The Log Blog

Bargain £40,000 Beach Hut For Sale!

2010-01-14T11:13:00.003Z

Thinking of a place in the sun? This ramshackle shed (or beach hut if you have a vivid imagination) is on offer for an eye watering £40,000. Tight on space, no door, leaky roof but in a fantastic location in Southwold.

Well, we can't guarantee you the sea view or a sandy doorstep, but here at Keops we can offer you a comfortable cabin with all mod cons such as an insulated roof that doesn't leak like a sieve and a door that fits and opens.

Life's a beach!

This DIY dream is on offer through Durrants Estate Agents

View a Keops Log Cabin in the North of England

2009-10-09T13:48:00.006+01:00

If you live in the north of the country or find yourself visiting the Morpeth area, why not pop into Stannington Nurseries and take a look at the new tea room. Designed and built by Keops, the "equestrian style" log cabin is situated behind the main nurseries.

Inside the large 8 x 10 metre cabin the walls are decorated with artwork from local artists and a wide range of food and drink is available at very reasonable prices. Why not pick up a plant for the garden, enjoy a hot cup of tea and admire the lovely log cabin surroundings. Stannington is open 7 days a week and there's also free parking.

The Achingly Trendy Cafe Ginkgo Log Cabin

2009-08-14T10:38:00.016+01:00

"But perhaps the best thing about Cafe Ginkgo is the space. The main dining-room looks like the interior of a Norwegian log cabin, with plain wooden surfaces and simple wooden furniture. The front is made up largely of glass and the back opens out on to the garden centre giving the restaurant a wonderfully airy, al fresco feel. For somewhere so achingly trendy, its refreshingly down-to-earth and unpretentious."

That was the review written by Toby Young in The Independent about the fantastic new log cabin cafe at Ginkgo Garden Centre designed and built by us at here at Keops. If you're in the London Hammersmith area, why not pop in and sample the wonderful food available, pick a plant or two for the garden and take time to enjoy the log cabin atmosphere!

You can read the full review here or why not visit the Ginkgo Gardens website to find out about opening times and directions.

Winner of Shed of the Year 2009

2009-07-15T10:42:00.001+01:00

Steven Harwood of West Wales is this years winner of Shed of the Year. The "Kite Cabin" was designed and built by Steven and boasts fantastic views of the valley. As if the prestigious title wasn't enough, Steven also won a cheese subscription from The Cheese Shed. You can read more at www.readersheds.co.uk/shedblog.co.uk

If you'd like to enter next year's competition, Keops can help you design and build your very own "posh shed" - take a look at our website for ideas. http://www.logcabins.co.uk/

We've updated our log cabin customer gallery!

2009-06-09T09:42:00.002+01:00

If you're looking for ideas and inspiration for your log cabin then have a look at our new customer gallery. From fantasic new colours to stylish interiors, our cabins have never looked so good!

Click here to take a look

Please leave your comments and tell us what you think. Or if you're already a Keops customer send us your photos - we'd love to see them!

Email your pics to Paula - paula@logcabins.co.uk

The Keops Interlock Quatra Range

2009-05-01T16:17:00.002+01:00

An elegant cabin with a lovely hipped style roof, the Keops Quatra will look fanatstic in any garden. Make the most of the weather and your outdoor space! The Quatra is perfect for an outside dining room, studio, home office or just a chill out area.

Available in a range of sizes from 2 metres wide to 4.85m, with glazed doors and long glazed panel windows included*

Take a fresh look at your garden this May Bank Holiday weekend - Contact us for a quote!

New Species of Scandinavian Pine Discovered

2009-04-01T09:12:00.002+01:00

Botanists have recently discovered a new species of pine tree found to be growing near the Arctic Circle. Similar to other types of Northern Scandinavian pine, it also has a very tight grain and high density but has a very unusual characteristic in that the trees grow horizontally.

"I first discovered the Logcabinus Horizontalus whilst conducting a field study of Scandinavian pine", said expert tree hugger Edward Knot. "It's quite amazing how they grow long ways - I was gobsmacked when I first came across them but the really amazing part is that they grow in quite boggy terrain which on closer inspection turned out to be a kind of wood preservative".

Logging and several tests have since been carried out on the new species, resulting in a timber which due to its origins makes excellent straight log lengths and which is already preserved.

"The log cabin industry is about to be revolutionised", said spokeswoman Twiggy Branch. "Not only can we grow the horizontal trees to whichever log thickness is required (45 and 55 mm being the most popular) but we are experimenting with the ground in which they grow. At the moment we are producing timbers that are already preserved in various shades of brown, but by adding a dye to the soil we're hoping to produce an opaque finish in shades of blue and green, maybe even a bright red...it really is exciting stuff!".

Logging takes place in well managed forests that support a programme of sustainable replanting but there is also a DIY version available for anyone who maybe a keen Aborist. Write in to us here at Keops and we will provide you with some Logcabinus Horizontalus seeds which you simply plant in a tin of wood preservative (colour of your choice).

Put your feet up for the next seven years!

2009-02-17T10:03:00.002Z

If you like the natural wood grain to show through on your log cabin, then you'll love the new Sadolin "Ultra" Highly Translucent Woodstain range.

Available in a range of 16 colours, it provides tough weather protection with excellent durability. Its also got advanced UV active technology which means better protection in areas of high sun exposure.

The great news is that when used with Sadolin Ultra Basecoat, the Ultra System lasts for up to seven years. Visit http://www.sadolin.co.uk/ to find out more.

