Linda and Mike Katskee
Lure of the Lake

Wood takes center stage in the home. “This entire home is made of full-round, Eastern white pine logs and paneling,” Mike says. “There isn’t a piece of drywall anywhere, not even inside the closets.” To prevent the wood from becoming overpowering, the couple opted for plush carpets in the bedrooms and living room. They installed tile in all of the bathrooms, the main-level walkway, the kitchen and the dining room.

Perhaps because they also owned a small log cabin in Canada that Mike had used as a fishing retreat for the past 42 years, he and Linda aspired to create the cabin look when they decorated their new vacation home. They purchased most of the furniture in earth tones specifically for their log home, including several pieces fashioned of logs and twigs by Alex Buderer of Bears To Chairs in nearby Shell Knob. They also perused craft shops in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for antiques and added log-patterned quilts from several different artisans. Artwork by Terry Redlin and nature and wildlife photographs by Thomas Mangelsen complete the décor.

Although Linda admits she only cooks when she has to, she has General Electric Profile stainless-steel appliances at her disposal. The Katskees much prefer to grill outdoors on their deck, especially when they are entertaining, or to sample the cuisine at the area’s many restaurants.

Since Mike is semi-retired and Linda is fully retired, the couple is able to spend long weekends at their vacation cabin almost every other week, even in the winter. The drive from their permanent residence in Omaha, Nebraska, takes six hours, which they agree is quite doable.

Mike augment the existing 84 cedar, oak and walnut trees with additional cedar trees, enlisting Ralph Smith of Yardsmith, whom Mike calls a visionary when it comes to landscaping. Ralph selected plants that would adapt well to the climate and that the deer would leave alone, such as holly and barberry bushes. “We have an abundance of wildlife here,” Mike explains. “It isn’t uncommon to see turkey, fox, deer, mink and herons. We put up a feeder to attract the hummingbirds because we enjoy watching them.”

With plenty of sights and activities in the area, Mike and Linda are never at a loss for something to do. They might spend their leisure time boating on the 43,100-acre lake, browsing through the unique shops in Eureka Springs or taking in the shows in Branson.

The Katskees are so pleased with the home and the work of Timberoc Construction that they allow Rob and Brad to show their home to prospective clients. Their home was also selected for the cover and inside pictures Real Log Homes’s 2006 calendar.

But it’s more than a showpiece. It’s truly a home. “We love it here. There’s no one in near proximity, and there isn’t any noise from automobiles like we hear in Omaha,” Linda says. “Eventually we plan to spend at least half of our time here when Mike is fully retired. This is a quiet and peaceful place where we can be together.”

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