Double the Delight: A Family's Two-Log Home Love Story

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Nestled in a peaceful corner of her parents’ large, leafy garden near Marlow sits Sally Swift’s brand-new, three-bedroom log home. Just a stone’s throw away, at the top of the garden, stands her mother Gillian’s beloved log cabin, a cherished craft room that Gillian bought from Norwegian Log a remarkable 25 years ago.

“My parents always talked about building in their garden. Because Mum’s log cabin has been such a success and a real part of our lives for so long, and they already knew and trusted Norwegian Log, it just seemed like the sensible and almost inevitable choice for Sally too,” Sally laughs warmly.

The family property is located within the stunning Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making planning permission for a traditional brick and flint cottage for Sally highly unlikely. However, knowing that Norwegian Log’s homes are transportable, they were confident they had found the perfect solution. As the new lodge would be for a member of the family and situated within the garden curtilage, Norwegian Log expertly helped them obtain a Certificate of Lawful Use, setting the build project in motion.

“I’d been renting locally and was pouring all my salary into rent. I was working constantly, and it was becoming quite a struggle,” Sally explains candidly. “This new home has taken so much financial pressure off. I obviously still contribute, but it’s much more manageable now, especially as I have a very understanding landlady – who also happens to be my mum, and with whom I enjoy dinner a couple of times a week!”

Sally, who has two adult children, has thoughtfully tweaked the interior layout of the stylish new cabin to include three comfortable double bedrooms, a convenient shower room, an extra toilet, and a spacious, welcoming kitchen/dining and living area. Her new home, finished in a sophisticated dark exterior hue, sits snugly in what was once her parents’ large, fenced vegetable patch.

“When I look out of the window, what’s not to love?” Sally exclaims with delight. “It’s tucked away, completely secluded, utterly silent at night, and I can listen to the wonderful sounds of the owls and the bats. It truly feels like being on holiday. We have a family beach hut, and staying here reminds me so much of being there. It’s just marvellous.”

Switching from private rental to her new log cabin has empowered Sally to pursue new and fulfilling career goals. Instead of juggling a tiring teaching role with weekend work at a local café, she is now working part-time at the café, dedicating more time to writing books and narrating audiobooks. And she’s also readily available to support her mum Gillian whenever needed.

“She was paying so much in rent, so it seemed like the most sensible and loving thing to accommodate her in the garden,” Gillian explains with a caring smile. “Because we knew we wouldn’t be able to get planning permission for a brick and flint cottage, we turned to Norwegian Log, and Nick assured us he could help. We had dealt with Norwegian Log before, after all, my log cabin from them is now a testament to their quality, standing strong after 25 years.”

Located conveniently next to her house, Gillian’s log cabin has been transformed into a wonderful craft room. “I used to be a textiles teacher, so it’s now my dedicated sewing studio. It even has a toilet, so we also use it as a changing room for our swimming pool,” she explains. “I truly wouldn’t want to be without it.”

Two beautiful log cabins, built a quarter of a century apart, providing comfort, connection, and lasting solutions for two generations of the same loving family, built to endure for many more decades to come.