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When someone asks us why we use cedar, the answer is simple: because it works. Not just for a few years. Not just for looks. It works long-term. It holds up. And we've got over 100 years of homes that show it. Still, we get this question a lot: Why cedar over pine or another wood? Here's what we tell folks. 

Open vs. Closed Kitchens: Pros and Cons

When you’re designing your dream home, the kitchen isn’t just another room, it’s the heart of it. And one of the biggest decisions you’ll make early on is whether to go with an open or closed kitchen layout. It’s a choice that affects how you cook, entertain, and live every day.

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Let’s walk through the pros and cons of both styles to help you figure out what fits your lifestyle best.

Building a log home isn’t something you do on a whim. Most people come to us with an idea that’s been sitting in the back of their mind for years, sometimes decades. You picture the front porch. The big windows. A warm fire on a cold night. You know the feeling you’re after. What’s harder is knowing how to get there.

That’s where design comes in. Designing your home isn’t about having all the answers upfront. It’s about taking what you do know, how you live, what you value, and shaping the space around it.

Here’s how we recommend starting that process.

There’s nothing quite like building your own log home. The chance to choose every detail, from the layout to the lighting, makes it feel completely personal. But before the first log is delivered or the foundation is poured, there’s a lot to think through.

At Ward Cedar Log Homes, we’ve worked with homeowners for over a century, and we’ve learned that a bit of planning goes a long way. Here’s a practical checklist to help you feel more confident and prepared as you begin your home-building journey.
 

Looking through log cabin floor plans can feel a little like scrolling through a dream catalog. So many options. So many beautiful layouts. And it’s easy to get caught up in what looks great on paper without considering how it fits into your everyday life.

At Ward Cedar Log Homes, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners sort through choices and land on a floor plan that’s not just beautiful, but practical, personal, and built around how they live. Here's how to think it through.