2017’s BEST Home Plans

Natural Element Homes had a great 2017. As always, we’re eternally grateful for our talented staff, our passionate customers, and our evolving portfolio of products and services. A large segment of this evolving portfolio consists of home plans. In 2017, we saw a clear upward trend in our home plans and their online popularity. So, without further ado, let’s look at Natural Element Homes’ BEST home plans of 2017. This list features popular plans, plans with great photos, and our own personal favorites. Enjoy!

10. Lake Mills Retreat

Once a pick for Plan of the Week, the Lake Mills Retreat is an amazing hybrid timber frame home with an impeccable exterior finish and practical interior layout. Boasting over three dozen photos, the Lake Mills Retreat is among 2017’s most popular Natural Element Home plans. Click here to see its plan details page.

9. Ravens Nest North

As a member of the timeless Ravens Nest family of plans, the Ravens Nest North is Natural Element Homes’ latest incarnation of the popular plan family. Adorned with a beautiful heavy timber frame, the Ravens Nest North combines attractive finishes and functional features. Click here view its plan details page, with floor plans and more than 40 photos.

8. Shamrock Ranch

Also a featured Plan of the Week, the Shamrock Ranch is the culmination of collective efforts from master designer and architect, Jim Klippel, and veteran builder, Matthew Pethel. As one of several immaculate homes gracing the rolling hillsides of Belt, Montana, the Shamrock Ranch stands out among the rest as a wholly unique hybrid timber frame home. Click here to view the Shamrock Ranch plan details and its 30 photos.

7. Rocky Mountain Retreat

A gorgeous and unique barn-style timber frame home, the Rocky Mountain Retreat is an in-house favorite and among our most coveted aesthetic styles. Featuring a mountain-rustic interior, a generous screened-in porch, and amazing natural views, the Rocky Mountain Retreat puts a modern residential spin on a centuries-old concept. Click here to view plan details and photos.

6. Vista View Camp

The Vista View Camp is one of our most popular plans in 2017. With classic log home looks and conventions, the Vista View Camp is likely the ticket for those who love the classic log home aesthetic. The Vista View Camp project was supervised and completed by veteran Natural Element Homes Building Consultant, Bob Carper. Click here to see details and photos for the Vista View Camp.

5. Farmhouse Retreat B

In 2017, Natural Element Homes revived the farmhouse with rustic charm and modern building conventions. Although the Farmhouse Retreat B has received the bulk of the attention, we’ve created several Farmhouse Retreat variants, most of which are found in the Modern Farmhouse plan collection. We love this plan so much that we constructed one as our hybrid timber frame model home, located in Sweetwater, TN. Click here to see additional details and photos of the Farmhouse Retreat B.

4. Mountain View Lodge 2

The Mountain View Lodge plan family has been around for a long time… and for good reason! As one of our most popular plans, the Mountain View Lodge 2 has proven year after year to be among the most coveted log home styles. The Mountain View Lodge 2 boasts generous porch and deck space, a gorgeous window wall, and the cherished open-to-below space. Click here to see the Mountain View Lodge 2 plan details and photos.

3. Mount Olive Retreat

The Mount Olive Retreat perfectly embodies the Natural Element Home. Making significant use of our hallmark Natural Elements, the Mount Olive Retreat has proven to be a favorite among prospective buyers, time and time again. Click here to view the Mount Olive Retreat details and photos.

2. Big Chief Mountain Lodge

Comparatively speaking, the Big Chief Mountain Lodge is one of our newer plans. Although it has not been around long, the Big Chief Mountain Lodge has rocketed itself to the top of our Trending Plans list day after day. We receive a steady stream of inquiries regarding this iconic timber frame home plan, and we wrote a blog post to provide a little more detail about the plan. Click here to view details and photos for the Big Chief Mountain Lodge.

1. Lucky Man Ranch

It likely goes without saying, but Natural Element Homes’ best plan of 2017 was undoubtedly the Lucky Man Ranch. Merely calling this plan “popular” would be an understatement; this plan has received the lion’s share of attention from our customers. Designed by Jim Klippel and constructed by Matthew Pethel, the Lucky Man Ranch remains the finest example of Montana Ranch living that we’ve seen. We penned a detailed blog post about this legendary home, and it is available for rental. Click here to view more photos of the Lucky Man Ranch.