fFive years ago, Bruce and Mary Anna Edenfield looked into building a log home on a lake in Georgia where Mary Anna had vacationed as a child. The couple and their children spent time on the lake with family and friends to “test the waters.” In 2005, they took their vision to the next level and contacted Barna Log Homes to draw up plans for a lakeside retreat. “We had been looking in magazines, circling parts of pictures that we liked, and eventually attended a local log show where we met Jef Welch, a representative for Barna Log Homes, who immediately impressed us,” says Mary Anna. “We thought finding a knowledgeable log home builder might be difficult, but Jef has his own construction company and has built log homes for years. He then offered us a tour of his home,” adds Bruce. The Edenfield project took time and planning to get it right. They wanted optimal views of the water, easy access to the outdoors, and as much entertainment space as possible. They created their own unique plan that was then engineered to fulfill these requirements. They were able to site the home very close to the water’s edge because they built on the same footprint of a previous cabin that was razed. The central great room is 27 by 23 feet, with soaring wood ceilings and a wall of windows with two French doors that are just a few steps from the lakeshore. A 52-foot deck spans the back

This beautiful lakeshore (opposite) has attracted vacationers to this spot for more than 100 years. The original cabin on this lot was replaced with this thee-level log home that continues to provide restful days by the water.