I have a unique story of the “accomplishments of an art major” that I would love to share with you. I salvage, rebuild, renovate and restore 1800s log cabins. I have been doing this crazy hobby turned passion turned career for almost 20 years now. What started as one log home on the lake for our family has turned into a much, much bigger thing than I ever could have imagined. In the Fall of 2015, I had the pleasure of having Mark Bowe and his crew of amazing craftsmen build an addition onto one of my cabin projects. This collaboration set in motion for me an 8 year working relationship with Magnolia Network's Barnwood Builders! A shared passion for preserving the past and rebuilding these amazing reclaimed structures for the generations to come is our common goal. I have had a blast designing from scratch structures that they have built from individual reclaimed logs and beams and re-designing authentic existing 1800's structures for more functional modern living. I redesign and help create modern homes into the timeless exteriors of the old log cabins that Barnwood Builders save from destruction. Working with these guys has been an absolute blast. Our work goes hand in hand and I am proud to be a part of their Barnwood "family".
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For a look at some of the projects I have done with Barnwood Builders, check out some of these episodes
Season 3, Episode 7
Building a Double Pen Log Vacation Rental
The Barnwood Builders work with one of their most passionate and knowledgeable clients yet. Together, they build a huge double pen log cabin on a platform 13 feet off the ground. This will be the master suite on a high-end vacation rental. Mark builds the outside. Karen designs the interior.
Season 5, Episode 4
Out of the Ashes: Rebuilding in Gatlinburg, TN
Mark and the guys travel to Gatlinburg, TN, to replace a log home lost in the 2016 wildfires. They bring with them the Beam Cabin they built on the yard last year, but it's no easy feat to move these massive logs up a narrow mountain pass.
Designer Karen Tillery works with Mark to renovate on the fly.
Season 6, Episode 1
Fancy Cabin Takedown in Minor Hill
Mark Bowe and his crew work through layers of architectural history to uncover an original pioneer home in Minor Hill, Tennessee, and they hear stories from family members who lived in the cabin. Mark also visits a beautifully restored log home with its own extensive family history.
Season 6, Episode 2
Log Castle in Cave Spring, GA
The Barnwood Builders turn one of the biggest barns they've ever saved into an even bigger home. They work through sweltering heat to transform the Ohio double-pen barn into a huge log home in Cave Spring, Georgia. Mark also visits a small log cabin with a lot of charm and gets his first look at the completed Alabama dog trot the guys stacked for a client.
Season 7, Episode 8
Modern Mansion Makeover
The Barnwood Builders give a modern mansion a complete log cabin makeover complete with log skins and a stacked log entryway. The pressure is on, however, as this home will act as the centerpiece for an entire log cabin community. Mark then tours a completely restored and redesigned pioneer cabin that was moved in one piece.
Season 7, Episode 9
Alabama Lake House
The Barnwood Builders fight through mud and heat to turn the salvaged Shaver House from West Virginia into a two-story lake house in Alabama. Mark experiments with new construction products, and everyone ends up in the lake.
Team Barnwood
Barnwood Builders: Season 10, Episode 6
The Barnwood Builders restore a cabin with major challenges; Mark visits the finished log skin mountain home designed by Karen Tillery; Katherine Shelton works at the boneyard blacksmith shop and Alex makes a table from salvaged floorboards.
Season 10, Episode 17
The Design Special
Over the years, the Barnwood Builders have worked with Karen Tillery to transform cabins and barns all over the country. Now, Mark and Karen visit several log homes that have been finished to perfection.
Season 12 Epsiode 1
Design Drama
In the hills of Alabama, the Barnwood Builders take on their most-complicated build ever to create a monster-sized wedding pavilion dreamed up by designer Karen Tillery. It's the perfect marriage of wood and steel!
Season 12, Episode 4
Cabin On a Cliff
The Barnwood Builders climb the Alabama mountains to build a cabin for designer Karen Tillery, but the jobsite becomes a big challenge that forces the crew to dig into their bag of tricks. Mark Bowe visits a pre-Civil War log house he saved with his son.
Season 13 Episode 2
Lakeside Log Cabin
The Barnwood Builders stack a double pen log cabin on the shores of Lake Guntersville; working with their favourite designer, Karen Tillery, the guys help transform a 1970s ranch house into a rustic lakeside retreat.
S14 E6 – Not in this one due to Covid travel restrictions but I designed this project
Paris Puzzle
The Barnwood Builders head to Paris, Texas, to turn an 1800s cabin into a bridal suite, but they suffer a setback when most of the logs are missing tags. Mark and Teeshawn explore the Texas countryside, and the guys visit an extraordinary blacksmith shop.
Season 15 Episode 8
Barnwood Village
Mark Bowe and his designer Karen Tillery take steps to realize his dream of building a small village of finished antique structures in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
S14 E7 - Not in this one due to Covid travel restrictions but I designed this project
Lone Star Chapel
The Barnwood Builders return to Paris, Texas, to build a one-of-a-kind timber frame wedding chapel. Later, the guys get a motocross demo from a professional rider and visit a log chapel they helped build in Virginia to celebrate its 250th anniversary.
S15 E2
Lakeside Log Cabin
In Langston, AL, the team stacks a double-pen cabin on the shores of Lake Guntersville. Then, they work with their favorite designer, Karen Tillery, to transform a 1970s ranch house, but working next to a lake creates obstacles for the boom truck.
S15E6–
Ballard Cabin: The Whole Story
Mark tells the story of how the team salvaged a pre-Civil War cabin. (This is the office at Burns Bluff)
S16E8–
Barnwood Village
Mark Bowe takes steps to realize his dream of building a small village of finished antique structures behind the showroom in White Sulphur Springs, WV. He and designer, Karen Tillery, focus on the first structure -- a cabin made of factory beams.
S18E2–
Mountaintop Masterpiece
The guys head to Alabama to build a log cabin guest house atop a mountain.
Season 19 now available on MAX
S19 E2 - Community Building
The guys head to Canaan Valley, West Virginia for the largest commercial project they've ever built. Working with massive timbers, they make an intricate post and beam structure. And Mark meets the team who will make this place a wellness center and spa.
S19 E3 - Topping Out
The Barnwood Builders return to Canaan Valley, WV to finish the biggest commercial structure they’ve ever built -- a two-story, post and beam wellness center with heavy duty steel brackets and intricate scissor trusses inspired by a local church.
S19 E12 - Gratitude
Mark and the guys complete Barnwood Village with a modular unit that needs their rustic touch. Along the way, the guys reflect on their long journey together traveling the country, saving history, and making friends.