It's a view widely held, and not just by Texans, that the hill country around Austin is among the most scenic residential areas in the state, if not the entire United States. So when William and Mary Southwell, then living near Fort Worth, decided to build a retirement house, they chose a picturesque site in a small town about 20 miles from the capital. And, though they had never lived in a log house, "We decided that's what we wanted," says Mary, "so we began shopping around".

Their search for a log home manufacturer led to REAL LOG HOMES®, a long-established brand that had a representative right in their soon-to-be hometown. When the Southwells saw the range of REAL LOG HOMES® floor plans available, they selected a the McKinley model but made a few changes. Principally, says Mary, they found the master bathroom in the original plan to be bigger than needed and by reducing its size they were able to make room for a handy office within the master bedroom suite. Now fitted with a desk and filing cabinets, it's a modification that worked so well, it's become a standard for that model.

On their six-acre property, studded with live oak and juniper, the Southwells sited the house with its entry porch facing south and the great-room windows presenting a view of hills and trees. The layout includes a great room with dining area, three bedrooms, an office, kitchen and two bathrooms. There's also a two-car garage. A porch off the kitchen adds summer breezes while decks outside the great room and master bedroom enhance the enjoyment of the natural surroundings.

"Most Texas homes don't have basements," Mary explains, "but with the natural slope at the back, there's a six-foot space under the house for the heating and hot-water units."

With 2,140 square feet of living space, the house offers compact one-level convenience plus the open airy look of a cathedral-ceilinged great room. The 8-inch-diameter logs of Arkansas yellow pine have a D-shaped profile—round facing outside and flat facing inside—that permits a variety of wall treatments inside. According to the manufacturer, a REAL LOG HOMES® 8-inch wall log provides a wider bearing surface for the log above and also allows for fastening on each side of the tongue-and-groove joinery that runs on the top and bottom horizontal surfaces of the logs. The result is increased stability and more insulation, making for greater energy efficiency.

The basic log package was delivered, including the porch and garage components. All the window and door openings, rafters and joists came pre-cut and notched as needed, and all the logs were numbered and lettered for faster assembly. With their REAL LOG HOMES® local Independent Representative standing by, the Southwells, who had prepared the foundation, took over from there.

What took place over the next two days was a modern-day version of an old-fashioned "log-raising" which can become a real social event.
William, a former airline pilot, took on the task of general contractor. Having absorbed the basics of construction from his father's building business, and with previous experience in building other homes for the family, he was ready and able to supervise the work to completion. He also designed moldings around the doors to add both stability and ornament.

With no close neighbors and lots of shrubbery,"We cleared a log of the juniper," Mary says. Windows are left largely uncovered to enjoy the sunlight and landscape. One additional important change was made at the entry.

"It was set up like a separate room, and we opened it up to the dining area." So, a visitor on entering gets an immediate look at the striking interior.
What attracts visitors most is the traditional charm that seems to permeate every room. At once comfortable and graceful, the house invites repose and relaxation. Light pours into the great room from two large windows that angle up with the ceiling. A massive fireplace provides dramatic focus as well as a means of taking the chill off brisk weather. On the living-room side of the fireplace (its back provides one dining room "wall") the open hearth is pleasingly set off by brass fire tools and earth-toned ceramic pieces.

Mary's decorating skills can be seen throughout the house. On the handsome oak floors, patterned rugs in subdued colors provide warm accents. To break up the all-wood look, Mary wallpapered some of the great room walls with a neat geometric pattern. The same blue and tan paper, outlined with wood framing, makes a backdrop for the unusual eight-poster bed in the master bedroom.

Many of the furnishings, Mary explains, are simply family pieces or lifelong acquisitions. A brass chandelier with "candle lights" hangs over the round dining table while rows of Wedgwood plates painted with historical scenes highlight the breakfast area. In this cozy nook, a real eye-catcher is the large colored glass depiction of a sunny landscape that fills the center window.

In the bathrooms, modern fixtures and plain wood walls are contrasted with a formal wallpaper and carved mirror frames. Lighting ranges from conventional glass fixtures to brass chandeliers and elegant table lamps, with track lighting added to spotlight different areas of the great room. In the kitchen, custom-built cupboards harmonize with the darker-toned floors.

For the past five years, the house has withstood well the extremes of weather and the normal exposure of any dwelling to natural local hazards. The treatment process employed by REAL LOG HOMES® prior to shipment helps safeguard the logs used in construction. At the mill, all logs except cedar are treated with Tim-Bor®‚ a non-toxic wood preservative that inhibits mildew, decay, and insect infestations. For effective penetration, bundles of pre-cut logs are immersed in a Tim-Bor® solution, allowing the preservative to soak into the wood.

The approach to this well-built house is exceptionally appealing. A winding path curves around shade trees and low plantings toward the welcoming front porch with its potted flowers. A Victorian-style front door with an elongated oval glass inset adds homey charm. Altogether, it's a picture-perfect house in a picture-pretty setting.