter...

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Mesh Systems for WiFi

Mesh Systems for WiFi

Log Home life often means living on a property that is outside cities that can offer strong internet signals. And often, even with log homes that are in neighborhoods, a timber frame is large enough that there may be dead spots in the home that a single Wi-Fi router...

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Revisiting the Gilchrist Home

Revisiting the Gilchrist Home

It's nice to look back at homes we've done for log home lovers in the past. Log Home Living's archives on Goole Books makes it easy to find older articles as they were originally published. We were pleased to see the Gilchrist home with its beautiful photo in the...

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What Do I Need to Look for in a Log Home Finish?

What Do I Need to Look for in a Log Home Finish?

It’s finally happening. Your log home is near completion and the gorgeous timber exterior has you smitten with its fresh scent, luster and handsome appearance. Now it’s time to choose a log finish that will keep your dream home looking like perfection for years to...

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How to Declutter Before Moving into Your New Log Home

How to Declutter Before Moving into Your New Log Home

When the time of your move to the new log home comes, there comes the chaos of packing. That is the moment when you realize how many things you have. There come the long-forgotten clothes, souvenirs from some distant journeys, dishes, children's toys, and so much...

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Downsizing from a Traditional Home to a Log cabin

Downsizing from a Traditional Home to a Log cabin

Moving from a traditional stick-framed home to a log cabin can feel like embarking on a forever vacation adventure….or it can be an utterly disappointing disaster.  Often the difference maker in which direction you land comes down to planning backwards, a twist...

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7 Security Tips for Your Log Vacation Home

7 Security Tips for Your Log Vacation Home

Log cabins have become very popular in recent years. And it's no wonder, given all the advantages of living in a log cabin. This type of home represents an excellent choice, from its coziness to its mental health benefits. Unfortunately, you can rarely find or build a...

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Christmas Fire Safety

Christmas Fire Safety

Ensuring a Safe and Happy Holiday Festive celebrations, flickering lights and winter greens are hallmarks of the holiday season, but they also present fire risks that can quickly turn this festive time of year into a devastating one. According to research by the...

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8 Simple Ways to Save Energy in Your New Log Home

8 Simple Ways to Save Energy in Your New Log Home

How to "Green" Your Log Home Adopting a “green” philosophy is easier than you think and it does not require wind turbines, solar panels or wearing extra sweaters in winter. Here are eight easy to implement suggestions from the Log and Timber Homes Council on ways to...

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Adding a Sunroom

Adding a Sunroom

Sunrooms…the best ways to bring "happy" in your home. It is a known fact that sunlight is a great way to put anyone in a great mood, but in the heat of summer or freezing winters, it is so hard to make yourself go outside and enjoy the sunshine. Not with a Sunroom or...

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Integrating Houseplants into Your Decor

Integrating Houseplants into Your Decor

Houseplants in your Interiors…what to know, how to choose and where to get! With the temperatures dropping, how can we keep the outdoors inside of our homes? Houseplants! There are so many varieties and they have so many great additions to your home and your interior...

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Log And Timber Defense

Log And Timber Defense

Perma-Chink Systems® has recently added another beautiful wood finish option for wood home customers. Unlike their traditional Lifeline film-forming wood finishes, Log & Timber Defense™ penetrates into the wood. As it absorbs into the wood surface, it forms a...

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Residential Disaster Preparedness

Residential Disaster Preparedness

Extreme inclement weather is happening with more frequency and much more devastating effects. And it is happening at a time when lots of people are now working remotely, making the home and office one and the same place. Some of the training that has traditionally...

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What to Consider When Renting Out Your Log Cabin

What to Consider When Renting Out Your Log Cabin

Are you considering renting your mountain vacation log cabin to other people? Vacationing in mountain cabins has always been popular, and you won't be wrong to try to make some money from your vacation home. Many folks earn a little extra income by renting...

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Spice Up Your Walls

Spice Up Your Walls

From dull and drab to bright and fresh, a few DIY tips to give your home some new life. For current log homeowners or those interested in building a new log home, I have heard repeatedly that log homes tend to be dark and dull and wood everywhere. While that may be...

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First Aid Kits

First Aid Kits

  Life outside the hubbub of cities and towns has become more desirable in recent years, and that is reflected in the increased demand for log cabins and timber frame homes in remote locations. Along with special considerations regarding materials delivery,...

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How to Keep Your Log Home Cool in the Summer

How to Keep Your Log Home Cool in the Summer

Summertime brings greenery, sunshine and holidays but also hot sun and extreme weather temperatures. That’s certainly something we’ve all experienced in 2022. And who knows when it going to finally cool off? It’s difficult to motivate yourself to get outside when it’s...

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Finding Inspiration

Finding Inspiration

By Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. Design How can watching your favorite TV shows, movies or social pages inspire your home décor? Do movies inspire you? What types of shows are you drawn to and do those shows and movies have a bearing on the design choices in your...

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A Dog’s Life

A Dog’s Life

Planning for Your Pups If you are a pet owner, your new log or timber frame home will be their new home too. There are several ways you can make your home more comfortable for your dog or cat while protecting your investment and add to your convenience. Convenience...

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3 Rustic Yet Cozy Design Tips for Your Log Home

3 Rustic Yet Cozy Design Tips for Your Log Home

There is an inherent and unmistakable charm and coziness about log homes. Yet there are also other touches you can add to bring out and enhance that charm. One area where cozy design tips make a considerable difference is in the bedrooms. Simple yet subtle changes to...

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Rory Feek’s First Homestead Festival Drew Thousands

Rory Feek’s First Homestead Festival Drew Thousands

By Danny Nichols, Country Reunion Magazine Singer-songwriter Rory Feek saw his 100-acre farm near Columbia, Tennessee, turn into a “field of dreams” for thousands of visitors as he hosted The Homestead Festival for the first time on June 3 and 4. Hosting an event like...

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Funeral Fan Advertising

Funeral Fan Advertising

In the early 20th century fans became an inexpensive way to advertise and promote restaurants, hotels, shops, ships, politicians and even funeral parlors. Many of these fans were made with cheap printed paper that could be stripped off and replaced from the ribs....

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How to Design a Beautiful Log Home Dining Area

How to Design a Beautiful Log Home Dining Area

In the past, log cabins were viewed as mountain retreats. However, nowadays, they've become a popular choice for a home, and it's no wonder, given all the advantages of living in a log home that you can benefit from. They purify the air inside, are eco-friendly and...

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3 Ways to Manage Stormwater Runoff for Log Homes

3 Ways to Manage Stormwater Runoff for Log Homes

Do you see standing water on your property after a storm? Are your downspouts flowing down drives or eroding the ground? If so, then you might have a stormwater runoff problem. Even log cabins that are tucked back into nature can contribute to runoff issues. However,...

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Special Purpose Closets

Special Purpose Closets

What are they and why you shouldn’t build without one? Do you have a “Christmas” closet or a seasonal décor closet where all your seasonal items are stored? If not, don’t you always say to yourself I wish I had a closet where I could store it all together? If you’re...

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Top Additions to Make to Your Log Home

Top Additions to Make to Your Log Home

Whether you're building a new log home or just remodeling an existing one, adding a few extra features will make your home even more stunning. This article prepared exclusively for Honest Abe Log Homes by Houzz outlines our favorite log home additions and upgrades....

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7 Tips for Designing a Multipurpose Outbuilding

7 Tips for Designing a Multipurpose Outbuilding

Owning a piece of land always comes with the temptation to build an outbuilding. You can always find some use for a small structure outside of your home, even if it's just a tiny shed. But, if you wish to take your outbuilding a step further, there are some clever...

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Get Your Outdoor Misting System Ready for Winter

Get Your Outdoor Misting System Ready for Winter

Your outdoor misting system has done a great job keeping your garden and outdoor living spaces cool and comfortable during the warmer months of the year. But you won’t be needing it once cooler weather settles in. Since you won’t be using your patio misting system all...

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What Does “Green” Really Mean?

What Does “Green” Really Mean?

Stewardship is not just a buzzword, it's a way of life for us. Your log cabin, timber frame house or log home is created with respect for our earth. As part of a group of companies committed to natural resource stewardship green practices, Honest Abe Log Homes can...

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Log Home Storage Solutions

Log Home Storage Solutions

Log homes bring many advantages, but storage space is rarely one of them. Typically, log cabins tend to be smaller than our homes. Although there is a certain minimalist allure to spending time in a smaller space, this can become a problem if you like to spend more...

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4 Brilliant Modern Home Plan Ideas 2022

4 Brilliant Modern Home Plan Ideas 2022

You might be planning to construct a modern log cabin, timber frame home or a hybrid design or even renovate your existing, perhaps somewhat dated, log or timber frame home to a more contemporary design. Perhaps you’re trying to come up with a budget, so here are some...

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Functionality In Room Sharing

Functionality In Room Sharing

How to maximize space and design for different personalities. One of the things I remember about growing up was my friends would always talk about was sharing a room with their older or younger sibling.  I remember wondering with it would be like to share a room....

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What Type of Finish Does Your Floor Have?

What Type of Finish Does Your Floor Have?

One of the key bits of information for keeping hardwood floors shiny is knowing what type of finish has been applied to the wood. Was your hardwood sealed with a polyurethane or polyacrylic urethane finish, or was it finished with a paste wax? If you don't know,...

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What do you want your home to look like?

What do you want your home to look like?

People who love log homes and want a log home usually have an image in their minds of what that home should look like. They way the completed home's exterior will look depends in great part on the profile used to shape the logs that will go into a custom Honest Abe...

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Riparian Buffer Has Many Benefits

Riparian Buffer Has Many Benefits

Along stream banks and wetlands, a “riparian buffer” is a forested area that is designed to protect the water from pollution and to mitigate flooding and erosion. This article will provide some details on why this is so important. The word “riparian” just refers to...

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The Biggest Advantages of Living in a Log Cabin

The Biggest Advantages of Living in a Log Cabin

Many people think of log cabins as places for relaxation or entertainment, and many times they are designed just for this purpose. However, over the past 50 years instead of a log house just being a fun weekend cabin, they’ve emerged as a serious choice for a primary...

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Dale Hollow Eagle Cam Entertains and Educates

Dale Hollow Eagle Cam Entertains and Educates

Dale Hollow Lake has become a nesting spot for American Bald Eagles as they return each year to build or refurbish their nests, lay eggs and watch over their eaglets. One such quiet spot was noticed in 2016, and soon a group of volunteers took action to share the...

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How to Coordinate Utility Buildings with a Log Home

How to Coordinate Utility Buildings with a Log Home

Are Log Buildings a Good Investment? In recent years, demand for log cabins is increasing quickly, with 2021 seeing the largest surge in interest in fifteen years. As this interest pushes forward into 2022, many are curious about whether this is a viable option for...

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Be Our Guest – Designing Inviting Bedrooms

Be Our Guest – Designing Inviting Bedrooms

It is always fun to think about visitors coming but the ones who get to stay a few days and nights in your home are the best. Designing a space for your guests they will be comfortable in as they visit requires more than clean sheets and extra towels set out in the...

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Pro Tips from the Garden

Pro Tips from the Garden

After a significant investment in bulbs and the time it takes to carefully lay out the garden and plant, nothing is more frustrating than having underground critters devour what they assume you left out for them. Moles and voles will consume an entire garden within a...

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The Guest Bath

The Guest Bath

People considering log homes almost always talk about the expectation that guests will come for extended visits. Sometimes it is the hope for adult children and grandchildren to pop in for a week. And just as often, it is friends from the “old neighborhood” or...

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Preparing a New Log Home for Staining

Preparing a New Log Home for Staining

New logs may look clean and fresh to you, but it doesn’t mean that they are ready to stain. There is some preparation involved in getting new logs ready for finishing. Logs that have been exposed to the sun may have slight gray areas on them and dirt, dust and mold...

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How to Inspect Gutters and Downspouts

How to Inspect Gutters and Downspouts

If you're like most homeowners, you probably don't think about your gutters and downspouts until there's a problem.  By then, however, it may be too late 一 a clogged gutter or downspout means all the rain or snow will have to look for some outlet somewhere....

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Masculine vs Feminine Design

Masculine vs Feminine Design

When building a home, most men think about all the things that go into the construction of the home, while the women are decorating the master bedroom and selecting the throw pillows in her mind, but that is only half the battle. When it comes to the end result and...

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Water Needs of Farm Animals

Water Needs of Farm Animals

Securing adequate and safe water for livestock can be a challenge for homeowners who are building on remote land or land without obvious water sources. But it is also a mistake to assume that because there is a creek or natural pond that you have a solution. There are...

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Kidwell Construction, 2021 Dealer of the Year

Kidwell Construction, 2021 Dealer of the Year

 Travis Kidwell named 2021 Dealer of the Year Honest Abe Log Homes has announced its Independent Dealer of the Year for 2021. Kidwell Construction, owned by Travis and Melissa Kidwell, headquartered out of the small West Virginia town of Points, topped Honest Abe’s...

