My Houzz: Rustic Charm in a Handsome Log Cabin
Snowy vistas, hand-crafted touches, antlers aplenty ... this mountain home is the quintessential log cabin, especially during the holidays
Whitney Lyons is a professional photographer, writer and a design enthusiast. She has traveled the world working as a writer and photographer.
Her travels took her to Ireland, where she worked as a photojournalist and reporter for Imokilly People newspaper in Co. Cork.
Whitney spent a year traveling across Europe and Asia, further expanding her photography skills and experience. She eventually landed in New Zealand, where she photographed and wrote articles for Wild Tomato magazine in Nelson.
Whitney is now located in Portland, Oregon where she works as a freelance photographer and writer.
You can see more of her work at flavors.me/whitneylyons.
Whitney Lyons is a professional photographer, writer and a design enthusiast.... More »
| Share: |
|
Cliff and Chris Wheeler moved from Portland, Oregon, back to their roots in Bend after their children finished high school in 1995. "For me, Bend is home," says Chris. "My husband is a real outdoors person. He loves to hunt and fish." Cliff is a general contractor, and together the Wheelers sell and build log home packages. They started their business, Baker Pond Log Works, after they decided to build their own log cabin. "It was after we bought the land and started going through the process of deciding what kind of a log cabin we were going to build that we became aware there was a business behind log homes, and they were sold in packages and kits," says Chris.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cliff and Chris Wheeler
Location: Bend, Oregon
Size: 3,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cliff and Chris Wheeler
Location: Bend, Oregon
Size: 3,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 bathrooms
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| Cliff and Chris built their log cabin with a kit from The Original Lincoln Logs while they were working as dealers for them. After deciding they had been with that company long enough, they went out on their own. They now purchase their log materials from different mills in the Northwest. Homeowners buying their products can be as involved in the building process as they want. |
by Whitney Lyons
»
An 18-foot Christmas tree stands tall in their living room for the season this year. The Wheelers, along with friends, searched the woods for their tree, using a flatbed to haul it back to the cabin. To decorate the top, Cliff stood on a ladder in the loft. The stand is on wheels, so once the tree was decorated to satisfaction, it was rolled into position. Guide wires ensure it stays upright.
by Whitney Lyons
»
Raffia bows and nut garlands have been part of the Wheeler Christmas tree decorations for more than a decade. "My stepfather drilled holes through all of the nuts 16 years ago, and we fed wire through them," describes Chris. She saw the burlap chain in a store and made her own.
by Whitney Lyons
»
The living room fireplace, made of local Santiam River rock, is the perfect backdrop for stockings and holiday decorations ... or for simply relaxing.
by Whitney Lyons
»
In the entry, a second Christmas tree is also decorated with the family's signature raffia ribbons. An antique sled from upstate New York hangs on the wall as art.
by Whitney Lyons
»
Cliff and Chris used Eddie Bauer's Cabin Red paint to distress their cabinetry in the kitchen. Cliff made the wood paneling for the fan and the back of the bar, and also built the bar chairs.
by Whitney Lyons
»
This coffee grinder in the kitchen was a gift from Chris' brother-in-law. He found it at an estate sale at an old log cabin along the Deschutes River.
by Whitney Lyons
»
The Wheelers have expanded and remodeled their kitchen since building their house. "When we originally built the house, we installed cheap white cabinets to save money," says Chris. Now the natural wood cabinetry matches the rest of their cabin's aesthetic. The decorative tin backsplash is typical of old Victorian ceilings. Chris added some old-fashioned nails at each junction.
by Whitney Lyons
»
The plumbing for this pot filler runs through a tree trunk. There is a sliver of wood, barely visible, which can be removed to reach the pipe. The rest of the plumbing is under the cabinet.
Chris uses this extra sink in the kitchen as an ice bucket when entertaining guests.
Chris uses this extra sink in the kitchen as an ice bucket when entertaining guests.
by Whitney Lyons
»
This antler chandelier hanging over the dining room table was made by a local artist and purchased from Volt Lighting in Bend. Chris was drawn to this particular lighting fixture because of the rawhide lampshades as well as the sheer number of bleached antlers used in the design.
The Christmas decorations here were inspired by a Home Depot commercial Chris saw last year. "I bought some Christmas balls to hang from the chandelier, and my husband said, 'Why don't you use pinecones?'" I also made yarn balls and have used them on the Christmas tree as well."
The Christmas decorations here were inspired by a Home Depot commercial Chris saw last year. "I bought some Christmas balls to hang from the chandelier, and my husband said, 'Why don't you use pinecones?'" I also made yarn balls and have used them on the Christmas tree as well."
by Whitney Lyons
»
Cliff built their dining room table using lodgepole and ponderosa pine.
