DIY Network

Hello Diehard Bloggers,

What a long, strange trip it has been. But finally, at long last, we can reveal to you the 360-degree room tour for Blog Cabin 2009! Take a virtual tour of the rooms and exteriors (and be sure to use the handy interactive floor plan on the right), flip through tons of slide shows, watch videos and, of course, be sure to enter for your chance to win.

Remember, you can enter once daily through October 2. And here’s a tip: once you’ve entered all your information the first time, every subsequent entry only requires your email address (and email confirmation). So it’s easy to revisit the site and drop in an entry.

And I’m sure you have invited your friends over to watch the premiere of Blog Cabin: Back to the Mountains tonight (Thursday, Aug. 20) at 9pm/8c, right? Right?? Then just watch Thursdays @ 9.

I want to express from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am for you guys hanging in there while we remodeled DIYnetwork.com. Our resources were (and are) stretched to the max, and we had to make some tough choices along the way.

But with the new site up and running (do you guys like it?), we’re sure that Blog Cabin will build on its success – thanks to the bedrock bloggers we have here.

Good luck everyone – I hope you win it!

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager

Phillip Richardson of Greenstone Builders

Hello Blog Cabin Fans,

After a great deal of anticipation, we have the first interior photos of Blog Cabin 2009! Thank you so much for your patience as we attempt to turn the corner with more slide shows, interviews and eventually video from the build site. Next up: answers from the builder Q&A. Update (Thur. 4/30 2:49pm ET): The Builder Q&A can be found here.

Cheers,

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager

P.S. If you haven’t already, pay a visit to the Blog Cabin Blogger Community and get to know your fellow bloggers. And be sure to enter for your chance to win HGTV’s Green Home.

Hello Mighty Bloggers,

Following the success of our architect Q&A, we’ve decided to go back to the well and check in with you for a chat with the builder. Phillip Richardson of Greenstone Builders has graciously accepted our invitation to fill in some of the blanks regarding the construction process.

I’ve always been fascinated in how a house gets built … with cameras rolling. It’s an extraordinary challenge, and Greenstone Builders has stepped up to the plate. Write your questions below and Phillip will try to answer as many as he can. His answers – along with a couple of slideshows from the build site – will get turned around asap.

Cheers,

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager

Pat Kirkland, AIA, Kirkland + Assoc.

Hello Patient Bloggers,

I am pleased to present to you the Blogger Q & A as provided by Pat Kirkland, AIA, the architect of Blog Cabin 2009. Pat graciously took the time to thoughtfully and specifically answer as many questions as he could; we hope this adds to the dialogue. Rather than list all responses in this space, we’ve created an article for you. If you’d like to comment, however, please do so below. Here’s the first question to get things started:

I think the floor plan is perfect, but the kitchen seems a tad closed in. If you are in the kitchen, would you be able to see into the living area?  — Belinda J

Belinda, the kitchen is in fact very open. There is not a wall or other obstruction between the kitchen and living area. There is a “lunch” bar that will have some stools for on-the-go families. Essentially two sides of the kitchen are wide open … (read more)

Hello Bloggers,

Now that we’ve moved into the next phase of Blog Cabin – the construction – I thought we would take a moment to highlight the winning floor plan design, the Vaulted View Lodge.

Our lead editor has a chance to interview the architect, Pat Kirkland, AIA of Kirkland + Associates. I’ve noticed continuing comments on various aspects of the floor plan – whether it can be modified, changes you would like to see (if at all possible), etc. So why not post your questions for the architect below and we’ll try to get as many answered as we can.

Cheers,

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager

Hello Laser-Focused Bloggers,

After more than 232 thousand votes cast, Meadow View has been declared the winner of the lot vote by a margin of less than 9,000 votes (less than 4%) – wow! At one point over the weekend, the margin was within 2000 votes – an awesome, unanticipated horse race that went right down to the wire. We couldn’t have asked for a better start - thank you everyone!

Next up is the much-anticipated floor plan vote. The previous two years of Blog Cabin, voting began with this feature and could well be considered the most important vote we conduct – so choose wisely, devoted bloggers! Will it be the Vaulted-View Floor Plan with its open, airy floor plan … or the Endless-View Floor Plan with its stunning mountain views?

It’s up to YOU.

Have fun,

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager

Greetings Ever-Patient and Hopefully-Excited Bloggers,

It’s on.

I apologize for the extended Blog Cabin Blog hiatus. I’ve been on an extended break so I’m rested and ready to tackle all things Blog Cabin. DIYnetwork.com, however, has been working overtime to bring you a new Blog Cabin Central area, and even now we are still troubleshooting various areas of the site, so please be patient if something doesn’t work quite right for you.

Enough housekeeping: Voting for the Blog Cabin 2009 lot is happening now! As you can see, we’ve revamped the voting mechanism. Hope you like it! Be sure to check out the “more about this option” feature below each lot selection and – here’s the best part – you can vote more than once each day. Vote as often as you like!

Blog Cabin Central is teeming with information about our latest edition of Blog Cabin, including our partners The Preserve at Little Pine in Asheville, North Carolina, where Blog Cabin 2009 will be located and The Preserve Communities. Take a look at our video highlighting Asheville, view slideshows, even load images of where you want to build your dream cabin.

Let me know what you think of the new additions (don’t forget to check out the handy Blog Cabin timeline) and let me hear how you voted!

Happy Voting,

Watson, DIYnetwork.com Manager