Lodge-style homes provide the comfort of modern amenities in a structure that offers the rustic charm you find in a log cabin. It is a popular choice found nationwide, typically around wooded and mountainous regions.
If you plan on living in a lodge, however, there are a few different lodge home styles and lodge home features you should know about. Are you ready?
What is a Lodge Style Home?
Lodge style homes are another style of log cabin, often set in a picturesque, natural landscape, that use natural materials to blend with the natural surroundings. Initially, these lodges were relatively small; however, today they can range from 1,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet or more, with all the modern conveniences one could want.
They start with a solid foundation, usually rock or concrete, and contain large, open spaces with lots of light. The ceiling may also have wood beams or logs.
Uses for Lodge Style Homes
There are many different uses for lodge-style homes besides being residential properties. Some of the many uses include:
Fraternal Organizations: Many fraternal organizations use lodges as a meeting place, where members can gather for meetings, social events, and ceremonies.
Hunting: Lodges are also commonly used for hunting lodges in rural or wilderness areas. They provide hunters with accommodations for storing and handling catches. Not to mention, they provide an outdoorsy environment for hunters to sleep.
Ski Lodges: Typically found near ski resorts, ski lodges provide easy access to slopes, warm fireplaces, and hot drinks for cold skiers.
Mountain Lodges: Found high up in the mountains, mountain lodges cater to those who love mountain sports and enjoy sightseeing and hiking.
Resort Lodges: These lodges are usually part of a larger complex and offer a range of leisure activities, from swimming to golf courses.
Eco-lodges: Eco-lodges are for environmentally conscious people who want luxury without harming nature. Here, they use sustainable practices throughout their operations.
Luxury Lodges: A luxury lodge offers upscale accommodations, top-of-the-line amenities, and a breathtaking backdrop.
Landscape and Weather Considerations
When planning to build a lodge home or looking for lodge-style homes for sale, it is important to consider the surrounding landscape and the area's weather conditions.
There are many potential landscapes on which to build a lodge: on the water by a lake, on a mountain, in the prairies, and even in the desert. Keep in mind: Each landscape provides its own challenges.
Mountains: While they provide pristine views, the slopes can cause foundation issues and make a new build more expensive. You also want to ensure you perfect the window placement; otherwise, they defeat the purpose.
Prairies: With these areas' extreme weather, you want to use the landscape to your advantage. Trees, for example, can protect from the winds and other elements.
Desert: The sun's UV rays can damage a lodge's exterior without the right treatment. You also need to ensure windows face the right way to avoid the sun at its brightest.
Lakeside: It is important that your lodge is situated appropriately to enjoy the views and withstand potential storms that come with lakeside living.
Each environment has different weather considerations, from the extreme heat of the desert to the cold top of a mountain.
For colder climates, you must insulate the floors and walls to ensure you stay warm during the winter months. In hotter temperatures, you want to ensure your build helps keep you cool–a light-colored roof is one way to do so.
Architectural Styles for Lodges
When planning a lodge home, the first step in creating lodge-style home plans is to choose an architectural style. Lodges come in many styles, including:
Traditional
Modern
French Country
Lodge/Western
Rustic Luxury
Craftsman
Traditional Lodge Style
Traditional lodge design focuses on the use of natural materials. Log siding walls with stone accents and other natural materials can be seen inside and out. The structure has large windows that allow light in while allowing you and your guests to enjoy the natural beauty outside. Interior elements include massive timbers, heavy metal fittings, high ceilings, and wood floors.
A traditional rustic lodge has the benefit of being full of timeless charm and character, with each bit of the lodge telling a story.
Modern Lodge Style Homes
Modern lodge style homes combine contemporary design elements with a traditional rustic lodge. There is an emphasis on clean lines and mixing materials. While the exterior may keep a rustic appearance with a modern lodge, homeowners may add a few modern touches, like metal railing around the porch.
Inside, you'll find smooth walls, just as you'd find in an ordinary house. These walls would have accents of stone and wood, stone on the fireplace, and wood beams on an equally smooth ceiling.
The benefit of designing modern lodge homes is that you're getting the best of both worlds: you get the rustic build of a lodge with the modern amenities you are used to. It will also allow for a more authentic lodge cabin experience.
Rustic Luxury
Like modern lodge home design, rustic luxury lodge homes combine traditional rustic design with elements of luxury. This means you'll find the same mix of stone and wood, with smooth walls on the interior. The luxury aspect comes largely from the furnishings: upscale cabinetry, appliances, lighting, and iron stair rails can all add the luxurious feel of a rustic luxury lodge. These lodges offer the same benefits as modern lodge homes: the rustic look of a lodge home with the interior of a modern, luxury home.
French Country Style Lodge Homes
French country design combines rustic elements with more refined pieces. The exterior may be predominantly stone, with wood column accents. The interior will have warm wood with high arching ceilings and stone accents. This style of lodge creates a warm, romantic feeling while adding a more European feel to the overall appearance.