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Abe Lincoln’s Home

Abe Lincoln’s Home

With Feb. 12, 2022, being the 213 anniversay of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln, we thought we would take a look at the home where the namesake of our company raised his family.The Floor Plan of Abe Lincoln's Home The idea of a family home in the days of...

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2022 Rouleau Award Winners

2022 Rouleau Award Winners

Two homes manufactured by Honest Abe Log Homes are 2022 Jerry Rouleau Award winners. Recognizing the best structures in systems-built housing, each award category (by type and size) in this prestigious annual competition reflects the distinctive nature of a building...

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Inspiring Landscape Enhancement Ideas for a Log Home

Inspiring Landscape Enhancement Ideas for a Log Home

Homeowners have been drawn to the natural beauty of wood from time immemorial, with timber and log homes remaining in strong demand regardless of the prevailing trends in real estate and home design throughout the years.    If you are one of the many people...

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Expert Advice: Everything on Aging in Place

Expert Advice: Everything on Aging in Place

Carlos Trejo, writer for porch.com, contributed this article that includes advice from experts who were asked to discuss various aspects of aging in place. Among the experts contacted was Josh Beasley, president of Honest Abe Log Homes, who was asked if a log cabin is...

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Log Cabin Chinking Options and Benefits

Log Cabin Chinking Options and Benefits

WHAT IS LOG CABIN CHINKING? Chinking is the the flexible sealant used during your log home’s construction or maintenance to seal joins between the logs, gaps, holes and checking. Chinking fits between the imperfect joints of logs to ensure a “seal” from external...

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2022 Design Trends

2022 Design Trends

Want to feel fresh this new year? Four tips with 2022 tops trends in mind. It is January, we have, for the most part gotten 2021 and all the Holidays and celebrations behind us. Now, as we look toward the future and what all 2022 has in store for us, but first we need...

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No One Else Can Store Your Memories

No One Else Can Store Your Memories

“My Niece sent a YouTube of her kids skateboarding in the driveway, but all I could see was mygrandfather’s handmade table on a shelf in the open garage.”“You can’t store other people’s memories,” said the sister of my friend who had just died. She said this as yet...

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Log Checks – to Seal or Not to Seal

Log Checks – to Seal or Not to Seal

  Every homeowner has found checks in the logs at one time or another. Checks are those longitudinal splits that appear as logs lose their moisture. While you may like or dislike checks, they are a part of the character of wood. Some species of wood are more...

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Gift Giving this Holiday Season

Gift Giving this Holiday Season

by Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. It seems that the year is about to come to a close, but not before the most wonderful time of the year gets underway. That’s right, the Christmas holiday season is upon us, and while this is an interiors and design blog, let’s have a...

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Cloud 9 Cabin In Gatlinburg

Cloud 9 Cabin In Gatlinburg

Cloud 9 Cabin, an Honest Abe Log Home built in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, after 2016 wildfires destroyed millions of dollars of properties, was featured on the cover of Log Cabin Homes with an eight-page spread in the Log Cabin Homes 2022 Buyer's Guide. Risen from the...

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Innovative Ways to Keep a Wood Home Warm

Innovative Ways to Keep a Wood Home Warm

Despite all of the innovations made in the realm of building materials, homeowners are inexorably drawn to the rustic charm of natural wood. However, despite its breathtaking appearance, some may have concerns about how to keep log or timber homes warm during the...

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Holiday Roomscapes

Holiday Roomscapes

Is there really such a thing as decorating wrong for the holidays?  Do you want your home to be picture worthy this holiday season? How can you make it more memorable for those gathered in your home for the holidays? Follow along as we discover ways to make your...

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2022 Annual Buyer’s Guide Features Haven on the Hill

2022 Annual Buyer’s Guide Features Haven on the Hill

Honest Abe homeowners Connie and Alex Diamond are featured in the LOG & TIMBER HOME LIVING 2022 LOG HOME ANNUAL BUYER’S GUIDE. The article, Haven on the Hill, shows how a young couple chose to raise their children in the log homes of their dreams while they were...

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Log Home on Charity Tour

Log Home on Charity Tour

A custom home designed and manufactured by Honest Abe was the first log home to ever be featured on The Smith Mountain Lake Charity Home Tours, a 30-year-old event that helps the local community while showcasing some the area's most beautiful homes. "The home of Linda...

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Tips for Taking Keepsake Photos of Your Home 

Tips for Taking Keepsake Photos of Your Home 

So your home is clean and decorated for the holiday season. It looks great. You feel good. You are proud, and you should be. Wouldn't you like it to stay just like this?  Sorry, you know it's impossible, but it is possible to capture your "perfect" home in a...

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The Repair After the Holidays

The Repair After the Holidays

There is nothing more joyous than welcoming friends and family into your home for the holidays. The beautiful Honest Abe Log Home pictured above shows exactly how welcoming a custom log home can be. However, with more people and possibly their pets, there will be...

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6 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Severe Weather

6 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Severe Weather

If you live somewhere that experiences a lot of storms, preparing your home for the worst should be among your top priorities. It’s crucial that you do what you can to safeguard your home and family from severe weather like floods, thunderstorms, and wind storms. Here...

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Fab Finds at Barn Sales

Fab Finds at Barn Sales

by Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. Interior Design The perfect fitting piece is always right at your fingertips…that is if you know how to look! I admit, Amazon is my first choice of finding things, especially if I need it fast, of course there are other store I will...

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Home Finishes to Please the Senses

Home Finishes to Please the Senses

Color is a marvelous tool when it comes to finishing your log home, especially when picking the best log home finish for your home. Choosing the right colors can give your log and timber home a warm, traditional feel that brings about feelings of the frontier, surrounded by nature. Or, choosing the right colors can create a modern, welcoming log and timber home that mixes the classic log home with today’s design influence.

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Preparing for Winter Vacation Home Checklist

Preparing for Winter Vacation Home Checklist

Before winter officially sets in is a good time to check off those items that must be done to protect your vacation log cabin. On the list are things we all know, but sometimes it's nice to have them in a list form you can check off each completed task. That always...

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Selling Your Home

Selling Your Home

Best Bang for your Buck…Tips to the biggest return when selling your home by Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. It is no secret that the housing market is at an all-time high. “Buyers are paying stupid amounts of money for a home that would have been listed for 1/3 of the...

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Why You Should Insulate Your Garage Door

Why You Should Insulate Your Garage Door

The cost of energy can fluctuate over time. However, with the overall trend typically looking upward, homeowners are constantly looking out for diverse ways to insulate their homes to keep energy costs down. One area many homeowners focus on is garage door insulation....

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Home Bars

Home Bars

by Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes Oftentimes Honest Abe homeowners plan a specific area of  their log or timber frame home solely for relaxation and entertainment. One such area is a built-in bar. If you’re planning to add a bar to your home, you’ll want...

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Are You Ready to Custom Build Your New Home?

Are You Ready to Custom Build Your New Home?

When you’re looking to move, building is often an attractive option. However, the pros, cons and the details of building a new house from the ground up aren’t always easy to find. This quick post will cover some of the basics so that you can decide if moving forward...

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So You Want A Fence

So You Want A Fence

People build fencing for a variety of reasons. The motivation behind the fence also gives us ideas about the materials that would be best for you. If the fence is purely utilitarian, such as protecting a parking lot at an industrial site or to keep a dog corralled in...

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Pool Tables

Pool Tables

Years of Entertainment for Family & Friends by Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log HomesGuests at this mountain top log chalet, above, by Honest Abe Log Homes can play pool on a classic slate table or enjoy a movie at the home theater and a drink at the bar. The...

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Improved Seals Between Logs

Improved Seals Between Logs

Honest Abe recently updated the seals they are providing with new log home packages. The company has always shipped high-quality seals to homeowners, but Josh Watson, operations manager for Honest Abe Log Homes explained the reasons new seals were selected. "We were...

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Choosing Finish Systems: Advice from a Chemist

Choosing Finish Systems: Advice from a Chemist

When it comes to choosing a finish system for your log home exterior there are many factors to consider and depending on what choices you make it will have a significant impact on the longevity of the finish system. Some of these choices include surface preparation,...

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Smith Family Companies Help Preserve History

Smith Family Companies Help Preserve History

story by Claudia JohnsonThe Smith Family Companies are pleased to be part of the restoration of the windows in the historic courthouse of Clay County, Tennessee, where the family-owned business was founded in 1968. Clay County recently received a grant from the State...

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Quick Refreshes

Quick Refreshes

Decorating Updates Don't Have to Take all Week   by Molly Cooper, designer, Cooper & Co. Do you ever just want to tackle a project and feel accomplished for the day or weekend? Maybe you do not know what the project even is, but you want to do...

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Log Home Builder’s Risk Insurance

Log Home Builder’s Risk Insurance

The primary means to insure for property exposure claims during construction is through Builder’s Risk insurance. Builder’s Risk insurance is a type of insurance coverage that is active while projects are under construction, renovation, remodel or repair. It is best...

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Exterior Home Inspection

Exterior Home Inspection

WHEN INSPECTING THE GENERAL EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, LOOK FOR: Landscape plants within 36 inches of exterior walls. Landscaping tips. Gutters & down spouts everywhere in good working order. Check for decaying wood within 12 inches of (or especially in...

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Pattersons Honored by Tennessee

Pattersons Honored by Tennessee

April and Nick Patterson, along with their son, Axel, were recently honored with a Joint Resolution of the Tennessee General Assembly for their support of the agriculture industry in Tennessee. April’s parents founded Honest Abe Log Homes in 1979. Her mother, Janie...

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Trends that Stay

Trends that Stay

When you build refresh or execute a full-blown remodel, you must say to yourself, “I want to choose finishes and layouts that will have staying power.” No one wants to complete a home project and in two years, do it all over again because your choices were on their...

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Chinked Honest Abe Log Homes

Chinked Honest Abe Log Homes

What is log chinking? In early history the process of chinking was the installation of various materials installed in horizontal voids between log courses on log walls to prevent air and water from entering the building. Today the word chinking is a noun meaning the...

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Considering a Pool?

Considering a Pool?

During the shutdowns last year purchasing above and in-ground swimming pools became a popular home improvement project as families realized that they may be homebound for a while. While the move to install pools last summer was an understandable response to the...

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Avoid Invasives in Landscaping

Avoid Invasives in Landscaping

The landscape plan for your log or timber frame provides the entire feel of the home. It can point people to the view scapes of a valley or a tree line. It can camouflage areas to which you do not want to draw the eye. The landscape plan could provide definition for...

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Finding Storage Space

Finding Storage Space

Finding all the nooks and crannies for creative storage or workspace is a challenge faced by every homeowner. No matter how carefully you planned your home, there will be a moment that you wish you had just a little bit more storage or a place to spread out a project...

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First Eco-Panel Customer

First Eco-Panel Customer

Dan Smith, sales representative out of the Murfreesboro model has had the recent pleasure of working with a customer whose goal was to build a Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH). To accomplish this goal, the customer chose Honest Abe’s SIP panel offering but was drawn to...

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Small-Space Living

Small-Space Living

Have you ever sat and watched one of the many “Tiny Home” shows on TV, and think to yourself, “I just don’t know if I could live in such a small space?” You are surely not alone, but let me tell you, it is happening everywhere. Tiny or low square footage homes are...

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Three Pressing Questions

Scotty Vaughn says that if he had a quarter for each time he was asked the same three questions, he’d just may be able to retire. Since launching his Alabama home construction business in 2007, he’s found that people looking to build a new home have three pressing...

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Roof Care

Roof Care

Roof Maintenance You Should do Each Spring and Fall These simple guidelines can help you regularly maintain your roof and avoid some serious problems down the road. So how's your roof? You don't know? Most of us don't know what's happening with our roofs because we...

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Pictures and Plans

Over the years we’ve noticed that most people who visit our website, honestabe.com, love to flip through the photos and browse the floor plans. That’s a good thing since we have dozens of plans and hundreds of photos. Now we’re making the experience even more...

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Ready! Action! Popcorn!

Ready! Action! Popcorn!

The Teslia Theater Honest Abe customers, the Greg and Sandy Teslia, built a theatre in their custom timber frame home. They chose a private area of the house – the 2,730-square-foot walkout basement – where they have a fitness room inside and a patio with a hottub and...

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Functional Outbuildings Start with Proper Foundation

Functional Outbuildings Start with Proper Foundation

What to consider when planning your outbuildings's foundation. A log garage to complement an Honest Abe log home is often requested by our customers. Some choose full log construction, while others decide on log siding or other construction types. The photos above...

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Enjoy a Home Pool Safely

Enjoy a Home Pool Safely

Hello Spring! For those who own a pool one of the giant tasks of every spring is to get the pumps ready, clean the decks, scour the tiles, order the chemicals, wash the towels and blow up the floats! However, there are some rules that it is time to review with the...

