How-To: Designing Your Home or Cottage with True North Log & Timber Homes
This is the Northern Escape, one of True North Log & Timber Homes’ award-winning designs.
Introduction
Designing a custom log home is about more than building a house—it’s about bringing your lifestyle, dreams, and vision to life. At True North Log & Timber Homes, the process is as rewarding as the final result. With decades of expertise and industry-leading technology, True North makes it easy to turn your ideas into a stunning log home.
Whether you’re dreaming of a charming log cabin retreat or a sprawling family estate, here’s what the design journey looks like with True North Log & Timber Homes:
1. Start with Inspiration
Every custom home begins with a vision. You might have a Pinterest board full of ideas, a napkin sketch from a cottage weekend, or simply a love for natural wood and rustic charm. Start by exploring our gallery of award-winning homes.
Tip: It’s okay to not have all the answers—True North’s design team is here to help you clarify your vision.
A True North Log & Timber Homes Sales & Design Consultant meets with a client, discussing the plans for her dream log home.
2. Connect with a Sales & Design Consultant
Once you’re ready to move forward, your first conversation with a True North Sales & Design Consultant is all about understanding your goals, your site, your budget, and how you plan to live in the space. They’ll walk you through the process, answer your questions, and help you determine the best starting point—whether it’s customizing an existing plan or designing something from scratch.
3. Choose a Floor Plan (or Create Your Own)
True North Log & Timber Homes offers a range of pre-designed floor plans that can be modified to suit your needs—or you can work with our award-winning design team to develop a fully custom layout. At this stage, you’ll consider:
- How many bedrooms and bathrooms you need
- Your lifestyle preferences (open-concept, lofts etc.)
- Site orientation, views, and topography
- Indoor/outdoor flow, entertaining spaces, and privacy
Each plan is thoughtfully crafted with your goals in mind.
4. Refine the Details with 3D Modeling
Once the layout is established, the design team uses advanced 3D modeling tools to bring your home to life on screen. You’ll be able to look through virtual renderings, make design tweaks, and visualize every aspect of the home—from colours to beam placement to window views. For a more in-depth look and feel for your home you can use our specialized VR technology to walk-through your home virtually.
This step ensures that no detail is missed and that your home will function exactly as you imagine it.
5. Engineering & Permits
After finalizing the design, the plans go to the engineering team to ensure structural soundness, energy compliance, and building code alignment. True North provides the necessary design drawings to help you secure building permits and prepare for construction.
The True North Log & Timber Homes Factory, where all our log homes are cut with our precision log home technology.
6. Precision Manufacturing at the True North Facility
What sets True North Log & Timber Homes apart is our state-of-the-art manufacturing process. Your custom log package is precisely cut, ensuring every log is numbered, milled, and ready for efficient assembly. This results in unmatched quality, a tighter fit, and shorter build times on-site.
7. Delivery & Construction Support
Once your materials are ready, True North Log & Timber Homes ships the complete log or timber package to your site—whether it’s across the province or around the globe. You can work with your own builder or tap into True North’s network of experienced construction partners.
You’re never on your own: True North Log & Timber Homes provides comprehensive technical support throughout the build.
8. Welcome Home
From the moment you step inside, you’ll feel the craftsmanship, warmth, and personality of a home built just for you. And thanks to our patented systems and commitment to sustainability, your home will perform beautifully for generations.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
At True North Log & Timber Homes, your dream home starts with a conversation. Contact the team today to begin designing a legacy that’s uniquely yours.
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