There are over a million fine campsites available in the D. S. today many of them can be rented as little as $1000 a year.
CHANCES are that you have already given some thought to the land you will build on. You may already have the deed in your pocket. On the bet, however, that you still may be speculating on whether to get that fine lake front lot, or the exhilarating mountain slope location with the tremendous view, we`ve planned this article.
If you are at the undecided stage, and one piece of countryside looks like any other to you, perhaps we can be of some help. First of all, every strip of land in America belongs to someone, either an individual, a corporation, or a governmental agency. It naturally follows that most land you see and like for cabin building purposes will have a price on it, although that price may not always be within pay check range.
Don`t settle on or for the first parched plot you come to. Consider everything from glistening peaks beyond wild pine lined lakes to the lush, regal backdrop of a willow draped riverside.
Even eliminating land that individuals, corporations, and governmental agencies won`t part with for any price, and cutting away those sites which are available for a price, but too steep to consider, the estimate is that there are close to a million and a half good campsites available in the United States. Today. Now. All around you.
Here`s the best way to go about finding the one perfect site in the United States for your cabin: You`ll need detailed reference works if you`re serious about getting that perfect site. These references contain valuable information about where they are exactly located, how to appraise property like an expert and maps of the site you will decide upon. Some of the best booklets and pamphlets come from the government printing office, and are relatively inexpensive.
Get these if you can by writing to: Superintendent of Documents U. S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D. C.
Underwriter`s Manual or the National Forest Vacations
It may be to your advantage to rent from the government, for as little as $1000 a year for a choice site, on a long or 108 a short term lease. You`ll find Uncle Sam a fine landlord to deal with in this respect. These campsites are mostly located in the West, as are the national forests, and the supervisors are the fellows who can tell you where and when you can grab a good lease on a typical 3/4 acre plot. If this sounds like a good deal to you who are near a national forest, act fast or you may run into a waiting list!
While on the subject of government land, let`s explore further. Herein may be your best bet, for the government now has a program set up whereby they are simply waiting for private citizens to petition them for the purchase of land, and that at a very nominal price. The U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, D. C, has a free booklet entitled:
Facts on Small Tracts
This booklet can be of enormous help to you in copping a choice piece of government land. This booklet has listed the names of seven regional directors who administer government land. The one who administers your region is the man for you to see. It will be worth your while. By letter or personal visit, you can learn from this gent where the unreserved public lands are located. From there on it`s more or less up to you. Take a car trip, if you can, to the land he tells you is open and public.
If you find a promising site, get a survey made of the tract you like for five acres or less, or at least get a good description in writing as to its location. Then you have the right to proceed to your local BLM office, by letter or in person, and ask the man in charge to apply to have the land classified under the Small Tract Act as for sale to the citizenry. It`s his duty; he`ll do it. Then you wait. A BLM investigator will then go look the property over to make sure you`re not trying to con the government out of five square acres of uranium, or some such, and then if he thinks it might as well be on sale as not, as regards its value as a recreation or vacation site, the wheels really turn in your favor.
But this is just one of many things you can do to find land to build your log cabin home on.
You can take the anxiety quotient out of any decorating project, whether it be finding the right color scheme or picking the right furnishings to go with your log cabin if you simply remember some critical elements of decorating with rustic charm.
There are many styles that suit the warmth of a log home. Early American, Arts & Crafts, Southwestern, and French Country are just a handful of styles that can be used to great benefit in the log home.
Cushions and pillows are critical to creating that comfy feeling inherent in the log home. Pillows have a way of softening the chairs or couches they are placed on, and give not only a physical feeling of comfort, but a visual one as well.
Wall art is also a helpful element in any decorating scheme. First, it is important to know how to properly hang wall art; it should be displayed so that the middle of the art is found at eye level. Second, it is best to pick frames for the art that are rustic in nature as well. Warm browns, or rough frames that resemble the look of bark, are great accents to use on the walls of log homes. And third, the art itself should be outdoorsy in nature. Photos of landscapes and beautiful scenery shots are also great choices.
Try to look for rustic pieces that match the style of your log cabin. Search for mirrors, tables, coat hangers, coffee tables, sidebars, etc, that have natural, wood tones and that are a bit rough with natural accents.
Put your own spin on lamp shades by choosing new fabrics and trims of your own choosing to put over them. Put small lamps on pieces such as books or old wooden crates to make them more eye catching.
When choosing accessories to achieve that rustic look, look first at the pieces that you already own. What colors or fabrics for pillows would enhance the furniture you already have? What well-placed lighting might offset the blinds or drapes already used on your windows? At times furniture, drapes, and other furnishings are the exact elements that you want to change, but sometimes these are the things that you love in your present design and it would be wise and could save money and time working them into your rustic design. Purchasing inexpensive accessories and then using paint to make them go along with your current furnishings is a great way to save cash and your treasured pieces.
Although some people would prefer to do without knick knacks, feeling that they just are one more thing to dust, a certain amount of knick knacks are essential for that rustic feel. Some suggestions are old canisters made of metal or tin, cookbooks, copper pots, hand-made quilts, wicker baskets, and country candles and potpourri. Flea markets and garage sales can be a great resource for finding many items that can be successfully used to decorate a log cabin.
After you have chosen some well appointed furnishing and accessories to achieve your look of rustic charm, its time to incorporate some new colors in the mix. It is useful to take time and look through magazines or books that offer color schemes that you admire. Then think about the wood and style in your home?will these colors highlight the wood or would another color be better to bring out its true beauty? Don't be afraid to explore new colors - shades of greens, blues, and purples are all colors that compliment the deep browns of the natural wood in log homes. Deep colors like blood red, or soothing colors like Midnight Blue, can both be used for great effect in the decorating of a log home.
When striving for that look of rustic charm, don't forget your front porch or other outdoor entertainment area. Since log homes are constant reminders of the great outdoors, it is important to create a warm and inviting area outside of your log cabin so that you can enjoy those warm summer days or crisp fall evenings.
With a rustic charm decorating theme, mismatched pieces can be put to good use. Find a nice and sturdy outdoor dining table and peruse the local yard sales or thrift shops for chairs and accessories that can complement it. Also use your imagination to put common items to a new use. Old wooden crates can serve as drink tables. Use an old mailbox as a planter for those spring flowers. If your outdoor entertainment area is protected from the elements, you can use fabrics to your advantage. Go to your local remnants store and pick up pieces of fabric that are at bottom discounts. Use these remnants to create runner and cushions for your outdoor furnishings - this will help tie all your mismatched pieces together.
Just remember to have fun and follow your own preferences and instincts when decorating your log home with rustic elements and you will be sure to create a home that is like you - one of a kind.
Both Jimmy Cox & Matt Jaworski are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jimmy Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Horse Racing and Investments. Imagine Building Your Own Log Cabin InThe Woods And Being The Envy Of Your AllFriends And Family. Now You Can LiveThat Dream - FREE For A Limited Time -