A Welcoming Log Home in New Hampshire

A shared love of log homes brings a couple closer together as they build their dream retreat.

The log posts and truss framing the entry lend visual interest to the home's elegantly simple architectural form. Strategic uplighting adds functional flair.

Written by Suzanna Logan

Photography courtesy of Ward Cedar Log Homes

Spend more than a moment with long-time pair Stephen Ferreira and Sandra Hamilton, and one thing becomes immediately clear: Opposites really do attract, and you’re watching the adage unfold in real time.

For starters, Stephen, born in Massachusetts, fled the north for sunny Palm Beach, Florida, in his 20s, while Sandra remained loyal to her native New Hampshire. Their overall demeanors tell the same story. “He’s burly with a flair for the dramatic, and she is this soft-spoken, petite little lady,” shares Connie Jackson, who along with her husband Mike—both representatives with Ward Cedar Log Homes—helped the couple bring to life the one key thing they had in common: a love for log homes.

“One day, Sandra and I were talking,” says Stephen. “I said, ‘When I retire, I want to own a log home.’ She said ‘Are you kidding me? That is my dream as well.’ I didn’t really think it would happen, but lo and behold … that’s how our journey began.”

After a long-distance relationship spanning several years, the couple began making plans to finally share the same zip code. The year before Stephen was set to retire from 30 years with the police force, they started searching for properties in New Hampshire. Two lots, adjacent to one another, came up that fit their parameters. “When we pulled up, we let our dog Harley out of the car, and she ran straight across the road to the first property,” says Sandra. “Let’s just say she christened the land,” Stephen adds with a chuckle.

Situated on a private road, the two-acre property offers access to ATV trails and local Shadow Lake, a popular spot for year-round recreational activities. A gentle rise on the property proved to be the perfect place to site the house. “As soon as you come up the road, you can see the house on top of the hill,” says Stephen. “It really stands out.”

Having a place that captured “oohs” and “aahs” from onlookers was a priority for the couple. “We wanted something grand where people come in and their jaws drop,” says Sandra. During their first meetings, the pair laid out the wish list, which was centered around entertaining. A welcoming front porch, a formal foyer with soaring ceilings, a spacious dining area and a chef’s kitchen with a sprawling center island were must-haves, as were practical, long-term accessibility features, like a primary bedroom on the main floor and stepless entry from the garage.

After touring a local Ward home, they made a few subtle revisions to the plan before the logs were ordered. From there, it was smooth sailing. “It was one of the largest houses their builder had ever done, but it was all pretty seamless,” shares Connie.

With the structure underway, the couple dove headfirst into choosing their finishes. “I remember Sandra being up until two or three in the morning looking for ideas on Etsy, Instagram, Google, magazines, everywhere,” says Stephen. “We put a lot of love into making this our own.” When it came to aesthetics, they were both in favor of farmhouse style, washing the interiors with neutral tones and authentic touches, like wide-plank floors, distressed cabinetry and industrial lighting features. Special pieces are sprinkled throughout, including Amish-made furniture, a horseshoe from an Indian preserve out west and a “welcome” bell from Nova Scotia that hangs by the front door. “It’s for good luck,” says Sandra. “No one can come in without ringing it first.”

The bell chimes frequently with the couple’s rotation of friends and family—a fact that inspired them to begin designing a separate entertaining space in the home. “We are adding a party room in the basement with a bar, wine room and a big sports area with a pool table,” says Stephen. Once that project is complete, the forward-thinking couple already has another idea brewing—building a second log cabin, this one smaller and further south. “We want to do it all over again when I retire,” Sandra says. “We enjoy the process.”