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Warren Summers is a police officer. For quite some time now, he’s wanted a place in the country where he can work on developing his DIY skills and become more self sufficient. About four years ago he and his wife Veronica bought a 12 acre tract in a rural area. The couple researched all kinds of options for their weekend getaway, but settled on our cabin shells. With their Ulrich sales consultant’s  help, they selected two Retreat Cabin Shells: 16×32 ft and 12×32 ft. Besides looking great and being cost effective, they liked the idea that they could finish out the interior of the cabin shells themselves in order to achieve the look they want. They positioned the cabins parallel to each other, and they are now building a room that will connect the two cabins. The Summers don’t have any building experience, but they’re not letting that get in the way. Instead, with the help of some power tools and Youtube, they jumped right into framing the connecting room. Pictured: Warren & Veronica, Maria (Grandma), Warren the 4th, and Wesley. #WarrenSummers

When Guy Reeves isn’t working, he likes to have fun! Guy does his working and playing in three week blocks. As you may have guessed, he works on an offshore drilling ship. When I asked Guy what he does when he’s home, he said he plays. Gatherings with family and friends happen frequently, and Guy likes to fire up the grills and let the good times roll. Recently, Guy and his wife Kristie decided to downsize. Before, they lived on a two acre property. Now they are in their new home in a suburban neighborhood. But just because they are on a smaller property doesn’t mean they don’t intend to keep enjoying life! While some people use the backyard shed as a man cave, Guy is opting to convert his garage into a mancave. He needed some storage space, however, so that he can clear out his garage. Not only did he want some storage space, but he wanted a workshop as well. Whether it’s repairing a bar stool with his welder, or making a wooden shelf for his DVD player, Guy likes to keep tools on hand for DIY projects. So, he started looking for a shed for his backyard. First he did some research online, then he hit the pavement in search of the perfect building. He wanted to find a quality building that would look good in his backyard. “I want something that’s gonna last,” he said. He wasn’t sure exactly what size he wanted, but with an Ulrich Shed Consultant’s help, he settled on a 12×20 Rancher Cabin Shell. This cabin shell’s design will allow him to put storage items in the dual lofts, and use the main floor as his workshop and tool storage space. Guy’s new building is 12 ft wide, which is far too large to fit through his backyard gate. To solve that problem, he selected our on-site build option. That way he didn’t have to remove any sections of fence to accommodate delivery. Essentially, Guy is adding space to his house, by adding a cabin shell in the backyard. It makes a lot of sense when you consider how impractical and expensive a home addition would be. With his new storage space/workshop in place, Guy can empty the garage, convert it into his man cave, and party like a pro! #GuyReeves

As you get into late retirement, you need to make some important decisions. What kind of housing can I afford? If I need care, where will I live? Should I choose a nursing home, assisted living community, or move in with my kids so they can keep Dad close? About four years ago, Leroyce Burchfield and his wife were in the process of building a new 3000 sq ft home. Before they finished building their home, Leroyce’s wife passed away. Now in his eighties and widowed, Leroyce didn’t want a large home to maintain. At the suggestion of his son Larry, they came to our factory to check out our log cabins. Larry and Leroyce liked what they found, and settled on the Bear Lake cabin–our one bedroom model that includes a kitchen, bath, and living area. They placed the cabin on the same land as the larger home where Leroyce’s son Larry lives. This way Larry can keep his dad close should he need assistance. For Leroyce, it’s a great arrangement that lets him stay close to family. Its privacy without isolation. Leroyce really likes his cabin, although in retrospect he recognizes that a two bedroom model would be really nice. A little more space would make it easier to keep things organized and tidy. The living area is where he spends most of his time. He has it outfitted with a giant TV screen, a nice recliner, and a desk for his eschatology research and web browsing. “I enjoy it,” says Leroyce. “Real nice, real nice.” #LeroyceBurchfield #BearLakeCabin #Lateretirement #InLawSuite

In a time when much of what we buy comes from across the ocean and is shipped to our door by Amazon or Wal-mart, Ulrich sheds are still made by hand. Whether in our factory, or built on-site in our client’s backyards, we depend on skilled craftsmen to deliver the quality that we promise to our customers. Bob Holtman is one of those craftsmen. He builds our sheds in backyards. In fact, now 62, Bob probably has more hands-on construction experience than almost anyone else with Ulrich. Bob credits his work ethic to summers spent with his grandpa in Florida, working at his grandfather’s hotel. In those early teen years, Bob learned the rhythm of working hard early in the day, and then enjoying some fun after the day’s work was done. So what’s unique about Bob? One is the steadiness of his career path. He began framing right out of high school. And in all the years since, that’s what Bob has continued to do. How many 62 year old framers do you know? Yeah, I thought so. Secondly, Bob works alone. Not alone as in “sit in the truck while the young guys put up the building.” No, Bob puts up each Ulrich building with his own two hands, without a helper. Whether it’s moving heavy beams into a backyard, or lifting heavy walls into place, Bob does it himself. He uses a combination of sheer brawn and smart technique to get the work done efficiently on his own. And Bob isn’t limited to small buildings. One of the largest buildings that he built by himself was 22 ft wide and 64 ft long. Bob has worked as a contractor for other companies in the past, but Ulrich stands out as unique in his mind. With other companies, he’s felt the ups and downs of the construction market. Ulrich’s growth, however, has provided very steady work for him over the last four years. This is great for Bob. With his two boys now on their own, and his wife working as well, this is prime time for building his retirement savings. Bob can complete small to medium sized sheds in one day. Large sheds and cabin shells may take two or three days. On average, he completes three buildings each week! Maybe we shouldn’t call him Bob the Builder. We should call him Bob the Incredible. Thanks Bob for working hard and constructing wonderful buildings for our customers! #BobHoltman