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Creating a Budget-Friendly Bath

Creating a Budget-Friendly Bath

Honest Abe customers are very creative at getting the most out of their budget when it comes to bathroom planning. Sara Brown, writer for Timber Home Living, offers a few simple ideas for creating a beautiful and economical bathroom. These photos show how Honest Abe...

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5 Ways to Enjoy the Simple Life

5 Ways to Enjoy the Simple Life

…how to achieve a simplistic looking home In the months and possibly years following Covid-19, I feel strongly that simple might just be best. As most of us spent a majority of our time at home this past year, which gave us a lot of time to gaze at the four walls of...

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Signs Your Garage Door Is Due For An Upgrade

Signs Your Garage Door Is Due For An Upgrade

Garage doors are durable things, as they are designed to last up to 30 years. A garage door’s longevity depends on several factors, though. The type of door, how you care for it, and the local climate matter as far as your garage door’s lifespan is concerned....

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Homebuilding Timeline

Homebuilding Timeline

Honest Abe's customers frequently ask how long it takes to build a log home. Certainly there are many factors at play, but we've developed a timeline to help envision the process. Yes, this looks overwhelming, but it's not. These steps are very similar to the ones...

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Cherry’s Grocery, Moss, Tennessee

Cherry’s Grocery, Moss, Tennessee

by Jay Farrell Since the early 1940s, Cherry’s Grocery was a community staple of the unincorporated town of Moss, Tennessee, where Honest Abe Log Homes and its parent company have operated for more than 40 years. The intersection that houses the old community store is...

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Honest Abe Customers are Ahead of the Trends

Honest Abe Customers are Ahead of the Trends

After a year of learning to work, go to school and accommodate everyday life under one roof together, the world of home design is making home more friendly and more functional for all the demands of a busy lifestyle operating from one location. Some of the "trends"...

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Let it Snow!

Let it Snow!

Snow blankets Honest Abe cabins, making them even more beautiful. Each time it snows, Honest Abe Log Home customers share their photos showing how beautiful their homes look covered in snow.  No matter how cold an inconvienent snow may be, it creates a compelling...

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Roof Covering Types

Roof Covering Types

When you order your log or timber frame home package directly from Honest Abe Log Homes or one of its Independent Dealers, included in the package is the roofing system you select. These may be a heavy timber, a conventional rafter or a conventional truss...

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Fire Performance of Log Walls

Fire Performance of Log Walls

  There's Good News for Log Home Owners The popularity of log buildings is illustrated by growing numbers of log residences, resorts and other buildings constructed in rural and suburban environments. This growth is attracting log construction to greater scrutiny as...

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A Place for Everyone

A Place for Everyone

Mrs. Eslick has retained her independence while living safely near her son.Tips for making a log or timber frame home safe for aging parents without compromising beauty   By Claudia Johnson, March 2021 issue, Log Cabin Homes Creating a log home design that will...

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Planning a Log Home Fireplace

Planning a Log Home Fireplace

Molly Cooper of Cooper & Co. Interior Design offers advice for planning a log home fireplace and presents a gallery below to show how several Honest Abe customers have designed their own fireplaces. Q. How do you determine the right fireplace size for the room or...

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Lofts: Versatile and Beautiful

Lofts: Versatile and Beautiful

Separated from the formal area of your home above the places you want to keep organized and tidy but still be part of the open plan design is the loft. From the loft, there is a separated space that still benefits from the floor-to-ceiling windows present in many log...

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Your Garage Door Material Options

Your Garage Door Material Options

Many of Honest Abe Log Homes' customers add a garage to their plan whether it is attached directly, accessed by a breezeway or constructed as a separate building. Below are examples of the variety of selections for garage doors Honest Abe homeowners have made to...

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Debunking Common Home Heating Myths

Debunking Common Home Heating Myths

As a homeowner, you know heating is an essential (and often expensive) part of life. That’s why it’s only natural that you would pay attention to tips that could extend the life of your heating system and save you money. If there are ways to better care for and...

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Bobby Goldsboro Painting

Bobby Goldsboro Painting

by Claudia Johnson Bobby Goldsboro is a true Renaissance man. He’s enjoyed a long career as an entertainer, composer, producer and publisher. Many people remember Goldsboro’s early 1970s television variety show or his string of 16 Top 40 hits, including “Honey,”...

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10 Ways to Go Green

10 Ways to Go Green

Energy Savings and Resource Conservation in Log and Timber Homes by Log and Timber Homes Council Adopting a “green” philosophy is easier than you think and it does not require wind turbines, solar panels or wearing extra sweaters in January. Here are 10 conventional,...

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Collections and Where to Start

Collections and Where to Start

Collecting is Rewarding The New Year is here again, and just like clockwork it is bringing new things for us to do for ourselves, our families and our homes. Have you set your goals and resolutions for 2021? Coming out of 2020, a year that threw all our plans out the...

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12 Essential Tips to Small-Home Success

12 Essential Tips to Small-Home Success

Follow these tips, tricks and ideas to create home that’s sweet and petite. Contributed by Donna Peak, editor, Log and Timber Home Living If you’re thinking about building a custom timber home, there are a lot of good reasons to go small. From reducing your...

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Calculating Linear Feet for Sealant

Calculating Linear Feet for Sealant

CALCULATING LINEAR FEET When it comes to ordering sealants like Perma-Chink® or Energy Seal™, there are two dimensions that you need to know in order to determine how much product you will need: the width and the cumulative length (linear feet) of the gaps or...

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Stay-at-Home Christmas

Stay-at-Home Christmas

​Honest Abe’s interior designer, Molly Cooper of Cooper & Co., was asked for advice in decorating during a pandemic. She offered many festive and affordable ideas to help celebrate even in the most challenging of times. Q. How do you overcome the issue of scale...

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Perma-Chink’s New Stain Application Guide

Perma-Chink’s New Stain Application Guide

The first defense is always a great offense! That is absolutely the case when it comes to the staining, sealing and maintenance of the wood of a log home. But finding the right stain, with the right colors and a lasting sealant with a cleaning solution that offers...

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Sweet Honey B’s

Sweet Honey B’s

Within the ranks of the Independent Dealers for Honest Abe Log Homes, we find the hidden talents and passions that go way beyond the building of a home. It was no different when we got to know Tawana Basham of Magnolia Log and Timber Homes in North Mississippi.   As a...

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Picture Perfect

Picture Perfect

What really goes on behind the scenes of a photo shoot... “Just imagine what the whole home must look like.” That is what all of us think to ourselves when we look at any home or decor magazine. The photos in the magazine show the most beautiful areas of a home, so...

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Floor Plan Viewing Enhanced

Floor Plan Viewing Enhanced

Honest Abe's floor plan area on the honestabe.com website has been enhanced to help website visitors learn more about each plan. "We've added a narrative description to each plan to further help visitors envision the plan as a finished home," explained Honest Abe's...

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How to Finance Your Log or Timber Home

How to Finance Your Log or Timber Home

Plan ahead for financing. Building a new log or timber home is an exciting process. You’re setting up a new place to live or vacation, and if you’re opting for this type of home, chances are you’re making something of a project out of it. A log or timber home can fit...

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Honest Abe Company Profile

Honest Abe Company Profile

Since 1979 Honest Abe Log Homes has designed, manufactured and built thousands of custom log cabins and timber frame homes for shipment throughout the United States and the world. Plans are created by Honest Abe's design department from customers' concepts or may be...

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Decorating for a party with fall the guest of honor

Decorating for a party with fall the guest of honor

I absolutely love have gatherings and parties in the fall. It seems no matter what the occasion is, bringing in a touch of fall is always the way to go. Weather it is a birthday party for a one year old decorated with dainty little pumpkins (you can paint them…any...

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Tips for Avoiding Nutrient Pollution

Tips for Avoiding Nutrient Pollution

Nutrient Pollution Can be Controlled Residential lawns and gardens contribute significantly to the nutrient pollution in streams, rivers and lakes, according to Don Green, Senior Water Quality Consultant for WK Dickson & Co., Inc. “Fertilizers that run off because...

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Choosing a Roof System

Choosing a Roof System

A home designed and manufactured by Honest Abe Log Homes can have a one of three types of roof systems or a combination of systems depending on what is desired by the homeowner. 

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Autumn Decor

Autumn Decor

Turning your home into a seasonal escape. Fall is a gift of glory for which we can all decorate. by Molly Cooper, designer, Cooper & Co. Fall = family, friends and cozy get togethers. Get your whole home, both inside and out, ready for the most colorful season...

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Stubbs Retires after 25 Years with Opry and WSM Radio

Stubbs Retires after 25 Years with Opry and WSM Radio

Eddie Stubbs Retires from WSM and Grand Ole Opry By Claudia Johnson After a lifelong involvement in traditional Country music, Grand Ole Opry and 650 AM WSM radio’s evening personality Eddie Stubbs has retired.  Although he’s best known for his voice, Stubbs is also a...

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A Place for Mother

A Place for Mother

Honest Abe Log Homes customer, Denise, and her husband, Peter, changed their lives dramatically when they moved from Rhode Island to the Appalachian mountains of Upper East Tennessee in 2007. Denise’s mother, Rita, who is now 88 and pictured above, did not want to...

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Preventing Wildlife Damage

Preventing Wildlife Damage

by Perma-Chink Systems If you live in or near the woods, you probably have a variety of rodents that also occupies your surrounding area. Most rodents like to gnaw on wood and if your log home is accessible to them it may become the target of their gnawing activity....

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Honest Abe Living’s August 2020

Honest Abe Living’s August 2020

Honest Abe Living’s August 2020 issue is all about enjoying the outdoors. Our featured article tells the story of an Honest Abe homeowner who designed a vacation home that highlights views of a lake, stream, waterfall and forest. #porchsitting may be a popular hashtag...

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Dining Al Fresco

Dining Al Fresco

The concept of open air dining is brought to log and timber home living in a variety of designs.  The traditional American picnic has met its match with today’s concepts of dining in the fresh air. Gone are the days of a cooler filled with Tupperware encased...

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Creating an Inviting Porch

Creating an Inviting Porch

Q & A with Molly Cooper, designer with Cooper & Co. How do you make sure the porch looks like it was built for the house it is attached to in terms of design? As with any design weather you are building the porch as you are building the rest of the home or...

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“Porchsitting” is Not Just a Hashtag

“Porchsitting” is Not Just a Hashtag

By Claudia Johnson The porch is an important element of a home’s design and functionality, but it’s also part of American culture. On social media porches have been honored with their own hashtag – #porchsitting. Dan Stevens, who played Matthew Crawley on "Downton...

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July Honest Abe Living Online Now

July Honest Abe Living Online Now

Honest Abe Log Homes’ free monthly online, interactive magazine is available now. Read homeowner stories, get tips, see videos, explore floor plans, view new photos and more.

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Beautiful Wood Flooring

Beautiful Wood Flooring

Really, what is more beautiful than a wood floor in any house but especially in a log or timber home? It actually is possible to have those floors you’ve dreamed about as you browse our galleries or read log home magazines.

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Found Objects

Found Objects

Interior Designer Molly Cooper discusses how found objects can be repurposed for practical and interesting decor.

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Log Home Nursery

Log Home Nursery

Planning a nursery for your new baby’s life in a log home is easy with a few tips from Molly Cooper of Cooper & Co. Design.

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The Right Projects for Perma-Chink

The Right Projects for Perma-Chink

ON WHAT TYPE OF HOME DOES PERMA-CHINK LOG HOME CHINKING WORKS BEST? By Tony Huddleston, VP of Sales and Operation, Perma-Chink Systems Perma-Chink was designed to eliminate the undesirable results often obtained by using older less successful methods of wood slabs,...

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Outstanding Great Rooms

Outstanding Great Rooms

Over the last 40 years Honest Abe has designed and manufactured thousands of log and timber frame homes that feature a great room. Great rooms are great by both definitions of the word. Not only are they big, they are versatile.

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Remote Building Sites

Remote Building Sites

What You Need to Know About Remote Building Sites Choosing a remote building site has its host of rewards, but it also poses some challenges.  Designing and building your dream log home puts you squarely on the path less traveled. Some buyers, however, want to...

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Office Design

Office Design

Molly Cooper of Cooper & Co. offers advice for creating a home office during new construction or fashioning a makeshift office during a temporary work-at-home period.

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Designing Your Own Floor Plan

Designing Your Own Floor Plan

Gather all those scraps of paper, drawings on napkins, clippings from magazines and ideas floating in your head, and let Honest Abe Log Homes create a plan for the new log or timber frame home that you’ve dreamed about.

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Building a Greenhouse

Building a Greenhouse

by Danny Nichols In the late summer of 2017 my wife and I decided to move forward with our long-desired goal of owning a greenhouse. After extensive review of the products available and reading customer reviews, we selected a 6 X 8 ft Palram greenhouse from Home...

