As a student at the University of Texas School of Architecture, Greg was inspired by the legendary architect Frank Loyd Wright and his vision of organic architecture. Wright described his philosophy this way: "A building should appear to grow easily from its site and be shaped to harmonize with its surroundings." This philosophy describes Greg's log cabin tiny house, the Stanley.
Greg came up with the idea to build a log cabin tiny house while he was traveling through Idaho. He visited the small town of Stanley, which lies in the Sawtooth Mountains along the Salmon River. Old log cabins still exist throughout the area. The beauty and buildings of this place influenced his design for the home he named after the town. It's a home in harmony with its natural surroundings.
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The Stanley is built on an 8-by-12-foot single-axle trailer, and its weight ranges from 4,800 to 7,000 pounds. The weight depends on the type of logs and other options.
The porch and eaves fold up to make the house safe to transport on the highway. When lowered, the eaves provide drainage for rain and snow.
Greg found these elk antlers in the forest. He added them for decoration and for a place to "hang stuff."
Beetle-kill spruce logs make up the exterior. The large tongue and groove design adds structural strength. Lining up the logs precisely was difficult, but after many hours of hard work, Greg created a strong base for the rest of the home.
The kitchen contains a sink, double-burner cooktop and two-door refrigerator. Storage space abounds—shelves in the living room and in the kitchen cabinets are made from reclaimed wood.
Greg made the beautiful countertop from maple slabs he found in a salvage yard. He loves the live edge: "It is cool! You can see where insects burrowed in and left squiggly marks."
The floors are made from beetle-kill spruce laid out in a tongue and groove pattern. Two coats of natural tung oil provide extra protection.
Greg wanted even the shower to reflect the beauty of a log cabin. Rather than a standard shower enclosure, he mounted sheets of plexiglass and sealed the corners with clear silicone.
Large windows allow the light and the outdoor view to permeate the space inside.
The rustic, cozy upstairs sleeping loft is an ideal spot to rest after a day in the woods. The window provides plenty of natural light.
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As a log cabin tiny house, the Stanley looks like it belongs in the countryside and allows a natural connection to the outdoors. Greg offers his own perspective on organic architecture: "When you decide to shrink your house, the world around it somehow becomes bigger, and you become more in tune with it. There is a lot less house to look at, and much more nature."