The Irish Examiner

OVERLOOKING a dramatic coastline and lighthouse in West Cork is this wooden haven — a log home architecturally designed to fit in with both its rustic surroundings and its inhabitants’ requirements.
The view of the outside of this home is impressive, with large windows showing off the lengths the owners and builders went to to create a unique designer home.

Perhaps the most striking of all this wooden home's features are the ground-to-roof windows, which act as a stage for the interior gallery above the sitting room. The owners specifically requested this plan having seen something similar in the United States some years ago.

However the design had not been created in wood and although the concept was excellent, it proved to be a challenge for the log home team of Irish-based GoodWood Solutions, suppliers of log homes.
The room itself, which lies beneath this walk-in wardrobe-style gallery, is tastefully decorated with a definite American theme — it features American flag-upholstered seating, a chair reminiscent of one featured in the Milk Tray advertisement and imported from Holland, furry bears strewn carefully on leather footstool, and an open fire adjoining the floor to the ceiling in stone face.

The entire home has been built from Finnish log from the Honka company of which GoodWood Solutions are the sole agent here in Ireland.

Although the house needs little added to complete the desired Scandinavian style, a minimalistic approach to the accessories has been taken. Bedrooms differ only in the soft furnishings of the bedspreads, the window dressing and a lamp in one of the primary colours, red, yellow or blue. However, one ensuite master bedroom is somewhat different in that it has been done in a blend of chocolate shades and creams, has a sleigh bed and hosts its own home entertainment system, not to mention a sauna and Jacuzzi bath in the rest room.

Although Ireland is not as dry as Scandinavia and we do not have the same harsh winters, it's easy to see why many people in Ireland are now starting to choose these log homes.

People were at first afraid of a new material. But the benefits of living in a log home are obvious to the new crop of Irish log home owners and these homes are proving to be cost-effective and far more healthy.

The materials used in the construction of these homes are of benefit to asthma sufferers because the lack of carpets and wall papering means dust does not gather. It makes for easy house keeping.

When it comes to revamping rooms, only the bare soft furnishings need to be replaced in order to create a completely new look.

Much of GoodWood's time is spent "demystifying the log home" during the sales process, says Peter O'Mahony. His GoodWood Solutions web site (www.GoodWoodSolutions.com) goes through the process, step by step, and provides detailed answers to the most common questions.

The site is also rich with house plans, sample layouts and photographs of interiors, exteriors and windows and doors.

The most common question asked by people visiting the website is about the cost of a log house. Some are disappointed to find that log houses don't cost less than a block house equivalent but when the energy cost savings and interior design savings are taken into account, the long term economics make log home living both cost effective and very attractive.

The kitchen is one of the only rooms that steers slightly away from the continuity of the arctic wood theme and here the owners opted for an African red wood for the units accented by the stainless steel surrounds in fixtures and fittings.

With a huge percentage of this house in glass, it means that the light and heat coming in to the home is being retained, providing a cosy room temperature throughout the evening. Plus, unlike newly erected block houses which show signs of settlement, these homes have adjusters which allow for settlement movement. This means that after a period of six months when the movement has stopped, there is no obvious damage done to walls, ceilings or windows.

An obviously pleased family in this rustic log home are more than willing to recommend their trades people, and log home suppliers GoodWood Solutions' web site can be found at www.GoodWoodSolutions.com