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Spacious Floor Plans

Spacious Floor Plans

One-Story Floor Plans A home built all on one level is now a priority for many people building a new home. While a tall skinny or a multi-level home may have worked for younger families, today's homeowners are finding that one story construction provides far greater...

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On-Demand Log Raising Series

On-Demand Log Raising Series

Honest Abe is hosting a series of free, on-demand, online log raisings beginning April 18. Each of the short videos will address one aspect of building a log home. The video series is free, but registration is required.

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Honest Abe Living, April Issue

Honest Abe Living, April Issue

April’s Honest Abe Living interactive magazine is now online. Read stories about customer homes. Get advice from experts. Schedule on-demand log raising video events. Download featured floor plans.

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Log Home Spring Inspection

Log Home Spring Inspection

How to prolong the life of your home.   One key for keeping your log home in tip-top condition is to take an hour or so once the weather turns nice to inspect the exterior of your home for signs of potential problems.   Before we start discussing the...

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What if your property has a wetland?

What if your property has a wetland?

A wetland is an area of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally. Some homeowners are apprehensive when they discover that this type of natural feature is located on the land where they’re planning to build their home. “The concern about wetlands...

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5 of Honest Abe’s Most Popular Log Home Kits

5 of Honest Abe’s Most Popular Log Home Kits

If you have been dreaming of living in a log home since being a child, a log cabin kit can provide you with a really simple way to achieve your dream home. All Honest Abe log home kits come with everything you need to build your log cabin, they are completely...

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Creating a Modern Bathroom

Creating a Modern Bathroom

Honest Abe’s in-house designer Molly Cooper of Cooper & Co. shares her experience in creating a modern, multi-use bath/dressing room/closet suite for a pair of young homeowners.

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March Honest Abe Living Online Now

March Honest Abe Living Online Now

The interactive Honest Abe Living March 2020 issue is online now. Explore floor plans, stories about new homes, design advice, maintenance tips, event invitations and a scrumptious recipe.

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Pinterest Perfect Pantries

Pinterest Perfect Pantries

How do you start in pantry planning? There are so many things to help us when planning the “Pinterest Perfect” pantry. What do you want your pantry to do? How does it need to work? What are the must haves for you and your home and family? Does it have to be a separate...

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Mix and Match Materials for the Ideal Style

Mix and Match Materials for the Ideal Style

Combining architectural elements and materials creates a stunning and personal home. Honest Abe Log Homes has attracted some very creative homeowners in the last 40 years. Though traditional log homes are most in demand, it’s clear that mixing textures, materials and...

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Coulters Named 2019 Dealer of the Year

Coulters Named 2019 Dealer of the Year

The 2019 Honest Abe Log Homes Independent Dealership of the year is T&M Log Homes of Albany, Indiana. T&M Log Homes, owned by Tonia and Mike Coulter, is a repeat winner, also having won in 2012, 2015 and 2016.

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Media Blasting vs. Chemical Stripping for Wood Homes

Media Blasting vs. Chemical Stripping for Wood Homes

Which is the best way to remove an existing finish - media blasting or chemical stripping? Like most questions of this nature, there is no definitive answer; it depends on the situation. Both methods of removing a finish have their positive and negative attributes,...

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February Honest Abe Living Now Online

February Honest Abe Living Now Online

Just in time for President’s Day the Honest Abe Living February 2020 interactive magazine includes an intriguing story about a new log home belonging to the daughter of celebrated Abraham Lincoln collector Lloyd Ostendorf.
Another feature explains how…

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Three Types of Home Lighting

Three Types of Home Lighting

Choose the type of lighting for your log or timber home to meet lighting needs. In many log or timber frame homes, you'll most likely see track lighting in one place or another. While that is absolutely okay, why not take some risks with your log home lighting?...

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How to research log and timber home companies

How to research log and timber home companies

The best way to determine which log or timber frame manufacturer is best for designing and milling your log cabin or timber frame project is to conduct your own research. Here are six tips for researching companies before you make a decision of a lifetime.

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Sweet Dreams are Made of This

Sweet Dreams are Made of This

It’s no wonder that so many timeless songs have been written about sleeping. After all, more than a third of one’s life is spent in bed. But for custom log or timber frame homeowners, the sleeping spaces tend to become – to quote Shakespeare – “such stuff as dreams...

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January Honest Abe Living Online Now

January Honest Abe Living Online Now

The first Honest Abe Living interactive magazine of the new decade is now available online at Honest Abe Living. In the January 2020 issue you’ll read an interview and peruse a photo gallery of a new, custom log cabin. Fulfilling a 30-year dream, the featured...

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Back to the Basics…using what you already have

Back to the Basics…using what you already have

The start of a new year brings many things. For me it means a fresh start on my home and my décor. What it almost always means as well is a very empty wallet from all the holiday spending. I have two growing boys who are past Tonka trucks and Matchbox cars and onto...

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Rain Barrel: Inexpensive, Yet Valuable to Homeowners

Rain Barrel: Inexpensive, Yet Valuable to Homeowners

Hey, hey, little  playmate, come out and play with me And bring your dollies three. Climb up my apple tree, holler down my rain barrel, Slide down my cellar door, and we'll be jolly friends forever more.  Most of us sang the nursery song without giving a thought to...

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Enjoy Honest Abe Living’s Holiday Issue

Enjoy Honest Abe Living’s Holiday Issue

We are so honored to bring you the December 2019 Honest Abe Living – honored because it showcases the ongoing relationships we maintain with homeowners who chose Honest Abe to create their forever home. This month you’ll see photos of and read about four houses...

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The most wonderful time of year…

The most wonderful time of year…

Most see the holiday season as the most wonderful time of year, but let’s just be honest for a minute. For those of us who are the shopper, the chef, the decorator and not to mention all of life’s normal jobs we carry all year long, this time of year is a lot. Ladies...

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November 2019 Honest Abe Living

November 2019 Honest Abe Living

The November 2019 issue of Honest Abe Living features an interview with the owners of a new 15-room log home in the Virginia Mountains along with photos from their personal album and more about the floorpan they used. Read how an Honest Abe homeowner brought the...

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40 Anniversary Celebration

40 Anniversary Celebration

Honest Abe Log Homes celebrated its 40th anniversary on Oct. 18, 2019, at Acres of Grace Farms. Employees, retirees, business associates and their families joined Honest Abe's owners Janie Smith, Shane and Leslie Smith and Nick and April Smith Patterson, for a...

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Add Live Boards to Your Decor

Add Live Boards to Your Decor

Live edge boards can create an one-of-a-kind gift with Valentine's, Mother's Day and wedding season on the horizon, and Honest Abe is your connection for these beautiful boards available in a variety of hardwoods through our sister company, GF Hardwoods. What is a...

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Fireplaces…the must haves and have to haves

Fireplaces…the must haves and have to haves

Fireplaces are increasingly becoming a must-have for home buyers. Whether your home already has a fireplace or you're looking to have one added into your space, it's vital to know that there are different types to choose from. Whether you love an indoor fireplace over...

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Honest Abe Homeowners Featured in Two Publications

Honest Abe Homeowners Featured in Two Publications

  Nationally-distributed magazines featured the new houses of two customers of Honest Abe Log Homes in one month in 2019.   The Teslia timber frame in Fentress County, Tennessee, is featured in the Nov. 2019 Timber Home Living magazine in a 14-page spread....

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Achieving the Perfect Interior Color

Achieving the Perfect Interior Color

Article Courtesy of Perma-Chink Systems   Sometimes we just want something unique; something that expresses our distinctive style. As you look through the standard Lifeline Interior™ or Lifeline Accents™ colors, it may instinctively appear that there are...

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Dumas Walker Memorialized in Intriguing Hit Song

Dumas Walker Memorialized in Intriguing Hit Song

Attending the dedication were three of the Kentucky Headhunters in front, Doug Phelps, left, (lead vocals, bass guitar), Greg Martin, center, (lead guitar, background vocals) and brothers Richard Young (lead and background vocals, rhythm guitar), right. Young's...

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Five Employees Who Share Honest Abe’s History

Five Employees Who Share Honest Abe’s History

By Rick Denton As Honest Abe celebrates its 40th year of business, I can’t help but think of the people who have helped guide the company through the years. The five I want to concentrate on for this article are Jackie Cherry, Thomas Dulworth, Jimmy Scott, Anna...

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The 6th Annual Doug Smith Memorial 5K Fun Run and Walk

The 6th Annual Doug Smith Memorial 5K Fun Run and Walk

On Sat., Oct. 28, 2019, 135 participants and other supporters gathered at Dale Hollow Dam Campground and ran or walked for a cure. The course was a nice flat course through the beautiful campground and walking trail just below Dale Hollow Dam. The runners and walkers...

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Honest Abe Living October 2019

Honest Abe Living October 2019

October’s Honest Abe Living online interactive magazine features an interview with the owner of a new lakeside log cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains and download the plan. Enjoy colorful photos of a custom log cabin in rural Kentucky. Download a...

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Gaining Living Space

Gaining Living Space

How to gain more square footage with what you already have It is officially fall and with that we can finally get out of the house and enjoy the crisp air that the new season brings. Enjoying time outdoors, relaxing or entertaining, is one of my most favorite things,...

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“Cookin’ for the Cure”

“Cookin’ for the Cure”

by Rick Denton Over Honest Abe's four decades, it always been the company's philosophy to give back to the local community where the business originated. We were always aware of this goal and looking for ways to make a difference. An opportunity presented itself in in...

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Commercial Structures

Commercial Structures

Log or Timber Frame construction makes durable, beautiful commercial buildings. Honest Abe Log Homes is not just a designer, manufacturer and builder of log and timber residential properties. Over the past 40 years, we’ve helped numerous organizations, governmental...

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September 2019 issue of Honest Abe Living 

September 2019 issue of Honest Abe Living 

The September 2019 issue of Honest Abe Living showcases the homes of two couples who chose Honest Abe Log Homes to design and manufacture their log homes. One couple in Tennessee are finally home in the hills overlooking Center Hill Lake, having moved 11...

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Designing a Kitchen-Centric Great Room

Designing a Kitchen-Centric Great Room

Honest Abe homeowner Sondra DuBose and husband Lennard designed their own timber frame home. The center of the 3,200 SF home is an open floor plan with a smooth flow through the kitchen, dining and living spaces. "A kitchen-centric great room is perfect for today’s...

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Honest Abe Makes Donation to Habitat ReStore

Honest Abe Makes Donation to Habitat ReStore

Honest Abe Log Homes recently made a donation to Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity valued at more than $31,000. "This truckload of items has made a big impact for August," said Pam Ealey, Executive Director of Upper Cumberland Habitat. "Our shoppers enjoy how our...

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Nick and April Patterson Win State Young Farmer Honors

Nick and April Patterson Win State Young Farmer Honors

Nick and April Patterson are Tennessee Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award winners for 2019. “This year at the 75th anniversary of the Young Farmers group, we were unbelievably humbled to receive this honor,” said April. April is...

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All Customers are Stars, but Some Were Celebrities

All Customers are Stars, but Some Were Celebrities

By Rick Denton Some folks say Honest Abe’s product line is a kit, a trailer load of milled and dressed logs, timbers and other materials needed to build the log or timber home. Some say our product is considerably more ­– that it is the beautiful and unique finished...

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Why getting rid of clutter will make you less stressed

Why getting rid of clutter will make you less stressed

by Molly Hix Cooper, Cooper & Co Some call it organized chaos and some call it hoarding. I call it STRESSFUL! Clutter is faster at piling up than it is getting put away. Y’all, why for the love of clutter do we do it to ourselves? I pride myself in organization...

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Why DIY?

Why DIY?

The many television shows and podcasts that feature do-it-yourself home projects as well as the ever-growing Pinterest community demonstrates the intrigue of taking control of the design or redesign of personal living spaces. We asked Josh Beasely, President of Honest...

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Dealing with Nuisance Insects

Dealing with Nuisance Insects

In many areas of the country when cool, fall days arrive, Asian lady beetles (ladybugs), Harmonia axyridis and boxelder bugs, Boisea trivittatus, congregate on exterior walls. They typically choose the south and west facing walls since these walls are the warmest....

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Combine Plans to Create a Custom Mid-Sized Home

Combine Plans to Create a Custom Mid-Sized Home

“So, here’s the thing,” began a lively conversation with an admittedly 60-something woman who just wanted to build the home that had taken shape in her head over a long time. What we knew about her was that she was in a different place than when she and her husband...

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June 2019 Honest Abe Living Now Available Free Online

June 2019 Honest Abe Living Now Available Free Online

The June 2019 issue of Honest Abe Living, an interactive online magazine published by Honest Abe Log Homes, is available online now. This issue features the stories about some of the log and timber homes open to guests during the Summer 2019 Honest Abe Log Home Tour...