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| Cliff is an avid hunter and outdoorsman. An elk head from one of his hunting trips is displayed on the wall in the family room. The coffee table is from Mexico and was purchased at a trade show. |
by Whitney Lyons
»
A festive holiday garland along the stair rail leads to the master bedroom.
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| In the master bedroom, Chris wanted privacy without losing sunlight, so Cliff designed and built these wooden shutters. |
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| In the guest bedroom, Chris used scarves to make throw pillows and window treatments. The bed was made by a log furniture builder in Spokane, Washington. |
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| An antique oar is cleverly repurposed as a shower curtain rod in this guest bathroom. |
by Whitney Lyons
»
The couple also turned an old radio cabinet into a vanity fitted with a Mexican-style porcelain sink.
by Whitney Lyons
»
As a tribute to the history of log cabins, some of the old tools used to build them are displayed in the entry. Items that recall both the history of log cabins and the history of Chris and Cliff themselves can be found throughout their home.
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| These log picture frames were hand crafted by Cliff as a nod to their surroundings. |
by Whitney Lyons
»
Chris' stepfather owned Bicentennial Music & Vending in central Oregon. "I grew up having the Beatles' first songs on 45s before anyone in town had them, because we had all of the music machines," she says. "We had all of the pinball machines, pool tables and cigarette and candy machines in central Oregon."
When her stepfather passed away a couple years ago, a friend used this vase as the basis for a flower arrangement. "She drilled holes in the pool balls and put a stick through the end," says Chris. "When the flowers died, we kept the vase as our pool ball arrangement."
When her stepfather passed away a couple years ago, a friend used this vase as the basis for a flower arrangement. "She drilled holes in the pool balls and put a stick through the end," says Chris. "When the flowers died, we kept the vase as our pool ball arrangement."
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| Though covered in snow in winter, this fire pit on the back porch is frequently used during the summer to make s'mores, boil a pot of soup or water, or grill food. |
|
by Whitney Lyons
»
|
| This part of Bend was once a ranch with a stock pond, where kids would come to ice skate. "I remember coming out here with [my sister] one time to go ice skating," says Chris. |
by Whitney Lyons
»
Cliff and Chris plan to use a chairlift from Hoodoo Mountain Resort as a tree swing in their backyard.
Chris says of her hometown, "With the exception of a theater, we have everything that a bigger city would have — but we also get the outdoors and blue skies."
Chris says of her hometown, "With the exception of a theater, we have everything that a bigger city would have — but we also get the outdoors and blue skies."
Comments
leslielevin So comfortable and homey! I love your decorations, especially the pine cones and balls of yarn hanging from the light fixture!
6 months ago · Like
· 
2
2
designchallenged love the vanity made from the old radio cabinet.
6 months ago · Like
· 3
3
Tile-Stones Love the homey feeling of this cabin. Could do without the mounted elk head staring at me though!
6 months ago · Like
· 2
2
leticiashaquana Can I come visit? what a wonderful and personal home.
6 months ago · Like
· 2
2
Rough Linen I just bet that when they take down the Christmas tree they'll make the log into something wonderful!
6 months ago · Like
· 2
2
Glentruan Furniture Ltd. The house needs this style of furniture inside: http://www.newrustics.com/index2.php#/gallery1/1/ 
6 months ago · Like
· 1
1
Mackin Drafting & Design I love it. A very comfortable space with some clever ideas.
6 months ago · Like
sewbed Awesome!
6 months ago · Like
· 1
1
vegaspat Great home - I thoroughly enjoyed the tour! Chris and Cliff's creativity in decorating this log home without going "over the top" is inspiring! I love everything!
6 months ago · Like
alibonelli Wow, we got a 16ft tree this year and I thought THAT was crazy! Lots of work but is worth it. Bravo!!!
6 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on Dec. 25, 2012.
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
Find Local Pros by Category:
Architects & Designers · Interior Designers & Decorators · General Contractors · Home Media Design & Installation · Landscape Architects & Designers · Kitchen & Bath Designers · Design-build Firms · Closet & Home Storage Designers · Carpet and Flooring · Fireplaces · Tile, Stone & Countertops · Specialty Contractors · Landscape Contractors
Find Local Pros by Metro Area:
Atlanta · Austin · Baltimore · Boston · Chicago · Dallas · Dc Metro · Denver · Detroit · Hawaii · Houston · Las Vegas · Los Angeles · Miami · Minneapolis · Nashville · New Orleans · New York · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Portland · Salt Lake City · San Diego · San Francisco · Seattle · St Louis