Roger and Jill Graham purchased six acres outside of Austin, Texas about five years ago, dreaming of building a guest home for family and friends. Looking into plans for building a custom home, the price was too steep. They found Ulrich Cabins in an internet search for custom home builders. When the Grahams brought the house plans to our team, our designers turned those plans into their dream cabin, customizing every part of the 24×26 ft Moose Creek cabin, down to the location of electrical outlets. Jill says their Ulrich designer Johnny Salazar looked for ways “to get to ‘yes'” to their requests. Jill and Roger added extra windows in the kitchen and living room for a light, airy feel. The cabin is finished with gray Hardie style siding and white trim. The window in the front door sports a Texas star. During the build, Ulrich Cabin sent updates and photos from the production team. The Grahams went back to the factory to give the nearly completed cabin the final approval. “The design of the Moose Creek appealed to us because we liked the higher ceiling with the dormer windows,” Jill says. The main room is paneled with white-washed pine. The bedroom is big enough for a queen bed as well as a stackable washer and dryer. Roger appreciated that the cabin was not built on-site.  This eliminated construction mess on their land. “It just shows up one day, and they piece it together,” he says. “And it’s done.” #MooseCreekCabin #paintedcabin #RogerandJillGraham

Ever since vacationing in Colorado years ago, Julie has dreamed of  having her own retirement cabin. After retirement from her teaching position, Julie decided to move closer to her daughter and sister in the Bryan, TX area. Before she retired, Julie had a 3 bedroom home in San Angelo, but she decided she really didn’t need a large home in Bryan. She just needed enough space for herself and her dogs. Julie obsessed for months over the design of her retirement cabin. With Ulrich Design Consultant Tonya Johnson’s help, Julie settled on a 16×48 ft Ulrich Log Cabin. Julie loved touring the Ulrich cabin factory and seeing the cabins under construction. Located not far from Lake Bryan, Julie’s site was on a small paved road, and is nestled in dense forest. Julie had the land cleared and the needed utilities installed in preparation for the cabin’s arrival. The cabin features a single bedroom and bath, a small kitchen, laundry, and a dining and living area. Julie wanted her porch to face the woods, rather than the road. She loves reading and relaxing on the porch, especially when it rains. Julie really likes the quality of the cabin. She’s had almost zero maintenance, and her highest electric bill has been $80. “Everyone that’s going to retire or needs a vacation home should go to Ulrich,” she says, “Because they will get you exactly what you want.” For Julie, living in her own cabin is a long time dream come true. #vacationhome #portablelogcabinsintexas #logcabin #Julie #retirementcabin

Richard and Debra Craig expected to retire next to a golf course. But one thing led to another, and they ended up developing 26 acres of raw forest near La Grange, Texas. They had their own little slice of paradise with space for grandkids. Family is super important to the Craigs. When they built their primary residence, they designed it with enough space for one of their daughters and her family to be able to spend time with them comfortably. However, when their other daughter and her family returned from overseas, they wanted to know where they would stay when hanging out on the Craig’s property. So the couple began shopping for a small cabin that they could bring in to accommodate an additional family.  In other words, space for the grandkids. Whether by chance or by destiny, Richard stumbled upon an Ulrich cabin in the area. He took a picture of the Ulrich brand insignia on the cabin. He went home and researched our company, and liked what he saw. Richard and Debra made the several hour trip to our factory in Cleburne to see our cabins in person and talk to one of our Ulrich Cabins design consultants. They settled on a 14×34 Homestead, complete with a full kitchen and two bedrooms. The bedroom space for the grandkids features a set of bunk beds. A day bed in the main living area makes so that the cabin can accommodate a total of five people. Also, their bathroom has a bathtub to accommodate the younger children. The Craig’s had just completed building their primary residence with a traditional home builder.  The couple loved how much easier it was to work with Ulrich. “I don’t normally give anybody 5 stars,” says Debra, “But from the very beginning to the end, everything Ulrich represented themselves to be, you know, was actually what it was.” Every commitment they made to us, they met,” says Debra. #RichardandDebraCraig