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Honest Abe’s Early Success Boosted by Television

Honest Abe’s Early Success Boosted by Television

Ralph Emery Show Played Heavily in Honest Abe's Early Success One of the early keys to Honest Abe’s success was such an advertising decision. Jim Smith wanted to advertise on “The Ralph Emery Show.” It was not cheap. It was going to cost a significant amount. Many...

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Honest Abe Components Enhance Traditional Home Remodel

Honest Abe Components Enhance Traditional Home Remodel

Heather Ross Stephens and her husband, Jarrett, recently purchased wood components from Honest Abe for a remodel of an existing home. They worked with Honest Abe Log Homes Sales Representative Inez Price, who works at the company's National Headquarters in Moss,...

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Take Charge of Your Water with a Rain Garden

Take Charge of Your Water with a Rain Garden

A Rain Garden is a landscape depression that can be filled with moisture-loving plants. Hidden beneath the pretty plants is a natural storm water treatment system that allows 30% more water to infiltrate into the ground. This reduces the amount of water from flowing...

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New Log Lodge Open for Season at Holmes Bend

New Log Lodge Open for Season at Holmes Bend

By David L. Butler, Honest Abe Log Homes customer and owner and partner with Kelly Caldwell of Holmes Bend Marina and Resort and Holmes Bend Rentals We have been in the marina business here for many years. As part of our business we also have 12 log cabins and newly...

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Summer 2019 Log Home Tour Features Five Log Homes

Summer 2019 Log Home Tour Features Five Log Homes

Five custom homes by Honest Abe Log Homes will be open to visitors at three locations on June 15 in the Rutherford County, Tennessee, area during the Honest Abe Log Homes Summer 2019 Tour, hosted by Murfreesboro Honest Abe Log Homes. Each of the homes was designed and...

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Visit Rock Hill Road Farm During Summer Tour

Visit Rock Hill Road Farm During Summer Tour

Two custom of the five custom log homes by Honest Abe Log Homes that will be open to visitors as part of the Summer 2019 Log Home Tour on June 15 are at at Rock Hill Road Farm near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. One structure is an 835-square-foot log cabin, while the other...

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The Swift Home, Williamsport, Tennessee

The Swift Home, Williamsport, Tennessee

Darlington B Plan Modified to Create Family Retreat Larry and Pam Swift completed their new 1,750-square-foot D-log cabin from Honest Abe Log Homes' Darlington B plan in 2018 as a family escape from the city. The Swifts recently shared their journey though planning...

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Don’t Wait on Your Dreams

Don’t Wait on Your Dreams

It seems most homeowners always have a list of to-dos for their home. Things you would like to improve, “wishes” that should have been done when building or remodel dreams!  What I can’t quite understand, why wait? Don’t wait to do the things…do them now or at the very least, plan! 

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Why a designer?

Why a designer?

by Molly Cooper, Cooper & Co. Interior Design Let’s first talk about what exactly an interior designer is, and then we will get into why you should hire one. According […]

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The Apple Home

The Apple Home

A Second Log Home for True Enthusiasts  Interview by Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes Honest Abe homeowners Jerry and LeeAnne Apple are enjoying their new log cabin on their […]

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The Apple Home

The Apple Home

A Second Log Home for True Enthusiasts  Interview by Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes Honest Abe homeowners Jerry and LeeAnne Apple are opening their new log home to guests on Saturday, March 23, during the Honest Abe Log Homes Spring Tour. Located near...

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Honest Abe’s Owners Honored by TN General Assembly

Honest Abe’s Owners Honored by TN General Assembly

By April Smith Patterson, co-owner of Honest Abe Log Homes I just wanted to reach out and share with you an incredible experience our family had yesterday, Valentine’s Day (the day love is celebrated), couldn’t have been more perfect and meaningful. We were invited by...

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Honest Abe Home Featured in Russian Magazine

Honest Abe Home Featured in Russian Magazine

Honest Abe Log Home's Cambridge plan as interpreted by customers Jim and Diana Copper was recently featured in a 12-page article in the Russian architectural magazine, Beautiful Houses for its Wooden Homes edition. "There's an interesting story behind how a home...

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Jackie Cherry Explains How White Pine Was Selected

Jackie Cherry Explains How White Pine Was Selected

Honest Abe was founded in 1979, and Honest Abe's plant manager Jackie Cherry has been here since the earliest years. Respected for his knowledge throughout the log and timber industry, Jackie has created relationships with timber growers, equipment manufacturers and...

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Window Choices Shed Light on Your Dream Home

Window Choices Shed Light on Your Dream Home

By Sharron Bilbrey, Sales Representative for Honest Abe Log Homes Crossville   An age-old comment about log homes is how “dark” they are on the inside, but this is something that does not have to be true anymore. Beyond the overall structure of the house, the...

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Log End Seal

Log End Seal

Dovetailed d-log corner sealed. 10" round log before sealing. Square log sealed. Why seal the ends of the longs?Wood is a hygroscopic material, which means it naturally absorbs and releases moisture from the environment. Logs can safely absorb...

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Money Savers from Log Cabin Homes

Money Savers from Log Cabin Homes

Each month Log Cabin Homes magazine suggests a variety of ways to save money when planning, building and decorating a log or timber home. Everything in your new home does not have to be new. Incorporating lighting, sinks, toilets, mirrors, stained or textured glass...

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What is SIP Construction?

What is SIP Construction?

  So, what is a SIP?   and why would I want it in my new hybrid or timber frame home?   SIP stands for Structural Insulated Panel. While they aren’t something new they may be new to you. SIPs have been around for many years and have been used in thousands of homes and...

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Help for Flooded Wood Homes

Help for Flooded Wood Homes

Log homes are actually more durable than traditional homes and are more likely to survive natural disasters, including flooding. The clean-up and repair of a log home after flooding is also much easier if you follow these steps provided by Perma-Chink... INTERIOR...

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The Dynamics of Weathering

The Dynamics of Weathering

Many people are under the impression that the winter months are hard on their logs and finishes. To some extent that's true in cold climates where the exterior log surfaces may be covered with ice and snow for several months, but even then the most damaging effects of...

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New Logo Adopted for Honest Abe

New Logo Adopted for Honest Abe

During the Smith Companies 50th Anniversary Celebration on Oct. 27 at Moss, Tennessee, a new logo for Honest Abe Log Homes was unveiled. Honest Abe's 40th year in operation will be commemorated in 2019, and the new logo design is an early birthday present for the...

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50th Anniversary Proclamation

P R O C L A M A T I O NWHEREAS, it is fitting that the members of this legislative body should recognize and commend those exemplary businesses that, through an abiding commitment to excellence, have contributed greatly to this State for many years;...

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Smith Family Traditions

Download Smith Family Traditions, the 50th Anniversary commemorative magazine compiled in 2018 to celebrate the heritage and legacy of the Clay County-based businesses operated by the family of Doug Smith.

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Musings About Honest Abe’s History

Musings About Honest Abe’s History

Honest Abe id celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019, and Josh Beasley, President of Honest Abe Log Homes, discusses a little of the company's history. By Josh Beasley I likely have a different perspective than the Smith family on how Honest Abe began, as I've...

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5k Walk and Run a Success

5k Walk and Run a Success

The life of Clay County entrepreneur Doug Smith will be honored on Saturday, Sept. 29, when friends, family and community members gathered at Dale Hollow Dam Park for The Doug Smith Memorial 5K Walk/Run. The annual event raised more than $1,100, which is being donated...

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History of our Parent Company

History of our Parent Company

In honor of the Smith Companies' 50th Anniversary, Shane Smith takes a look at the progress of the companies. Smith Companies’ Development Over 50 Years By Shane Smith, co-owner   History Pa Smith (Lemuel Smith, Dad’s father) was a sawyer and sawed...

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Three Honest Little Pigs

Three Honest Little Pigs

A coloring and activity book for children, “Three Honest Little Pigs,” was published in 2018 to provide to children who visit the Honest Abe National Headquarters in Moss or attend log raisings with there parents. The rhymed retelling of the classic fairy...

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Rick Denton Took Honest Abe from an Idea to Industry Icon

Rick Denton Took Honest Abe from an Idea to Industry Icon

Honest Abe Log Homes is celebrating 40 years in business in 2019. Honest Abe's first president discusses the company's early days in operation. By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes Rick Denton had no plans to come back home – not for good anyway. He’d earned his...

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Southern Grace Farmhouse Wins National Design Award

Southern Grace Farmhouse Wins National Design Award

A new home owned by Nick and April Patterson was awarded first place for home design in the 3,001-3,900 square feet category of the 2019 Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Home Design presented by the National Association of Home Builders Building...

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Fall Log Home Maintenance is Not Just Cleaning

Fall Log Home Maintenance is Not Just Cleaning

Most people are accustomed to spring cleaning, but if you are a home owner, you know that your house needs attention year-round. Fall maintenance is much like spring house-cleaning but more preventative and less “cleaning.” And it’s much easier to do it now rather...

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Cambridge Featured in Log Cabin Homes Christmas Issue

Cambridge Featured in Log Cabin Homes Christmas Issue

The Honest Abe Log Homes Crossville Model created from the Cambridge plan is featured in the Nov.-Dec. issue of Log Cabin Homes magazine. The article includes photos of the Cambridge decorated for Christmas as well as log home decorating ideas from Charleston, S.C.,...

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Tim Smith Celebrates 48 Years at Smith Family Businesses

Tim Smith Celebrates 48 Years at Smith Family Businesses

Tim Smith recently celebrated his 48th year work anniversary at Moss Sawmills, a sister company to Honest Abe Log Homes, GF Hardwoods and Barky Beaver Mulch and Soil Mix. Tim was honored by his fellow workers with a catered lunch, gifts and time to tell stories. ...

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How to do a DIY Inspection of a Log or Timber Home

How to do a DIY Inspection of a Log or Timber Home

One key for keeping your log home in tip-top condition is to take an hour or so a couple of times a year to perform a DIY inspection of  the exterior of your home for any signs of potential problems. Remember that a bit of maintenance and small, inexpensive...

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Designing a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Designing a Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

“Modern farmhouse at its best.” At the grand opening of the new 10” Round log home of Nick and April Patterson, those words were among the many used to describe this dream kitchen. From top to bottom this kitchen is unique, with different colors and textures, but in...

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Fall Tour 2018 Hosted by Honest Abe Cookeville

Fall Tour 2018 Hosted by Honest Abe Cookeville

A variety of log and timber frame homes will be open to the public on Aug. 25 during the fall tour 2018 hosted by Honest Abe Log Homes Cookeville. The tour includes several Honest Abe log homes and timber frame homes constructed across four decades. The featured log...

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How to Handle a Carpenter Ant Infestation

How to Handle a Carpenter Ant Infestation

CARPENTER ANTS – LIFE CYCLE AND SEASONAL ACTIVITIES Ants are now the number one household pest in the United States, leaving cockroaches well behind. A carpenter aunt infestation is a nuisance no matter what kind of house you have. Although there are more than 20...

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Dual Purpose Rooms & Murphy Beds Expand Space

Dual Purpose Rooms & Murphy Beds Expand Space

Use Every Foot of Space Wisely For most people retirement and downsizing means a real change in approaches to daily activities. The things that were “must haves” when children were still at home are not only less important but may not be needed at all in a downsized...

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Is Chinking Cosmetic or a Sealant

Is Chinking Cosmetic or a Sealant

Perma-Chink has evolved into an elastomeric compound that has been specifically designed for use in log home sealing applications. Perma-Chink adds to the overall integrity of the structure by not only preventing water and air from entering the home, but also adding...

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When You Close a Door, Opportunities Open Up

When You Close a Door, Opportunities Open Up

The idea of a log home often conjures visions of a house perched majestically on a mountain ridge or alongside a placid lake. Most of us picture a large, restful deck overlooking scenic vistas and nestled in a lush forest. When we think about walking into...

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Downsize to a Log or Timber Frame Forever Home

Downsize to a Log or Timber Frame Forever Home

The first step in knowing it was time to make a move was the quiet. The bubble of constant comings and goings, the mounds of laundry and even the 50-pound bags of pet food were no longer part of the daily household mix. There were rooms that sat empty with...

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Landscaping Effects Health and Beauty of Log Homes

Landscaping Effects Health and Beauty of Log Homes

by Perma-Chink System, Inc. Have you ever considered the impact that landscaping can have on the well-being and beauty of your log home? Let's look at some things around your home that can significantly affect its health.   Trees In summer months trees located...

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There’s Something for Everyone Oct. 18 & 19 in Moss

There’s Something for Everyone Oct. 18 & 19 in Moss

There’s a lot going on in October in the small community of Moss, Tennessee, where Honest Abe is headquartered. Mark your calendars now so you won’t miss the log raising, mill tour, new log home tour, mill tour and barn sale in Moss! Log Raising and Mill Tour On...

