At the top of Lookout Mountain, in the northwest corner of Georgia, is where you’ll find this charming family retreat. After a lifelong obsession with log cabins, Julie and Jimmy Cash started working with Walden Log Homes to design and build their dream in the middle of the forest. The Cashes wanted an authentic home that would resemble the rustic log cabins often found in the American West.
Walden Log Homes salvaged 80 percent of the building materials, which came from a variety of sources: old barns, dilapidated country structures like tobacco mills, and demolished buildings. Everything was stripped, polished, and repurposed to create a new, but ultimately authentic log cabin. Local carpenters and artisans helped create the finishing touches.
The multi-textured wood surfaces come from a variety of sources to create a unique look. The earthy tones make every room feel warm and homey, and the kitchen is no exception, packing plenty of farmhouse style. Its teak countertops, rustic wood cabinets (sourced from a barn), and the 300-year-old heart pine beams repurposed as flooring, all work together to create genuine country feel.
The hemlock ceiling beams are a nice touch and fit perfectly with the aged look of the design. To create a kind of visual break from the repurposed wood surfaces, the Cashes whitewashed new paneling between the beams. They used a mixture of handcrafted furniture and antiques to fill each room. In the dining room, they added a Navajo-patterned rug and an antique antler chandelier to complete the look.
The master bedroom has a brand new queen-sized cannonball bed, while the guest room has two handmade log beds. To keep the rooms nice and bright, the Cashes chose white and ivory linens and left the windows free from dressings. A marble bedside lamp, an heirloom roll-top trunk, a pastoral painting in its original frame, and wood carved door handles help maintain the country spirit.
The porch railings that support the overhanging roof, along with the railings in the stairwell, are made from wood and salvaged from Virginia. They chose to keep all the notches, holes, and nails in the wood, since they're part of its history; the poles were originally used in the drying of tobacco leaves. The porch also has plenty of seating to encourage guests to enjoy the fresh air and forest views.
Lookout Mountain sounds like the setting of a fairytale, but for one lucky family it’s where dreams become reality. Surrounded by rugged mountains and a forest teeming with evergreens, it’s the perfect place to soak in some fresh air. Thanks to the reclaimed building materials, you would never know this newly designed log cabin isn’t actually an authentic piece of American history.
