An overwhelming volume of blogger suggestions and voter input resulted in the Blog Cabin's original floor plan being altered fairly dramatically during the early stages of construction. Those changes are most evident in the design of the great room. Here are a few highlights from the finished great room, situated on the lake side of the first floor. As DIY's bloggers requested, this centrally located living space features plenty of windows and stunning lake views. Dramatic vaulted ceilings, stretching upward into the second-floor loft area, open up the space and are highlighted by exposed wood-beam construction. Yellow pine wall-ties add structural stability, and each set is joined at the center of the support structure with a custom-cut steel plate bracket. Traditional ceiling fans, suspended on long stems, contribute to the rustic atmosphere and the energy efficiency. The small deck, originally planned for just off the great room, was enlarged from the original plan, and an outdoor fireplace was added. Large picture windows that were originally planned for each side of the fireplace and mantel were ultimately replaced by French patio doors for easy access to the newly added deck area overlooking the lake. Trapezoid windows above the French doors allow plenty of sunlight to flow into the great room. The solid wood front door offers a rustic but beautiful entrance to the cabin's great room area. The double-hung window style throughout the cabin was the design selected by the online voters. When it was time to install the windows, Matt Blashaw, host of DIY's program Deconstruction, joined the Blog Cabin crew as the featured expert. Matt recommended argon-filled, dual-pane models with low E-coating. As Christopher Burke of Simonton Windows explained, argon gas is denser than atmospheric air and serves as an effective buffer, keeping the comfortable temperatures inside. The low-E glass coating helps reflect the sun's rays to the outside, letting in the preferred amount of light and warmth. As for the fireplace itself, voters decided on a natural wood-burning fireplace and opted for a caramel-colored stone surround. The stone used in the surround is a manufactured product but is visually almost indistinguishable from natural stone, and it matches that used on the house exterior and outdoor retaining walls. For a visual focal centerpiece of the fireplace, Blashaw fashioned a handmade wooden mantel, crafted from a single split rough-hewn log. Local artist Preston Farabow made the curved metal supports that cradle the log mantel, and he also created the sculpted metal fire dogs (aka andirons) inside the great room's fireplace. The rest of the room features other voter-selected items including hand-scraped teak floors and a soothing, cool paint in a shade called Evening Shadow. The furniture selected for the great room is casual yet elegant for a "lakeside luxe" feel. View a slide show of this room. View the tallied results from the Blog Cabin voting. Shop for products featured in this room.
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