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Wiener Schnitzel

Wiener Schnitzel

4 (4- to 5-ounce) veal cutlets Salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1 large egg beaten with 1 tablespoon milk 1 1/2 cups fine dry breadcrumbs, or more if needed Sunflower oil 1 lemon, cut into 4 wedges 4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf...

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Cooking with Lodge

Cooking with Lodge

Cooking with Lodge Cast Iron Nestled alongside the Cumberland Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains is the town of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, (population 3,300). It was there that Joseph Lodge and his wife settled and in 1896 opened their first foundry. The Lodges'...

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Cedar Hill Log Homes

Cedar Hill Log Homes

Cedar Hill Log Homes is a new log and timber frame dealer for Honest Abe Log Homes owned by Gary Plante, who is also owner of Cedar Hill Realty in Rehobath, Mass. Cedar Hill Log Homes serves Bristol and Plymouth counties.  Born and raised in...

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2013 Dealer of the Year

2013 Dealer of the Year

White Eagle Building Systems Inc. Named Honest Abe Log Homes Dealer of the Year White Eagle Building Systems Inc. was recognized as Dealer of the Year during the recent Honest Abe Log Homes 2014 National Dealer Conference. White Eagle is owned by Randall...

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Peterson Cabin Featured in Log Home Living

Peterson Cabin Featured in Log Home Living

Log Home Living's March 2018 issue featured a new log home in in Nebo, N.C., by Bear's Den Log Homes, and independent dealer of Honest Abe Log Homes. To see photos of the home, click Peterson Cabin. To read an article about the home and an interview with...

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2017 Dealer of the Year

2017 Dealer of the Year

Bear's Den Honored as 2017 Dealer of the Year Bear’s Den Log Homes was recognized as 2017 Dealer of the Year during the recent Honest Abe Log Homes 2018 National Dealer Conference. Owned by Rodger and Darlene Dawson, who have been dealers since 2006, Bear’s Den Log...

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The Bellewood Floor Plan

The Bellewood Floor Plan

The Bellewood is one of our most popular Honest Abe Floor Plans. See it and many others at Honest Abe Floor Plans. Our Cookeville Model was created from the Bellewood. Click here for directions to Honest Abe Cookeville and plan your visit to the Bellewood.  

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Heppler Home at Gallatin

Heppler Home at Gallatin

Jerry and Bobbie Sue Heppler chose the Eagledale plan for their new home near Gallatin, Tennessee. The couple shared their design decisions and a little about their experience. It has always been a dream of ours to have a log home. Before we started we knew what we...

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The Patterson Home

The Patterson Home

The Patterson Home The Patterson Home is the 2019 First Place Winner of the Rouleau Award for Design Excellence When southern plantation meets industrial elegance, you will get a home unlike any other. The Southern Grace is on our farm, Acres of Grace Farms, which was...

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The Lodge Book of Dutch Oven Cooking Wins

The Lodge Book of Dutch Oven Cooking Wins

SEOPA’s Best Outdoors Book Award The Lodge© Book of Dutch Oven Cooking earned The Best Outdoor Book Award from the Southeastern Press Associated (SEOPA) during the organization’s 2017 annual meeting held October 18-20 at Kentucky Dam Village in Gilbertsville, KY....

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Lodge Cast Iron Introduces 5-item Wildlife Series

Lodge Cast Iron Introduces 5-item Wildlife Series

    Lodge Cast Iron, a Tennessee company whose recipes are features in Honest Abe Living, recently released a new Custom Imprint Wildlife Series with four skillets and a griddle. The five-piece collection includes a deer, duck, moose, freshwater fish and a...

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What is Your Responsibility During Your Build?

What is Your Responsibility During Your Build?

What is there to do other than the assembly of my home package? One of the most common questions asked of Honest Abe Sales Representatives and Independent Dealers regarding the log home design, purchase and construction process is "What are my responsibilities?" We've...

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Making a Wish into a Home

Making a Wish into a Home

A log home is not an impulse buy. For some the decision to build a log home was made years before they actually began the process to make a long-held dream a lifetime reality. Others may have explored several building options before realizing that a log...

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Fall Log Home Maintenance

Fall Log Home Maintenance

Most people are accustomed to spring cleaning, but if you are a home owner, you know that your house needs attention year-round. Fall maintenance is much like spring house-cleaning, but more preventative and less “cleaning.” And it’s much easier to do it now rather...

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Langer Home Featured in Timber Home Living

Langer Home Featured in Timber Home Living

Timber Home Living's Nov.- Dec. issue includes an article about a beautiful Honest Abe timber frame home, the Langer home in rural White County, Tennessee. Pick a copy up at the news stand in any major book store. There a nice free calendar in this issue of the...

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Hurricaines, Floods and Log Homes

Hurricaines, Floods and Log Homes

BY PAUL PEEBLES, Perma-Chink System's West Coast Director of Sales Log homes are actually more durable than traditional homes, and are more likely to survive natural disasters, including flooding. The clean-up and repair of a log home after flooding is also much...

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Chink Joint Thermal Efficiency

Chink Joint Thermal Efficiency

In today's economy energy efficiency is a subject that most people are aware of including log home owners and those people contemplating the purchase of a log home. With this in mind we occasionally get asked about the R-value of our chinking and/or backing materials...

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Log Home Sealants

Log Home Sealants

It is virtually impossible to prevent logs from developing cracks and checks as they age and dry. That's because as a large piece of wood seasons, mechanical stresses build up until the surface stress becomes so great that the wood cracks. We call these stress...

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Alderson Plan featured in Log Cabin Homes

Alderson Plan featured in Log Cabin Homes

Honest Abe Log Homes is featured in the November 2017 issue of Log Cabin Homes with a story about a custom lakeside cabin in the Ozarks. Built by Independent Dealers Maria and Mike Alderson, the Alderson Plan has become a favorite among log cabin enthusiasts and is...

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NAHB’s Log and Timber Homes Council News

Celebrating the Log Home Lifestyle Filed in Construction Industry, Councils & Committees on July 6, 2017 • 0 Comments Members of NAHB’s Log and Timber Homes Council (LTHC) are celebrating National Log Home Open House Month in July for the sixth...

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New Honest Abe Dealer was Homeowner First

New Honest Abe Dealer was Homeowner First

Honest Abe Log Homes, a 38-year-old log home manufacturer based in Moss, Tennessee, has announced the addition of a new Independent Dealership in North Alabama. In March​,​ Serenity Log Homes began serving customers in Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Madison,...

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Sustainability Of Log Structures Explored by Experts

Sustainability Of Log Structures Explored by Experts

Honest Abe Log Homes President Josh Beasley was among a contingent of log industry leaders in St. Louis recently to discuss the sustainability of log structures.  In addition to representing Tennessee-based Honest Abe, Beasley attended in his capacity as 2017...

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Log Cabin Homes Features Honest Abe Home

Log Cabin Homes Features Honest Abe Home

Hedges Home Westfield Plan Log Cabin Featured in Log Cabin Homes Log Cabin Homes May issue hit the stands this week, and Honest Abe Log Homes is prominently featured. In a six-page spread of breathtaking color photography the story is shared of how customer...

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Log Home Living Features Honest Abe Home

Log Home Living Features Honest Abe Home

Read the article about the Bailey Log Cabin, an Honest Abe Log Home recently featured in Log Home Living that tells how the a dream came true for one man who wished all his life for a log home. Click HERE for the full article

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Stewardship Conserves America’s Forests

Stewardship Conserves America’s Forests

by Jeff Clements, Vice President, Honest Abe Log Homes Honest Abe takes the issue of timber harvesting and the threat of deforestation related to building materials used in the manufacture of log homes very seriously. The great news is, according to the USDA...

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Try New Colored Stains

Try New Colored Stains

Let the beauty of wood shine through with a colorful twist!   Customers of Honest Abe dealers, Mike and Tonia Coulter of T & M Log Homes in Indiana are among the first to use Perma-Chink’s new Lifeline Accents to highlight the exterior beauty of their log...

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2016 Dealer of the Year

2016 Dealer of the Year

Coulters Named 2016 Honest Abe Log Homes Independent Dealership of the Year For the second consecutive year the Honest Abe Log Homes Independent Dealership of the Year is T&M Log Homes of Albany, Indiana. T&M Log Homes, owned by Tonia and Mike...

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Relief Offered to Gatlinburg Wildfire Victims

Relief Offered to Gatlinburg Wildfire Victims

Honest Abe Log Homes is committed to helping victims of the Gatlinburg wildfires rebuild or build their log or timber fame homes and businesses. We are offering a discount structure that reflects 2015 prices for those affected by the fire. We are...

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In the End, You Have a Great Home

In the End, You Have a Great Home

Oakley Home was Family Effort Ask Tanner Oakley anything about the construction of his new house, and he’ll probably know the answer. Sounds reasonable since it is his house, right? Well, Tanner is just 10 years old, but the precocious and mannerly young man has...

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Log Cabin Open House Tour Homes

Log Cabin Open House Tour Homes

Visit Two Tour Homes during the Log Cabin Open House Oct. 22 Brilliantly colored leaves dancing in the autumn sun; the smell of wood smoke from a crackling fire; and friendly faces inviting you into the home of their dreams. Experience all this during the Tennessee...

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Develop Floor Plans Early

Develop Floor Plans Early

Develop Floor Plans Early in Planning Process All three options make planning easier!    Most people who want a log or timber frame home have been envisioning how they want their house to look from the outside for a long time before they actually have a plan...

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Log Home Budgeting

Log Home Budgeting

Creating a Budget for a Log or Timber Frame Home Honest answers to realistic questions help in budget creation. By Wayne Brady, Sales Representative, Honest Abe Crossville In planning for a new wood home, it’s important to create a budget that allows for construction...

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Increasing Log Home Appeal

Increasing Log Home Appeal

What Makes a Log Home Beautiful? Increasing Log Home Appeal By Perma-Chink Systems, Inc. What is it about Honest Abe homes that make them so appealing to so many people? We can talk about thermal efficiency, building with a renewable resource or living a log home...

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Williams Mountain Home

Williams Mountain Home

Clearbrook Plan Selected for Williams Mountain Home Smart Decisions, Loving Compromises A North Carolina couple shares lessons learned while building a mountain dream home that incorporates dreams and needs for present and future enjoyment, allowing them to stay in...

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Log Cabin Month 2024

Log Cabin Month 2024

Honest Abe Celebrates Log Home Industry During Log Cabin Month 2024 “National Log Cabin Month 2024 is a great opportunity for our guests to experience first-hand the quality and beauty of a log home,” said Josh Beasley, President of Honest Abe Log Homes, a...

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Visit a True Log  Home Manufacturer

Visit a True Log Home Manufacturer

Log home manufacturer Honest Abe Log Homes invites the public to visit its National Headquarters in Moss, Tenn., on July 16 or Sept. 17 for a Manufacturing Tour and Log Raising. The guided tour of the manufacturing plant includes the state-of-the art mill,...

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Let Honest Abe Compare Log Home Packages for Best Price

Let Honest Abe Compare Log Home Packages for Best Price

Let Honest Abe Compare Home Package Quotes for Best Price Honest Abe is so confident about package prices for log and timber frame homes, they are backed up by the Honest Abe Honest Value Guarantee. Honest Abe will meet or beat the price of any competitor’s comparable...

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Gender Frequently Determines Log Home Design Preferences

Gender Frequently Determines Log Home Design Preferences

By Josh Beasley, President, Honest Abe Log Homes I don’t want to perpetuate any stereotypes here, and I certainly do not want to start any arguments, but it’s just a fact that men and women have different priorities when it comes to planning a new home. In our...

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Small Home Cabin

Small Home Cabin

    By Claudia Johnson, Director of Marketing, Honest Abe Log Homes     When some people imagine their forever home, it’s a spectacular log or timber frame home. Over the past 40 years, Honest Abe Log Homes has met many of those dreamers,...

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Observations from a Log Raising Attendee

Observations from a Log Raising Attendee

Four times per year Honest Abe hosts log raisings at its National Headquarters in Moss, Tenn. Below is an email from one of the January 2016 attendees. The Log Raising was Great and it was well worth the effort to come up there. Most of what was shown was pretty much...

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A Letter from a Recent Honest Abe Customer

One of our recent Honest Abe Log Homes Customers recently sent this letter to Honest Abe Log Homes President Josh Beasley about his family's experience in building a wood home. He's given us permission to share his thoughts. Josh, I just wanted to touch base with you...

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Trees Vital to Wood Home Design and Planning

Trees Vital to Wood Home Design and Planning

"I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree." Most of us learned this poem as children, and as we've grown older, the truth of it has become more apparent. That's why it's important to think carefully before you begin clearing land and felling trees on and...

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Let Honest Abe Compare Log Home Package Quotes

Let Honest Abe Compare Log Home Package Quotes

We feel very confident about our prices for log and timber frame homes – so much so that we stand by them with our Honest Abe Honest Value Guarantee. Let Honest Abe compare log home package quotes. Simply submit a detailed item-for-item quote from another company. If...