Wendy's Gorgeous Log Cabin

2009-01-21T14:45:00.001Z

Take a look Wendy's tailor made log cabin designed and built to her specifications by Keops Interlock. We think its great!

The world's largest log cabin

2009-01-05T15:24:00.001Z

...is the Chateau Montebello.

The private resort of Montebello, Quebec, Canada, often described as a "log chateau" was built in 1930. The cedar chateau was built by the Swiss-American Hubert Saddlemire who was inspired by the chateaux of the Swiss Alps. He employed 3,500 construction workers at the peak of building and used 10,000 red cedar logs, all cut and set by hand.

For forty years it was privately owned until 1970 when it was taken over by Canadian Pacific Hotels. Today it is a luxury hotel attracting visitors from around the world.

Many of the Montebello Hotel guest rooms feature the outside log cabin wall, so you do get to appreciate the original rustic building. But what I liked best was (according to their website) most rooms have "windows that open for fresh air." All mod cons...

What with today's exchange rate a weeks stay at the Montebello in a King Garden View room (not one overlooking the dustbins at the back) will cost you around £2000.

For the same price you could stay at home and opt instead for a Keops Interlock 300 - a 3 x 3m cabin which you can enjoy all year round and just like the Montebello Hotel also includes windows that open for fresh air!

The best in Christmas glass ornaments!!!

2008-12-24T18:26:00.001Z

Yes folks, we've scoured the internet to bring you the finest selection of Christmas tree ornaments. All, of course, feature log cabins (well, what else did you expect?) and not so stangely all are available from the good ole US of A!
Starting from just $9.99 you can "spruce up your tree" and bring homey feelings to your home. We especially like the cabin one that features "eyecatching woodland colours, hand blown with glitter detailing".

Merry christmas to you all!

Enjoy!

The Hot Dog Log Cabin!

2008-12-19T10:16:00.002Z

Yes, really!...
Unfortunately we can't recommend it as there are no interlocking corner joints but we love the cheese on toast roof and bacon shingles!

Log Cabin of the Week - Interlock 395

2008-12-17T10:34:00.001Z

This week's log cabin of the week is the versatile Keops Interlock 395 with lean-to.

Measuring 3.95m x 3.0m in 45 thick logs it is generously proportioned and ideal for any a variety of uses. The cabin includes a double door in the front which is three quarter glazed to let in loads of light and a double window. This cabin also features a 1.5m x 1.5m lean-to which is great for storage.

The Interlock 395 would make a great office space, summerhouse or gym, or even a workshop with plenty of room to store your tools in the lean-to.

Cabin price is £2421 and £638 for the lean-to. The price includes felt roof shingles, flooring with bearers and free delivery (Eng & Wales). Click for more Interlock 395 details.

Russian gangster & the world's tallest log cabin

2008-12-09T15:39:00.001Z

Visit Arkhangelsk in north-west Russia and you can't fail to miss probably the world's tallest log cabin. Built by one time gangster Nikolai Sutyagin and looking like a cross between a pile of timber awaiting bonfire night and a horror fairy tale castle, the wooden house reaches 144ft and has 13 floors.

Sutyagin began his project in 1992, vowing to build a two stoey house grander than his neighbours to reflect his status as the city's richest man. After a trip to see wooden houses in Norway and Japan, he decided he wasn't utilising his roof space enough and continued building.

"First I added three floors but then the house looked ungainly, like a mushroom", he said. "So I added another and still it didn't look right so I kept going. What you see is a happy accident".

Unfortunately, in 1998 Sutyagin was convicted on racketeeing charges and given four years in prison, his third jail term. While in prison, rivals stole his money and possesions and dumped his five cars in the river Dvina. From being a millionaire he is now penniless.

Sutyagin, aged 60, now lives in four draughty rooms at the bottom of his log house pile with his wife Lena, 32.

Neighbours think it's an eyesore and the city authorities have stated the bylaw that no wooden structures should be higher than two floors and warn that the whole thing could go up in flames.

Sutyagin plans to fight action to pull it down and claims that everything above the second floor is purely decorative.

"This would have been a great room for making love", he said, balancing on a plank he had just thrown over a gaping chasm in the floor,"Look at the view!"

Interview by Adrian Blomfield

Our super new Lugarde website

2008-12-05T08:25:00.002Z

Take a look at our new Lugarde Garden Buildings website! lugarde-garden-buildings.co.uk. We offer the full range of Lugarde summerhouses, log cabins, garages and verandas in a choice of styles and sizes with many optional extras.

Order before January and get an extra 12% off our recommended prices!

If you're looking for a new summerhouse or cabin for your garden have a browse through our website for ideas and inspiration. We're sure you find the perfect garden building for you.

Which country invented the log cabin?

2008-12-02T09:24:00.002Z

The oldest log homes are said to date from 30BC, a pile of logs stacked up to form a pyramid (is that why Richard chose the name Keops?) but the answer is probably Scandinavia 4,000 years ago. Metal tools in the Bronze age made it possible to build a warm and substantial building in a short space of time. They were found all across northern Europe.

There is a theory that the Minoan's and Mycenaen's one-roomed house was originally made from horizontal pine logs, so it could be that the ancient Greeks also have a claim on the log cabin.

Swedish and Finnish settlements in Delaware in the 1630s eventually brought the cabin to America. If you're lucky enough to visit Hodgenville in Kentucky, the museum there features the log cabin in which Abraham Lincoln was born...which was actually built thirty years after his death! And don't think about doing the touristy bit and taking one for the album with you posing beside the legendary cabin, the US National Park Service has banned flash photography in case it damages the historic logs.