Rocky Mountain Log Homes

®
MountainMajesty
A New Hampshire log home is built for an active family
by Ronda Mollica | photography courtesy of Rocky Mountain Log Homes
Decks and a driveway surround the
chalet-style home. Rock and backfill was used to build up the lot.
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RIGHT: The fireplace features a
bluestone hearth and mantel; the
look is enhanced with antique skis
and a custom fireplace screen and
log rack. FAR RIGHT: The simple
subtlety of Amy's Craftsman-style
decor can be found throughout the
first floor. BELOW: The front deck
overlooks the Loon Mountain ski
resort in the White Mountains of
Lincoln, New Hampshire.
t
he perfect building lot in New England can be a rare find.
Established communities, especially near ski areas, offer very
few opportunities for new building.
Larry and Amy Sinsimer’s love of the outdoors, and especially skiing, often took them to the White Mountains of New
Hampshire, where they bought a condo for weekend getaways.
As their children grew, it seemed as though the condo began to
shrink and the urge to move to a larger home was mounting.
Their dream was to build a log home closer to the ski hills. They
turned to Keith Farrar of Lobo Construction, who was in the
process of building a log home near their area of interest.
Farrar had experience building in the area and knew that
mountain lots were few and far between. However, the Sin-
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simer’s were lucky enough to come across an older mountain home for sale that was on a double lot. Before long, the
Sinsimers owned the home and the bonus land, where they
planned to build a new log home.
The older home had multiple uses: The Sinsimers bunked
there on weekend skiing trips during construction; the building crew bunked there during the week (helping to keep down
mileage and lodging costs); and the garage was used to store
the logs, windows, doors and equipment for the new home.
The Sinsimers re-surveyed the entire lot, created two pieces
of property, and eventually sold the older home.
The remaining one-third acre proved to be a building challenge, as many mountain sites are. Farrar, also a dealer for Rocky
Mountain Log Homes, tailored the Rocky Mountain Manchester plan to create a chalet-style home that offers great family
space, comfortable amenities, and the essence of a ski lodge.
One of the biggest challenges was to site the home to create good drainage down the hillside and provide views from
the first floor — with the older home located to the side of
the new lot.
Building up the foundation, moving boulders, and backfilling was a test of Farrar’s engineering skills. “We had to
shoehorn the home into the space to adhere to setbacks
requirements,” says Farrar. “We also created a swale along the
driveway to slow down and divert the potential runoff. The
neighbors paid close attention to our development and were
unsure about what us newcomers were up to.”
The results were even better than predicted. “The neighbors
are very pleased with the way the log home fits in its environment and on the lot,” says Farrar. “Working in an established
neighborhood can be tricky, but can also be rewarding.”
The home itself is built of dead standing Western white
wood, a standard for Rocky Mountain Log Homes. The logs
have been killed by bugs, fire or disease, and work very well for
log homes. The damage to the outer layer of the tree is completely eliminated after being milled down to the heartwood.
The trees have stood for many years and have dried into a very
stable wood, eliminating shrinkage and warping.
The home is topped with a traditional green metal roof that
boasts an R-40 energy rating and handles the New England
winter snows and spring rains. “This part of New England is
considered a temperate rain forest, which means dense vegetation and increased precipitation,” says Farrar. “This roof is
perfect for this environment and the deep overhangs help to
protect the log walls and the deck.”
The deck surrounds three sides of the home and is
accessed through doors on each side. The driveway encircles the home making the loading and unloading of skis
and equipment a breeze. A garage was built after the home
RIGHT: In the kitchen, dark accents such
as the appliances, lighting fixtures, Ubatuba
granite counters, brass faucet, and doorknobs (with matching copper accent tiles),
stand in contrast to the golden logs walls
and birch Kraftmaid cabinets. The Subzero
refrigerator, located to the right of the sink,
is covered with Kraftmaid cabinetry panels
to blend into the great room décor. BELOW:
Hickory flooring, full scribe stairs, and an
arched doorway create a warm welcome in
the foyer of this home.