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Budgets Challenging but Necessary

Budgets Challenging but Necessary

Budgets are challenging by necessary. To create an accurate budget for home construction that also considers future maintenance homebuyers must be willing to honestly answer some hard questions. It’s true that these questions can seem overwhelming, but Honest Abe’s...

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Interactive Floor Plans Now Online

Interactive Floor Plans Now Online

Honest Abe Log Homes now has 12 interactive floor plans online at mywoodhome.com, the website of Log Home Living, Timber Home Living and Log Cabin Living. The plans selected to be featured are the following: Tour a traditional square log cabin designed by Honest...

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Why it is beneficial to come to a log raising?

Why it is beneficial to come to a log raising?

by Inez Price, Sales Representative, Honest Abe National Headquarters An Honest Abe Log Raising is a great opportunity to see, touch and absorb information about how Honest Abe Log Homes are built. The Log Raising starts from the design and goes through placement of...

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2015 Dealer of the Year

2015 Dealer of the Year

Coulters Take Dealer of the Year Honors for Second Time The 2015 Honest Abe Log Homes Independent Dealership of the year is T&M Log Homes of Albany, Indiana. T&M Log Homes, owned by Tonia and Mike Coulter, is a repeat winner, also having won in 2012. The...

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Designer Hix Featured in Hometown News

Designer Hix Featured in Hometown News

Macon County resident Michael Hix, a designer for Honest Abe Log Homes, has been recognized with the highest award presented for log home industry design. Honest Abe was the first place winner of the 2016 Jerry Rouleau Award for Excellence in Home Design in the...

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Log Homes: Environmentally Friendly

Log Homes: Environmentally Friendly

By Perma-Chink Systems, Inc. Think GREEN. Log homes are often the only building solution that is totally natural. This abundant, renewable resource is good for your health and the environment. Log homes are increasingly the choice of consumers interested in living...

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Honest Abe Log Cabin Featured in Log Home Living

Honest Abe Log Cabin Featured in Log Home Living

The Clayton home, a 1,600 square foot cabin on the Tennessee Cumberland Plateau, is featured in the Dream Home Showcase issue of Log Home Living. Download the article here. The article was written by Claudia Johnson, Director of Marketing for Honest Abe Log...

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Virginia Mountain Dream Home Realized

Virginia Mountain Dream Home Realized

Wayne and Cindy Parent built their dream home in Roseland, Va., in 2014. “We believe the warmth and beauty of a log home cannot be matched by any other type of conventional construction,” Wayne said. “Living in a log home was a long-time goal of ours, and it has been...

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Passing the Perc Test

Passing the Perc Test

One very practical matter that must be considered regarding placement of a log or timber frame home  can be summed up in four words: no perc, no house. “That’s why it’s extremely important to be sure the land you’ve selected for your new log or timber home will pass a...

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The Truth about Log Home Maintenance

The Truth about Log Home Maintenance

By Greg Crider, owner/operator of Renew Services LLC, Guest Columnist There is much to be said in terms of variables associated with the endless scenarios of what makes good or bad maintenance and how to best go about it. Remember, the most important point is to stay...

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Couple Converts Hunting Cabin to Home

Couple Converts Hunting Cabin to Home

Hunting Cabin Expanded into Home By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes A small log cabin built as an escape has been transformed into a Tennessee couple’s forever home. “One of the first places we remember going when we moved to Murfreesboro in 1988 was the Honest...

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Aging in Place in Your Forever Home

Aging in Place in Your Forever Home

Some 70% of seniors spend the rest of their life in the place they celebrated their 65th birthday. Think about that for a minute. It means that the log or timber frame home that you are planning to build will most likely be the home you live in for the rest of your...

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11 Reasons You’re Right to Want a Log or Timber Home

11 Reasons You’re Right to Want a Log or Timber Home

1) Trees Grow Back When a home is made from solid logs, you are effectively taking the carbon contained in those logs out of environmental circulation over the entire life of the home. Eastern White Pine, which is used for Honest Abe’s log homes, is a major species...

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Communication Makes Home Planning Happy

Communication Makes Home Planning Happy

We don’t want to perpetuate any stereotypes here, and we certainly do not want to start any arguments, but it’s just a fact that men and women have different priorities when it comes to planning a new home. In our experiences working with...

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Six Tips for Researching Log Homes

Six Tips for Researching Log Homes

Researching log homes and timber frame structures can be a daunting task, but Honest Abe Log Homes has created an easy tip sheet to help you  get started. You may download the tip sheet as a .pdf here or pin this .jpg to your Pinterest board for easy...

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Inspiring Home Product and Planning Guide

Inspiring Home Product and Planning Guide

Download your copy of our Inspiring Home Product and Planning Guide, a 52-page publication that features information specific to our products, company history, manufacturing process, green practices, building systems, log homes, cabins and...

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10 Steps to Owning Your Log or Timber Home

10 Steps to Owning Your Log or Timber Home

10 Steps to Owning Your Log or Timber Home Somewhere in your heart and mind, your wood home already exists. You’ve watched a sunrise from the covered porch. You’ve warmed yourself by a glowing fire. You’ve served a holiday meal from your rustic kitchen. Since 1979,...

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Planning Bedrooms in Log and Timber Homes

Planning Bedrooms in Log and Timber Homes

Decisions, Decisions Making decisions about bedrooms for log or timber frame homes is no different in some ways than for any home. Decisions like how many bedrooms, what size each room will be and whether there will be an adjacent bathroom are basic. However, for log...

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Making a Carpenter Bee Trap

Making a Carpenter Bee Trap

Carpenter bees are a threat to wood, whether its a log or conventional home, a porch, wooden furniture, architectural details, etc. Two of Honest Abe’s owners, Shane Smith and Nick Patterson, got together with Independent Dealer Dallas Powers to learn how simple yet...

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Choosing Property for a Log Home

Choosing Property for a Log Home

by Jeff Clements, Vice President, Honest Abe Log Homes Where do you want your new log home, log cabin or timber frame home to be? That greatly varies. It’s commented many times that we just don’t see that many log or timber frame homes driving up and down the road....

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Timber Frame Home is Flexible Choice

Timber Frame Home is Flexible Choice

A timber frame home is a beautiful, economic and flexible choice Do you love the interior, natural look of wood but want a more traditional exterior or more decorative flexibility on the interior? If so, then a Timber Frame home is the choice for you. Honest Abe Log...

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Douglas Fir is Beautiful, Strong and Economical

Douglas Fir is Beautiful, Strong and Economical

There are many reasons why Honest Abe uses Douglas Fir for heavy timber rafters, collar ties, wall-tie trusses, ceiling beams, girders and timber frame components. “Abundance equals affordability, and since Douglas Fir is the most plentiful of all North American...

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Finding Your Forever Home

Finding Your Forever Home

The Basics of Planning and Building a Log Home or Timber Frame Home – Here's a link to a recorded webinar (free) hosted by Honest Abe Vice President Jeff Clements and the editors of Log Home Living Magazine. It guides you through considerations for designing and...

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What to Expect from Top-of-the-Line Finishes

What to Expect from Top-of-the-Line Finishes

In addition to building a quality home, you want to build a beautiful home, which is why your choice of wood finishes is so important. The most desirable finish allows the wood grain to emerge so the color complements the wood rather than covering it. Many of Honest...

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Honest Abe Home in Log Home Living

Honest Abe Home in Log Home Living

See an Honest Abe home in Log Home Living magazine. One of Honest Abe Log Homes' beautiful creations is featured in the July issue of Log Home Living as part of the Dream Home Showcase. Pick up your copy and read about this amazing home. Here's a sneak peak at the...

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Log Home Floor Plan Catalog & Planning Guide

Log Home Floor Plan Catalog & Planning Guide

Honest Abe's Floor Plan Catalog Our 52-page Honest Abe Floor Plan Catalog includes our standard plans as well as a variety of custom plans imagined by Honest Abe customers – all created by Honest Abe’s design team.  Inside you will find a rendering of each plan along...

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Inspiring Home Plans and Guide

Inspiring Home Plans and Guide

Our new 52-page Honest Abe Floor Plan Catalog includes our standard plans as well as a variety of custom plans imagined by Honest Abe customers – all created by Honest Abe’s design team.  Inside you will find a rendering of each plan along with a basic...

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Learn About Log Home Log Styles

Learn About Log Home Log Styles

The log style you choose determines how you home will look. Here’s an overview of Honest Abe’s log styles to help you understand how various log systems work. To help you visualize how your home could look, visit our galleries for examples of other Honest Abe...

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Log Shapes and Sizes Determine Look of Home

Log Shapes and Sizes Determine Look of Home

The log style you choose determines how you home will look. Here’s an overview of Honest Abe’s log styles to help you understand how various log systems work. To help you visualize how your home could look, visit our galleries for examples of other Honest Abe...

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Considerations in Log  Home Kitchen Design

Considerations in Log Home Kitchen Design

Designing a kitchen for a log home or timber frame home requires the same considerations as with a conventional home – lifestyle of the owners, budget, family size and available space. One important decision is how to provide adequate lighting in addition to the...

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Hand Hewn Logs Add Richness to Home

Hand Hewn Logs Add Richness to Home

The Art of Hand Hewing by Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes, Log Home Living, Spring 2015 Hand hewn logs add richness to a home. These logs evoke a feeling of the past by capturing a skill that was necessary for early settlers and is now an art. Honest Abe Log...

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Honest Abe Dealership, T & M Log Homes, Expands

Honest Abe Dealership, T & M Log Homes, Expands

Tonia and Mike Coulter, owners of T & M Log Homes in Albany, Ind., Honest Abe Independent Dealership and 2013 Dealers of the Year, has expanded into Kansas with the addition of Kyle and Rebekah Taylor to the T&M team. “For the past 18 years Tonia & I have...

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Kiln Dried Log Homes are Stable, Durable and Beautiful

Kiln Dried Log Homes are Stable, Durable and Beautiful

At Honest Abe Log Homes we’re often asked why we do kiln dry the logs and timbers used in every log home, log cabin or timber frame house we manufacture. We believe in the value of creating kiln dried log homes and timber frame houses. Kiln dried logs are “pre-shrunk”...

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Log Home Solar Heating

Log Home Solar Heating

10 Ways Solar Heating Can Make Your Log Home Warmer Log Home Solar Heating: Letting the sun shine on your dream log and timber home will make it far more comfortable while saving you hundreds of dollars on energy bills. If you’ve ever been in the window seat while...

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Log Home Heating & Cooling

Log Home Heating & Cooling

New Advancements in Heating and Cooling Technologies for Log and Timber Homes New advancements in heating and cooling will enable you breath easy while spending less on energy. Here’s a primer on the plethora of choices for your new log or timber home. Wouldn’t it be...

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2014 Dealer of the Year

2014 Dealer of the Year

Bear's Den Log Homes Is Honest Abe Log Homes 2014 Dealership of the Year Bear's Den Log Homes, Inc., of Newton, N.C., has been named Honest Abe Log Homes 2014 Dealership of the Year. “Congratulations to Bear’s Den owners, Darlene and Rodger Dawson,” said...

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Honest Abe recently built a new model home in Crossville.

Honest Abe recently built a new model home in Crossville.

Friday, Nov 7, 2014 by Liz Engel Clark, Editor, Upper Cumberland Business Journal CUMBERLAND COUNTY – It’s a vast array of peaked rooftops, exposed timber and an expanse of porches – 1,700 square feet in all – but perhaps the most important feature in Honest Abe’s...

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The Kitchen is the Heart of a Home

The Kitchen is the Heart of a Home

By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Living, Sept.-Oct. 2014 The kitchen really is the heart of a home. It is far more than a location from which sustenance is distributed. A kitchen pulsates with daily activity and beats to the rhythms of life’s milestones. Because...

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From the President’s Desk – Log Home Kitchens

From the President’s Desk – Log Home Kitchens

Log Home Kitchens Inspiring for Honest Abe President by Josh Beasley, President, Honest Abe Log Homes Honest Abe Living, Sept.-Oct. 2014 My passion for our homes was kindled within the warm atmosphere of a small country kitchen many years ago. My aunt and uncle built...

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Center Hill Lake Honest Abe Home Showcased on Tour

Center Hill Lake Honest Abe Home Showcased on Tour

An Honest Abe Log Home on Center Hill Lake is a featured attraction in the 2014 Showcase of Newly Constructed and Remodeled Houses presented by the Home Builders Association of the Upper Cumberland on Aug. 23-24. A serene view of Center Hill Lake from two spacious...

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Crossville Model Features American-made Flooring

Crossville Model Features American-made Flooring

By Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Living, July-Aug. 2014 Honest Abe Log Homes’ new model home in Crossville, Tenn., features wide-plank, heart pine floors from Vintage Pine Flooring’s Mill House Select series. Vintage Pine Flooring owner Art Copeland said that the...

