Henry and Charlotte Yorke
TAKING SHAPE

The Yorkes chose 10-inch-diameter standing dead lodgepole pine logs for their 6,300-square-foot home’s shell. The interior sings with vibrancy and warmth, especially floors that are lined with Brazilian cherry wood. Mahogany cabinets and subtly stained white pine trim complement the rich honeycomb hues of the walls.

Furnishing a dozen rooms spread over three finished levels can be either a decorator’s dream or nightmare, depending on how simpatico the designer is with the client. The Yorkes’ home can truly be called a family effort; the design consultant happened to be Mike Gingras’ sister, Rebecca Duffy.

Rebecca fondly remembers the collaboration. “I had so much fun!” she says. “The owners’ philosophy was, ‘Let’s find unique things and make them our own.’ They thought the furnishings should be functional instead of showpieces, so we wound up with items like pillows with just the right amount of fluff. We did a ton of shopping together, always celebrating the art and artists of the furnishings. The goal was to find something that no one else had.”

One way to ensure that was to have Rebecca create some pieces on her own. “The owners wanted a home that the family could enjoy, so we did the girls’ bathroom with a design of dragonflies,” Rebecca recalls. The home’s entry door and garage doors are also Rebecca originals.

Rebecca sees the Yorke home’s decor as a reflection of the same old style/new capabilities combination found in its superstructure. “It’s a traditional home, but everyone was ready to make something that hadn’t been made before,” she says.

So, what does the future of log homes look like? The Yorkes’ classic log home with a modern edge just may provide a clue.