Small Lodge Style Homes
Small lodge style homes can take on many styles in a scaled-down form. These lodge homes are great for a person or a couple who want a small space just for themselves. Small lodges are easier to maintain, especially if they are just vacation properties.
Ski Lodge Style Homes
Ski lodge style homes resemble French country-style lodges, with a stone facade, wood accents, and columns. The interior of a ski lodge can be modern or rustic, with timber framing in the ceiling, a stone fireplace, and other accents. Windows line the walls, giving you scenic views of the mountain day and night. There are many benefits of ski lodge style homes: enjoying the views, a cozy interior, and easy access to the slopes are just a few.
Mountain Lodge Style Homes
Mountain lodge style homes resemble traditional rustic lodges in many ways. The exterior
combines stone and timber, often featuring a grand timber archway to enter the house. Inside, you can find many similar features, with big, sturdy timber columns and stone archways that create a warm, inviting feel. A mountain lodge home blends with nature and creates an exceptional experience in a beautiful, inspiring setting.
5 Features Critical to Lodge Designs
Although each lodge has its own unique style, each lodge has a few features that are the same. Let’s take a look at a few of these different lodge style home features:
1. Log or Wood Facade
Lodge homes often have woof facades, either in the form of logs, beams, or slabs. It is one of the most notable features of the style and makes it unique, giving it a rustic appearance that can't be replicated with other materials.
2. Stone Accents
Stone accents are another notable feature that can add character and charm to the structure's exterior and interior. You can use it for the foundation, on walls, to create pillars, fireplaces, and many other features. Typically, lodge builders source their stone from nearby quarries for an additional layer of authenticity.
3. Large Windows
Lodges are meant to be romantic: mountains, rivers, lakes, and beautiful woodlands all make for a beautiful view to enjoy. It makes windows an essential part of any lodge.
4. Decks and Porches
When you aren't enjoying the views from the window, then you'll enjoy them from the deck or porch. These spaces add more character and provide additional living space, which allows you to enjoy the outdoors.
5. Roof Design
The roof design is critical for any home or building. You should combine standard gable roofs with shed dormers over porches for an authentic lodge home. You also want a steeply-pitched roof to prevent snow from collecting on its surface. A hip roof may be better if you prefer a more modern lodge aesthetic.
What Are the Most Common Roof Coverings for Lodge Homes?
The exterior facade of lodge homes is typically made of wood, using siding or logs. The roof should follow this trend to create a cohesive, rustic appearance. But you can also consider other materials. Options include:
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are the most common roof material on the market due to their inexpensiveness and availability. You can find them in basic 3-tab and more expensive architectural varieties. They come in various colors and patterns, lasting anywhere from 15 to 30 years. While popular, they are prone to cracking and lifting, particularly when subjected to extreme weather and temperature fluctuations. They also don't hold up well against hail.
Metal
Metal is a material that can withstand all types of weather and is available in many colors and styles. They can last 30 or more years without too much maintenance and are fairly durable. They can become dented from hail or other impacts and are also more expensive than asphalt shingles. Color-matching can also be difficult if you ever need to replace sections in the future.
Cedar Shakes
The most authentic option is also one of the most expensive ones. Cedar shakes perfectly complement the natural, rustic siding and come in various widths and thicknesses to add more dimension. Unfortunately, this beauty comes at a cost: cedar shakes require lots of maintenance to avoid mold and mildew. Some areas may not allow them if they aren't properly treated with fire-retardant chemicals. Cedar shakes can be painted or stained in various colors to give your lodge a more custom look.
Slate
Slate is another natural option that would complement a lodge perfectly. The natural stone provides a dark contrast, but the material is costly to buy and install. Slate is available in many natural colors, including blacks, grays, browns, reds, and greens.
Synthetic Composite Roof Tiles
Composite tiles provide durability and beauty and can take on the appearance of many materials, including cedar shakes and slate tiles. They have the added benefit of being lighter and less expensive to install than other metal, slate, and natural cedar shakes. The best part is that composite tiles do not require maintenance. These composite tiles are available in a wide range of colors, making it possible for a custom look.
Brava for Lodge Style Homes
Our composite tiles are the best in the material, with the look of many popular materials, but none of the disadvantages. This means you can install authentic-looking slate and cedar shakes on your lodge home without worrying about availability, weight, installation cost, maintenance, or repair.
Brava has synthetic cedar shakes, slate tiles, and Spanish Barrel tiles. They all have Class 4 impact ratings, Class A and C fire ratings, and a 50-year limited warranty. Our products are also 100% recycled and can be recycled again at the end of their lifespan, making them environmentally friendly and sustainable. Another benefit is the nearly unlimited color options.
Contact Brava today to learn more and get free samples of our products to see in person.
