New-Build Showhouse Puts Log Cabins on Mainstream Map

LAKE PETENWELL, WI —

Mention a log cabin to some, and images of a dark, rustic home done in a forest animal motif appear. These are homes that are found deep in the woods, and offer only the bare essentials for living, believe many.

Well, those misconceptions will be gone forever when consumers view today’s version of the log cabin home. Bright and airy with all of the best amenities, log homes are being designed and built by Golden Eagle Log Homes of Wisconsin Rapids, WI that change the way Americans view log dwellings.

Golden Eagle’s 2006 Home of the Year, located in Lake Petenwell, WI, provides 5,572 sq. ft. of luxury living that includes a large, open-plan kitchen and several large baths plus a powder room. It also has numerous windows that provide sweeping views of the lake.

Combining some of the most popular design elements used by the company in its previously designed homes, this showhouse features three levels, with the main level comprised of exposed full logs on the interior and exterior of the home.

Designed to showcase the latest trends, technology and design in new-home construction, as well as educate prospective log homeowners about the design and construction process of a log home from start to finish, the home has been open to the public since March. It has also been used as a fundraising vehicle for the University of Wisconsin Children’s Hospital.

The home was designed to incorporate the rustic lifestyle, but also have modern-day conveniences. “It’s kind of ‘Gucci rustic,’” offers Scott Rouleau, a representative for Golden Eagle Log Homes.

The home itself was designed for owners who do a lot of entertaining, and have a big family. Recently, the home was sold to a family that fits that description.

Three master suites – one on the main floor and two on the upper level – each face the lake, with the upstairs rooms offering two balconies each. Two Great rooms – one on the main level and one in the basement – provide ample room for entertaining. A theater room on the lower level provides a haven for large-screen viewing, while next to the theater room, a wine cellar/wine tasting room provides storage for 450 bottles and features a Shaw Pantheon tile floor that resembles castle stone. A fourth bedroom on this level provides additional room for guests.

KITCHEN THAT WOWS

In addition to the master bedroom suite, a foyer and Great room and a living area, the main level includes an open-plan kitchen and dining room, with an additional breakfast nook/sunroom tucked into an octagon-shaped alcove.

In designing the space, Janet Felton, senior kitchen designer for Golden Eagle Log Homes, notes that she was definitely going for the “wow” factor.

“We used some color in the kitchen, which sets off the wood nicely, making it pop out even more,” she states. In addition, a little bit of a furniture look on the island produces a richer appearance.

While most of the log homes that Golden Eagle builds feature rustic hickory cabinets, this home incorporates custom-designed and -built solid, knotty alder cabinets in a natural stain from Bertch in the main part of the kitchen. “It [introduces] such a nice, warm wood tone to the room,” Felton comments.

To make the wood tones of the cabinetry stand out, Felton used an aged ebony stain on the island and topped it with 3"-thick wood butcher block. She installed Uba Tuba granite countertops in the remainder of the kitchen, which are black with a hint of green.

Jay Parmeter, president and co-owner of Golden Eagle Log Homes, notes that this kitchen features 9' ceilings, which provided more flexibility with cabinet options. “Many of our other homes have 8' ceilings, and that limits the cabinetry,” he reports.

In addition to high style, Felton wanted the space to offer great functionality. “We used appliances that not only look good, but are convenient and smart,” she explains.