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A Home With A View

A Home With A View

By Claudia Johnson Exciting. Warm. Comfortable. That’s how Richard and Linda Hespe describe their new Honest Abe log home nestled in the foothills of the Carolina Blue...

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From the President’s Desk

From the President’s Desk

Housing Market Confidence Growing by Josh Beasley, President, Honest Abe Log Homes Confidence is a tricky quality. Too little of it leads to stagnation, while excess can give way to an arrogance that blurs reality. This holds true for my personal life, and it seems...

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Focusing On Fireplaces

Focusing On Fireplaces

It’s always nice to come home on a cold day and warm up next to a glowing fire. There’s something about a fireplace that is inviting and comforting. The flickering flames can be hypnotizing to the eye. That's why many of Honest Abe Log Homes’ customers have fireplaces...

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Honest Abe Log Homes Celebrates 35th Anniversary

Honest Abe Log Homes Celebrates 35th Anniversary

Honest Abe Log Homes and I have something in common.  We’re both 35 years old.  We were born into a struggling economy, where we learned to crawl, walk and eventually run, defying its intent to slow us down. We remember historical events that impacted our...

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Creating Your Own Log Home Wall Art

So, we’re in the process of remodeling some of the older “historical” type cabins at Mitchell Creek Marina and noticed how expensive simple wall art has become. We found this beautiful, watery, peaceful feeling pillow, which led to our inspiration for this craft! We...

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Where is Moss, Tennessee?

Where is Moss, Tennessee?

Where Moss, Tennessee, is located is important. A lot of folks ask us what makes a visit to Honest Abe Headquarters so special. We believe that one aspect of real importance where Moss, Tennessee, is located. A historic community in Clay County, Moss is as old as the...

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Financing Options

Financing Options

Financing Options How will you finance your log or timber frame home?Financing the construction loan and permanent mortgage for your Honest Abe log cabin or timber frame home is handled in much the same manner as other types of home construction. Your Honest Abe...

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Log Home Lake House Plan

Log Home Lake House Plan

Log Home Lake House Overlooking Center Hill Lake, Tennessee Overlooking the waters of Center Hill sits a log home owned by Mike and Christine Cornett. Life on the lake is different. It isn’t fast paced, and there are great neighbors who are willing to help. To Mike...

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Make A Fall Ribbon Wreath

Hi and welcome to “Getting Crafty with the Smith’s!” Fall is our favorite time of year and what better craft to make than a “Fall Wreath” to show off our country charm in the spectacular fall colors!   Fall Ribbon Wreath What you need: •  Burlap Ribbon or Deco...

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Denton Awarded President Emeritus Status

Denton Awarded President Emeritus Status

A special ceremony was recently held at Honest Abe Log Homes to honor Rick Denton (picture above, right, with Honest Abe founder Doug Smith), who was awarded president emeritus status. In recognition of his dedicated past, combined with the continued positive impact...

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Honest Abe Log Tennessee Home

Honest Abe Log Tennessee Home

“We learned about Honest Abe from the Realtor and by driving by their plant while looking at properties. We stopped in and grabbed some literature while on the run so we could look at floor plans and dreamed about what we should come up with. After we closed on the...

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Claytons’ Home Photographed By Pros

Claytons’ Home Photographed By Pros

For a gallery of photos from the shoot featured in this story, click here. Seeing a home photographed and published in a magazine represents the journey of how it came to be. Dedication and hard work is visible in every shot. The homeowners feel a sense of pride and...

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Reusing That Old Mason Jar

Reusing That Old Mason Jar

Welcome to a new section in Honest Abe Living newsletter! In “Getting Crafty with the Smiths,” you’ll see fun and innovating ideas to re-use, recycle and get the full use out of items that often go overlooked. This section is to inspire your creative side while...

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Honest Abe Monthly Receives National Recognition

Honest Abe Monthly Receives National Recognition

Honest Abe Monthly Receives National Recognition and Honest Abe Log Homes received numerous national home building accolades as part of the 2013 Jerry Rouleau Awards for Excellence in Marketing and Home Design presented by the Building Systems Councils (BSC) and the...

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Customers Praise Construction Crew and Chief

Customers Praise Construction Crew and Chief

by Josh Watson, Construction Coordinator for Honest Abe Log Homes “Joe & his crew did an outstanding job from the time they arrived until they finished. Thanks from the inspector and me on a job well done!” – Tim Johnston We always appreciate feedback from our...

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Practical and Thrifty Log Home Perfect for Young Couple

Practical and Thrifty Log Home Perfect for Young Couple

By Josh Beasley, Honest Abe Living Though newlyweds, Nick and April Patterson’s story began long before they knew one another, in fact, before either were born. April is the daughter of Janie and late father Doug Smith, who founded Honest Abe Log Homes over 30 years...

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A Team Effort – Darlington log home floor plan

A Team Effort – Darlington log home floor plan

When Matt & Tara Kamman decided to build an Honest Abe Log Home in Indiana, they chose to work with independent dealership T & M Log Homes, owned by Tonia and Mike Coulter.  The Coulters took a hands-on approach and helped the couple plan for the building of...

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Rocky-K Log Homes Dealership Celebrates 20 Years

Rocky-K Log Homes Dealership Celebrates 20 Years

Rocky-K Log Homes, an independent dealership of Honest Abe Log Home products, recently celebrated 20 years of business in their hometown of Leitchfield, Kentucky.  Owners, Ellis and Sandy Kiper, welcomed the community with food, fellowship, music and fun to help...

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Down a Different Road

Down a Different Road

Maurice and Elfi Fliess didn’t take the same path that most log home owners traverse. It’s common that people will dream for decades and research for years before building their perfect log home. They will visit manufacturers across the country, attend...

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The Enormous Strength of a Log Home

Over and over again, the strength and durability of log homes is proven by real-world examples.  This photo may not be the prettiest, but it’s a great example of the strength of our log walls and roof systems.  Just read the testimonial from the professional below:...

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Honest Abe on Cover of Log Cabin Homes Magazine

Honest Abe on Cover of Log Cabin Homes Magazine

The Honest Abe home of Janet and Grady Wilson just made the cover of Log Cabin Homes November issue!  The featured article in the issue deals with trends, and Honest Abe’s Bellewood floor plan (which the Wilson home was based from) is featured specifically. It...

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Building the Thompsons’ Home

Building the Thompsons’ Home

  With building in the beautiful countryside of Crossville, Tennessee in mind, Robin & Vickie Thompson bought blueprints for their log home in March 2010.  Two years later they were ready to build! With Sharron Bilbrey's help, the Thompsons' found a General...

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Cumberland River Retreat Log Home

Cumberland River Retreat Log Home

Article & Photography by Joshua Beasley, Honest Abe Log Homes About thirty “river miles” downstream from the Wolf Creek Dam in Kentucky, sits a Cumberland River retreat, a quaint hide-a-way and tribute to a family patriarch. Randy Fudge, former President of Honest...

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Traveling the Barn Quilt Trail

Traveling the Barn Quilt Trail

These days, a family getaway often means a trip close to home.  Heading into the countryside to visit historic towns and sites along the way, stopping for a country-cooked meal, and perhaps spending the night where the sounds of nature lull us to sleep are as relaxing...

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Written Endorsement from the Job Site

Written Endorsement from the Job Site

Often times, short and simple is better.  Honest Abe Log Home’s Construction Coordinator, Josh Watson, received an unexpected note of gratitude and endorsement recently from a customer. The unsolicited note was quickly written on the back of a check-off sheet used as...

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Family, Friends & the Pursuit of Memories

Family, Friends & the Pursuit of Memories

For nearly thirty years now, Steve and Merry Byrne have made Dale Hollow Lake, which spans the Tennessee and Kentucky state line, their destination of escape.  While raising their two boys, the couple would drive to the area from their home near Louisville, Kentucky,...

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Building Pines Point

Planning to leave their home of 36 years was not going to be an easy step, but John and Wanda Wallace were ready for a change of pace.  Both of them had a underlying passion for log homes.  Wanda credits much of this to memories of her father and grandmother telling...

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Lasting Memories

Lasting Memories

by Joshua Beasley, Honest Abe Log Homes Security, warmth, stability; these are just a few feelings and memories Rachel Meadows took away from a visit to her grandfather’s homeplace as a small child. “I remember Daddy walking us through the log cabin he grew up in,”...

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America’s State Parks

America’s State Parks

by Joshua Beasley, Honest Abe Log Homes Hidden treasure is spread across our great United States of America, just waiting to be discovered.  Are you ready for the hunt?  We’re not searching for fine jewels, or the luster of gold.  There’s no need...

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Third Time’s A Charm

Third Time’s A Charm

Building a custom log home is often a journey.  For some, it takes years of dreaming and research.  Others know exactly what they want and charge ahead.  Then some, like Clyde and Helen Williams, find an unconventional means to arrive at the log home...

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KarSan Log Home Blog

KarSan Log Home Blog

Blogs have become an incredible way for those building a log home to share their experience with family, friends and the world.  One customer of independent dealer Arkansas Log Home Connection took full advantage of this tool. The KarSan Log Home blog has documented...

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Lloyd Construction Project

Lloyd Construction Project

Tim & Carol Lloyd already had the beautiful acreage to situate their getaway cabin, they just needed the cabin.  That’s where Honest Abe Log Homes came in.  Working with Inez Price out of Moss, Tenn., Tim & Carol designed their ideal plan. Located on a small...

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Outdoor Ideas: A Look at Porches & Decks

Outdoor Ideas: A Look at Porches & Decks

Now more than ever, porches, decks and outdoor living spaces are essential to new home construction.  They provide superior protection to doors, windows and exterior walls.  They help with a home’s energy efficiency, and have many other positive benefits.  While all...

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The Virginia Creeper Trail

The Virginia Creeper Trail

by Joshua Beasley, Honest Abe Log Homes Are you ready for some adventure?  How about a 17 mile bike ride?  Wait... keep reading!  What if I told you it was all downhill, through the gorgeous Appalachian mountains, and that it’s so easy even children can do it?  From...

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2011 Dealer of the Year

2011 Dealer of the Year

Log Homes of West Virginia Named 2011 Dealer of the Year Honest Abe Log Homes Regional Dealer Manager David Everitt traveled to West Virginia on Feb. 9, 2011, to visit with Russ Saunders of Log Homes of WV.  While there, they presented Russ with Honest Abe’s...

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Exterior Wood Burning Stoves

Exterior Wood Burning Stoves

By Joshua Beasley, Marketing & Advertising for Honest Abe Log Homes An ever evolving but long-standing issue has been the search for efficient and cost-effective alternative energy sources for homes.  Some owners do so to offset their utility bills, others to...

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Get Answers at Log Home Shows, But Go Prepared

Get Answers at Log Home Shows, But Go Prepared

So you’re planning your dream log home. All of a sudden, reality hits and you’re faced with a barrage of questions. What floor plan do I want? Which company do I chose? Do I want a round or square log? Is one wood species better than the rest? How will I match my...

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Insulation in Log Home Heavy Timber Roof

Insulation in Log Home Heavy Timber Roof

By Inez Price, Salesperson for Honest Abe Log Homes When you approach an Honest Abe Log Home, you take in the logs, porches, decks, windows, design etc… upon entering you will most likely observe the decorations, flooring, walls, what kind of view they have and...

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Back In Time

Back In Time

by Sharron Bilbrey, Salesperson for Honest Abe Log Homes By taking a walk back in time to get a glimpse of the log cabins built by early pioneers in the Smoky Mountains, one will discover time-tested styles and designs that reveal how these cabins have influenced log...

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Construction of the Sears Home

Construction of the Sears Home

By Josh Watson, Construction Coordinator for Honest Abe Log Homes Coming in from the cold weather of Coventry, Connecticut, the Sears chose the warmth of an Honest Abe Log Home built in Tennessee.  Upon completion of the design process this past April, the...

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Honest Abe Receives Awards from NAHB

Honest Abe Log Homes, has received numerous national home building accolades, capturing top honors for best Presentation of Floor Plans, best Log Home Design Under 2,000 sq. ft., and best Log Home Design between 3001 – 4000 sq. ft. in the 2012 Jerry Rouleau Awards for...

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Creating Affordable Log Homes

Creating Affordable Log Homes

You rarely hear these days “money is no object.” "No matter what your net worth, chances are you’re interested in making smart investments and getting the most for your money," said Josh Beasley, president of Honest Abe Log Homes. "Building a log home is no exception....

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Honest Abe Log Home Survives Tornado

Honest Abe Log Home Survives Tornado

In April 2011 tornadoes ripped through the area and other parts of the South, killing 131 people in Alabama and more than 200 total in six states. The twister that struck Tuscaloosa, Ala., gained nationwide attention, as the mile-wide storm killed 15 people,...

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