A testament to the iconic architecture of the frontier, Luxury Defined presents a collection of traditional log-built homes re-imagined for the contemporary lifestyle
We’ve come a long way from Laura’s Little House in the Big Woods with its translucent, greased-paper windows. Today’s log homes come with a view, usually a big view. Yes, today’s log cabins still offer the warm stone hearth, and the cozy, rustic ambience of yesteryear, but they provide much more light, space, and creature comforts than the pioneers ever could have imagined. Handcrafted details, modern conveniences, contemporary design ideas, and spectacular vistas of mountain, prairie, and forest await. From a scenic, timber and glass lake house in Charlevoix, Michigan, to a modern mountain lodge by Grand Teton National Park, the iconic log cabin of the American frontier has been rebooted for 21st-century living.
Whitefish Mountain Estate in Whitefish, Montana
This magnificent four-level log home on 1.34 acres in Whitefish Mountain Resort is the ultimate Montana mountain retreat, steps away from a ski lift taking residents to the resort’s 3,000 acres of groomed ski terrain. The grand, timber-framed fieldstone entrance opens to a magnificent two-story great room, where the Montana landscape is on full display. The commercial-grade kitchen is perfect for entertaining, with a custom horseshoe bar, chestnut wood floors, two separate dining tables, and cabinetry made from barnwood reclaimed from the Bitterroot Valley. The theater is designed as a railcar from the Great Northern Railroad. A library has a timber vaulted ceiling and built-in bookshelves. Several wood-burning fireplaces offer a haven for those cold Montana nights, as does a sunken hot tub under the stars. The fully furnished residence has seven bedrooms, six full and four half bathrooms, ample room for extended family and guests.
Sun Valley Fairways Lodge in Sun Valley, Idaho
This classic log home in the Sun Valley Fairways golf community is a short walk from the ski lodge of the Sun Valley Resort, Dollar Mountain, and the Symphony Pavilion. The two-story, 6,611-square-foot timber home evokes the coziness of a luxurious ski lodge with wood floors, beamed ceilings, and massive windows to frame the mountain views. The double-height living room has a large stone fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows. There are five bedrooms and five-and-a-half-bathrooms, including two master suites (one on the main floor and one on the second floor). There are two offices, a media room, dining room, and a finished lower level. French doors on the main level open to a stone terrace with an alfresco dining area, stone fireplace, and front-row view of Bald Mountain. The three-car garage has an upstairs apartment, ideal for guests or staff.
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Cutthroat Bend in Moran, Wyoming
Surrounded by the pristine wilderness of Grand Teton National Park, Cutthroat Bend is a one-of-a-kind residence beautifully situated on Pacific Creek in Moran, Wyoming. Picture windows frame the panoramic mountain views and flood the interiors with natural light. Log and stone finishes, intricate wood and metalwork, and custom-crafted fixtures are among the classic details. The heart of the home is a two-story great room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a stacked-stone fireplace. The chef’s kitchen is equipped with a Thermador range and other high-end appliances. The luxurious bathrooms are finished in tumbled marble. The expansive outdoor areas extend to nearly nine acres and include several decks, colorful gardens, and a charming pond.
Glassy Mountain Estate in Landrum, South Carolina
Peace, tranquility and security emanate from this estate on Glassy Mountain in South Carolina. The eight-bedroom, eight-bathroom residence, which took three years to construct, is built from western red cedar logs melded with Swedish cope, also called saddle-notch, joinery. The handcrafted wood finishes continue inside with beautiful wood floors and wood-beamed ceilings. There are stellar amenities, too. The chef’s kitchen is fully equipped with top-of-the-line appliances. The movie theater seats 12, and there is a sports court, deck with hot tub and pizza oven, and a woodwork shop. The property’s pristine forested setting is in the Cliffs at Glassy, a guard-gated, private country club community of 3,500 acres, with its highest elevation at 3,300 feet. The community is 30 minutes’ drive to Greenville, an hour to Asheville, and two hours to Charlotte.
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Port Madison Bay Log Cabin on Bainbridge Island, Washington
This cozy log home has an enchanting waterfront setting on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Look closer at the rustic details, the fieldstone hearth, the sleek contemporary kitchen and the finishes of this four-bedroom, four-bathroom cabin and see the elegant modernism of its design. Upstairs, the bedrooms are restful and the baths are comfortable and contemporary. Built with hand-hewn western red cedar from British Columbia, the structure was assembled in Whistler, dismantled, transferred to the Pacific Northwest, and then carefully reassembled on site. Offering ultimate privacy and sweeping northern views, the one-acre grounds include 184 feet of rock-bulkhead waterfront and a deeded buoy in Port Madison Bay.
Lakefront Cabin in Charlevoix, Michigan
This log cabin on Evergreen Point is a peaceful, private, and quiet retreat, with 200 feet of water frontage and a 40-foot dock on Lake Charlevoix, the third-largest inland lake in Michigan. Custom design and superb finishes abound. The centerpiece is a jaw-dropping, arched great room with a three-level window wall overlooking the lake, hardwood floors, a mezzanine floor, and a massive two-story rusticated stone fireplace. The gourmet kitchen has a timber-beam ceiling and stone floor. A family/game room and private master suite are further highlights of the main house. The property includes a separate pole barn at the water’s edge. That two-story structure has an exercise studio, wood shop, and plenty of storage space. Surrounding the two structures are mature, landscaped grounds with rolling lawns, a waterfall, and stream.
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Ridgetop Log Home in Mountain Village, Colorado
This majestic mountain retreat in Mountain Village, Colorado, is anchored on a ridge 800 feet above Telluride Valley offering unobstructed views of the Wilson and San Sophia mountain ranges. The 7,687-square-foot interior is bathed in light from early morning to sunset. The great room’s vast, two-level walls of glass bring in light and the valley and mountain views. Wide-plank pine floors, timber beamed ceilings, and stone fireplaces impart a rustic ambience. The main level has a fluid, open layout with a sleek chef’s kitchen and breakfast nook, living and dining rooms, an office with a private balcony, and a master suite with a gas fireplace and a luxurious bathroom (with soaking tub). Rounding out the amenities are two timbered decks with front-row seating on forest and mountain views, a game room with bar, jetted tub and steam shower, and alfresco dining terrace with a built-in barbecue.