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For Annabelle, this home was never just about having somewhere to live. It was about staying connected to the land she loved, honouring her father’s legacy and creating a home that could support the next chapter of family life.
Two years on, Annabelle and her son Jordan are settled in their Norwegian Log home, surrounded by the land that has shaped so much of their family’s story. What was once part of a busy farm, filled with horses, stables, barns and years of family memories, is now a peaceful home designed around independence, flexibility and togetherness.
“It is a dream come true,” Annabelle says. “Sometimes I have to remind myself how lucky I am.”
A Deep Connection to the Land
Annabelle’s father owned the original property, a five-acre farm where the family had spent many years living and working. When he passed away, Annabelle and her brothers inherited the land.
For Annabelle, leaving completely was never what she wanted. She had worked on the farm, run a livery yard and raised her family there. The connection was practical, emotional and deeply personal. After part of the land was sold for development, Annabelle used her inheritance to buy the remaining two and a half acres.
“I wanted to stay on the farm,” she explains. “My father always wanted me to stay, so I’m happy about that.”
Designing a Home for Real Family Life
Annabelle had first looked at Norwegian Log many years earlier, when her children were younger. At the time, the circumstances were not right. But once the land was hers, the idea came back. From the beginning, Annabelle knew she wanted a home that worked for her family as it really was.
Her children were grown up, but still needed flexibility. Jordan, a musical theatre performer and dance teacher, needed a place he could come back to between work, teaching and travel. Her eldest son was also living at home at the time, saving for his own future.
So Annabelle designed the home in two halves. One side would be hers. The other would give her sons their own space, privacy and independence.
That balance was important. The home needed to allow family life to continue, but without everyone feeling on top of each other. Jordan agrees.
“That’s the best thing about the way the house is set up,” he says. “Mum’s got her half, I’ve got my half, and we both have our own space.”
A Home that Changes with Them
One of the most valuable parts of the design was the ability to plan for the future.
When the home was first designed, one room was created as a study. Annabelle and the Norwegian Log team discussed the possibility of turning it into a kitchen later if the family ever wanted to make Jordan’s side more self-contained. Now, two years on, that option is becoming useful.
Jordan is often away for work, travelling to places such as America and Germany to teach, perform and support dance students. But when he is home, having his own independent space makes sense.
“It works perfectly,” Annabelle says. “He can live here, save up and still have his independence. He might live here forever, I don’t know, but it works really well for us.”
For Jordan, the home is both practical and peaceful. His work is busy, physical and often full-on. Coming home to the cabin gives him space to reset.
“A lot of my friends are living in London in tiny flats,” he says. “Here, it’s lovely and tranquil. It feels like coming back to your own sanctuary.”
The generous ceiling heights also make a difference. As a dancer and teacher, Jordan can move furniture aside and use the living space for teaching preparation, stretching and practice.
“I can do my jumps without worrying about the ceiling,” he says.
Warm, Comfortable and Full of Character
Two years later, Annabelle still loves living in the granny annexe. She talks about the smell of the wood, the warmth of the space and the way the home feels solid, natural and calm.
“I honestly think everyone should experience living in a log home,” she says.
The home performs well throughout the year. In winter, Annabelle often relies on the wood burner and rarely needs to use the radiators.
“When the sun comes through the windows, it warms the whole space beautifully,” she says. “Even in winter, I often don’t need the heating on at all.”
A New Chapter, without Losing the Past
The land around the home is still evolving. What was once a field, vegetable patch, sand school and livery yard is slowly becoming garden, outdoor space and a new family setting. The old life has changed, but it has not disappeared.
Annabelle’s eldest son still runs his company from the property. Another family pony may return. The family still uses the land, walks the dog through the back gate and enjoys access to nearby National Trust countryside.
For Jordan, it feels like the next stage of the family legacy.
“It’s gone from being something my granddad built up on the property to something my brothers and I are now continuing,” he says. “It feels like the next stage of the legacy.”
That was always part of Annabelle’s hope. She wanted to keep the land not just for herself, but so her children could continue to feel connected to it too.
A Home that Made Staying Possible
For Annabelle, the Norwegian Log home gave her a way to stay where she belonged.
It allowed her to remain on the land her father loved. It gave Jordan independence while keeping family close. It created a practical, beautiful and flexible home after years of upheaval and change. The farm may look different now, but the connection remains.
The past has not been lost. It has simply become part of something new.
“We’re creating new memories.” Annabelle says.
And after two years of living in her Norwegian Log home, that is exactly what this place has become: a warm, peaceful family home, rooted in legacy and ready for the future.