BELOW: The hand-hammered
copper sink is the pefect match
for a rustic log home and was
a super buy found on eBay.
The oil-rubbed bronze Newport
faucet complements the dark
granite countertops.
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Finding the right
décor style
RIGHT: A convenient
loft space just outside
the master bedroom
can be used as an
office or a quiet reading nook. BELOW:
The lower-level bar
was made by a family
friend using one solid
piece of wood for the
counter. Decorative
accents such as ski
signs and snowshoes
reflect the “snow
country” motif.
Decorating a log home can be a
challenge for anyone. Amy Sinsimer,
however, found the balance needed to keep the
wood walls in her home as a neutral backdrop
rather than a focal point.
She decided to go with a Craftsman style in
which the designs are simple, straight, and larger
in proportion, just like the logs. The light fixtures,
dining table and chairs, and coffee table were all
inspired by the Craftsman style. The use of black
accents and rubbed bronze hardware and fixtures
were brought in to contrast with the gold tones of
the logs.
A rustic outdoors touch was also incorporated
into the resort location: antique skis over the mantel, a grand antler chandelier in the foyer, and a
reindeer pelt over the loft railing.
“Selecting the woods used on the floor and
in the cabinetry was a bit of a challenge,” says
Amy. “I didn’t want more of the same wood
brought into the home, so I selected different
woods for variety. I have hickory on the floors,
which brought in flecks of black into the room,
and I like the clear look of the birch with ginger
glaze in the cabinets, which stands apart from
both the walls and the floor.”
LEFT: Dark cherry mission-style bunk beds
were selected to provide as much room as
possible in the smaller children’s rooms. A
trundle bed can be pulled out for guests.
BELOW: A Kohler steam shower and whirlpool tub were installed for total relaxation
after a long day on the slopes.
was complete and is tucked into the hillside; the back wall
is underground and the loft can be accessed from ground
level for easy access to storage.
The Manchester model includes a sizeable great room that
combines the living, dining and kitchen into one large connected area. Amy was instrumental in making sure each area
was functional and comfortable. Her choice of colors, materials, furniture and even rugs visually tied the rooms together
for timeless resort feel.
“We really love the open concept and have now found other
homes to feel boxed in and remote,” says Amy. “The great
room seems to keep us in touch with each other and what is
going on. With people coming and going, the open concept
makes it easy to keep on top of the action.”
Other unique features of this log home include the open
full scribe stairway that leads to the loft and master suite, an
arched doorway in the foyer, and a tongue-and-groove ceiling
that gives the home its rustic character.
“We really love the home and plan on living here full time
in the near future,” says Amy. “The relaxed feeling you get
as soon as you walk in the door is priceless. We wouldn’t
change a thing.” •
PORCH
PORCH
RESOURCES
BATH
ATTIC
BATH
ATTIC
KITCHEN
BEDROOM
BATH
DINING
MASTER BEDROOM
DINING
POWDER
POWDER
LOFT
Square footage: 1,786 BATH
KITCHEN
# bedrooms: 3BEDROOM
# bathrooms: 2
Producer: Rocky Mountain Log Homes
(circle 149 on the Reader Service Card
for free information)
Plan name: Modified Manchester Model
Builder: Keith Farrar, Lobo Construction
BEDROOM
Roofing: Iron Horse
Roofing
Windows: Weathershield, Hartford Green
Alum. Clad,
Exterior & interior Door: Montana
Specialty Woodworks
Exterior stain and chinking: Perma-Chink
Dark Honey (circle 128 on the Reader
Service Card for free information)
Lighting: Arroyo Craftsman
Faucets: Newport Brass and Moen
Flooring: Hickory by Carlisle wide plank
LOFT
CL
CL
DECK
CL
MASTER BEDROOM
LIVING AREA
CL
BEDROOM
ATTIC
ATTIC
Loft
CL
DECK
LIVING AREA
CL
ENTRY
ENTRY
DECK
First Floor
DECK
Find more than 400 floor plans online at
www.loghomenetwork.com/plans
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