Darlene Branim Reports on Changes to Blog Cabin 2008
Allow me to introduce Darlene Branim, CEO of Barna Log Homes. She has graciously taken the time to note all the suggestions made by bloggers that were woven into the San Jacinto floor plan:
NEW San Jacinto images below!
Hello Everyone! Here’s a list of the modifications so far:
- Bathtub inserted into one of the upstairs bathrooms. We were able to make this work with out changing the size of the dormer which allowed us to keep the home symmetrical on the road elevation and without losing any closet space. Although a little tight, we were able to get a full size bathtub/shower combo in the room with the water closet and a pedestal sink. It worked out very nicely.
- Since many people thought the out door living space off the master bedroom was going to be an outdoor kitchen instead of an owner’s private porch, we moved the porch to the lake side of the home coming off the great room and closer to the kitchen and dining room.
- We then changed the fireplace to a dual fireplace (indoor and outdoor) on the log wall thus allowing for a full view of the lake for the new outdoor living area.
- Because we needed to change access to the new outdoor living space, we made the fixed glass units on each side of the fireplace to operable swinger doors.
- Now that we no longer needed a side entrance from the master bedroom to the private porch, we moved the two windows to the side wall of the master bedroom and added a double door to the deck/porch side of the master bedroom for access and to match the dining room wing.
- Bloggers wanted to see more glass in the fireplace gable end of the home so we added fixed trapezoid on each side of the fireplace to allow more natural light and to open up a view of the lake from the loft upstairs.
- For a little variety, we added garden window at the kitchen sink.
- Most everyone wanted to see a larger pantry and laundry room, so we replaced the home office with the laundry room and made the old laundry closet into a nice size pantry.
- Although not requested by the bloggers, we added a small arch window to the rear foyer wing and changed the window size from a single to a double to match the master bath wing. This really made things look balanced from the road elevation.
The original design was to have a detached two car garage connecting to the home with a breezeway at the rear foyer wing; however, the lot size just would not accommodate the length of the overall structure, so we planned for the driveway to be moved to the other side of the home (Master Bedroom side) and we have changed the home from a crawl space foundation to a full size walk-out basement. Now the garage will be in the basement of the home underneath the master bedroom.
The stairs are stacked so we have access from the basement coming up into the great room just outside the dining/kitchen wall. We would have normally flipped the master bedroom and kitchen wings, however with this particular design and since we have load bearing points instead of load bearing walls, we could not flip these wings as the staircase would then be in the way in the basement preventing us from driving into the garage as we now must do.
I believe that we have a very nice open flowing floor plan focusing on the lake with great entertainment and outdoor living spaces, yet accommodating a very narrow lot and working with the natural lay of the land so we do not disturb or take away from the beauty of the lot and the adjoining lots.
This has been fun and educational and I look forward to continuing to work with the bloggers as we design and build this house together.
Darlene Branim, CEO
Barna Log Homes
Left Elevation
Road Side Elevation
Right Elevation
Lakeside Elevation
1st Floor
2nd Floor
Note: If you are opening the images in Explorer, allow your cursor to hover at the bottom, right-hand corner of the image – this should enable the “expand” option providing you with a larger image view.
Miss Darlene Branim, barna & diy crews etc.
Thank you all for being so kind in providing such a wonderful home and land for some blessed family to enjoy and for fairly and respectfully taking everyone’s suggestions to heart in designing and changing it for the viewers. I am so thankful especially for the basement. Please don’t forget the storm saferoom toward the deeper part of the basement…. I’m so happy to hear that the laundry room was switched over and a tub added upstairs, the only thing needed there now is a nice mirrored storage wall cabinet above the ped. sink. I really hated the thoughts of someone having to trip over the laundry in the hall.. We have a laundry closet and homeoffice combined in a very small room near our back entrance and you know how it is with laundry it’s up to your knees before you can get back to it! We are always shifting it around to get in and out of here. Aggravating!! Someone or something is always in your way! Even with trying to keep it contained and a going! I would gladly be the maid in this home, We all have to do laundry anyway why not have a nice view while doing it, right and a nice place to put it when you are too busy to do it! I’m so happy about the double fireplace at the back and glad there is more access from the dining & living room and more windows also…. very nice for weather watching, sunset,sunrise and lakeviews. I really wanted that master porch to stay myself, and have 2nd screen room on dining side, but I’m more thankful for the basement & garage!!!! Maybe the winner can screen in a small porch section at the back of the house for a homeowners retreat. I can’t wait to see the basement layout! Add some swings, a hammock & rock patio under the decks! And rocked trail to the lake. Can’t wait to see that new floor plan soon. So I can get a better look at these changes..See you monday watson. Hopefully bright and early!!!! Great job everybody!!!! hi 555’s all around!!!!!!! I’m very excited!!!! Can’t wait!
This sounds fantastic! Can’t wait to see the new version of the floor plans. Absolutely love the basement with garage.
The changes sound wonderful, thank you!
Is it possible to create/add a ventilation point for the garage considering its placement?
Thanks,
Jim & Jeannie
The changes sound wonderful, thank you!
Is it possible to create/add a ventilation point for the garage considering its placement?
Thanks,
Jim & Jeannie
The changes sound wonderful, thank you!
Is it possible to create/add a ventilation point for the garage considering its placement?
Thanks,
Jim & Jeannie
The changes sound wonderful, thank you!
Is it possible to create/add a ventilation point for the garage considering its placement?
Thanks,
Jim & Jeannie
The changes sound wonderful, thank you!
Is it possible to create/add a ventilation point for the garage considering its placement?
Thanks,
Jim & Jeannie
Darlene, you have really done great work on the cabin and listening to everyone suggestions. I was happy with the floor plan the way it was. I just wanted steps off the back going down to the lake and have some of them screened in. I love the glass on the sides of the fireplace to give more light! Gardening and light makes my heart warm so the garden window is such a bonus, thanks!
I am truly enjoying the voting, blogging and of course dreaming of my husband and I retiring there.
Thank you
Joyce
blogcabin=LOG cabin=nature=earth tones=simplistic=rustic
leave ‘fancy’ to the dream home or the green home.
dont ruin this ‘country’ setting with a bunch of highend ‘city’ frills!
Thank you for getting us updated. I have always enjoyed being a part of building/remodeling in many ways and have always dreamed of living in a log cabin and so this is fun to be allowed to take part in this. It will be fun to read your updates and blogs…I had been wondering how to find out more info. Thank you for including us.