Les and Cindy Yoakum were burning a brush pile on their land in rural west Texas. Noticing the view, they thought it would be neat to have a cabin with a porch. As they looked into log cabin kits, they found Ulrich Log Cabins online. Cindy says, “They had the best website, and they had the best cabins going, and they were near enough we could drive there.”  As a general contractor for 49 years, Les wanted to see how Ulrich cabins were built. He was impressed by the solid framing. Cindy and Les did not want to cut down any of their trees to bring the cabin in, so they chose a 16×40 cabin. The original floor plan had two bedrooms, but they put a loft over the kitchen and eliminated the second bedroom. This meant the cabin was small enough it could be brought in between their trees. Cindy says, “It’s a good weekend size, and it’s functional.” Ulrich Log Cabins are very customizable. Cindy liked having so many options, with choices of floor plan, interior finishes, wood stains, lighting, and more. Working with cabin designer Brian, she says, the Yoakums got exactly what they wanted. Les was happy to buy the cabin ready-built from Ulrich Log Cabins because it was less expensive than he could build it himself. The Yoakums added decorative stone to the cabin’s foundation, as well as concrete walks. They furnished the cabin with rustic furniture. Their grandchildren enjoy sleeping in the loft over the kitchen. The cabin porch faces west, overlooking a small pond. Les and Cindy love to sit on the porch, drinking sweet tea, watching the sunset, and listening to the coyotes and frogs—the perfect way to end their day. #LesandCindyYoakum

After Dave and Jane Slater retired, they looked for a hideaway, a vacation spot. They found 36 acres of land near Milano, Texas and wanted a secluded cabin to put on it. The Slaters’ wanted a well-built cabin for themselves, their children, and their future grandchildren. They found Ulrich Log Cabins online. When they toured the Cleburne factory, they could see the quality of the cabin construction.  It was exactly what they wanted. With the type of materials used, build quality, and Ulrich craftmanship, Dave says, “It’s the finest cabin I’ve been able to find out on the market.” Starting with a 16×36 Park model, the Slaters modified the cabin plans to suit their needs. They wanted a loft for extra space for children to sleep in. They also wanted more counter space in the kitchen and a bigger shower and bathroom. Their site was remote and hard to reach, but “Ulrich did what they said they were going to do. They did it on time, and every component of it was very professional,” Dave says. Visiting their cabin feels like camping—but with all the amenities. “It’s completely relaxing,” Jane says. “You can feel your blood pressure lower as soon as you get here.” The Slaters spend their time encouraging native plants and trees to grow on their land. “We’ve enjoyed it more than we ever expected,” Jane says. “We can’t go a week without coming out here.” Dave loves their cozy and peaceful cabin too. “It’s the smartest thing we’ve ever done,” he says. “It’s exactly what we wanted.” #DaveandJaneSlater #Parkmodelcabin

Joe and Kim, near retirement, decided to hunt for a better-suited property for themselves. While they haven’t reached retirement yet, they wanted to take advantage of the current housing market. Their goal was to both downsize and live in a more rural area. Finally, they found a property that they fell in love with. Being a semi-rural property, Kim can keep her horses only a few miles down the road. Being a little further from the Metroplex is not a problem.  Joe works for the FAA and is able to work from home a few days a week. At their new property, Joe wanted a workshop where he will be able to work on his motorcycle, four-wheeler, and lawn-mower, as well as his woodworking projects. Having to hang his tools on the wall of his previous garage, he was ready for something better, an Ulrich storage shed. After contacting Ulrich, he chose the 16×24 Texan. The loft provides plenty of storage space and allows him to keep the workspace below, roomy and organized. Additionally, he loved that the design of the shed didn’t dwarf his backyard. His lawn mower and ATV occupy the back section of the shed, and his tools neatly organized in the front. He added a step by the front-facing doors to allow easy foot access and placed a cedar ramp in the back for his ATV and mower. Joe was immediately impressed with the quality Ulrich offered, after shopping first at some of the large home improvement stores. He was surprised to discover that a comparable building from Ulrich actually cost less than it would have from a big box store. An Internet Sales Consultant at Ulrich, partnered with them to design their dream storage shed. After placing the order, Joe and Kim are extremely pleased with their new property, and Ulrich shed! #JoeHall

Many of our clients like for their new suburban garage to match the look and profile of their home. Mike McGough is no exception. In fact, a casual passerby might not even think his new garage is anything but a part of his original home. Mike’s home is in a suburban neighborhood. Rather than build a distinctly separate garage or shed in the backyard, Mike opted to simply extend his current garage, with only a breezeway separating the old and new sections. The garage is about 20 ft deep and 17 ½ ft wide, plus the 5 ft breezeway. The brick on Mike’s home is a unique, lightweight Chicago style brick manufactured in Mexico. Ulrich’s construction supervisor was able to locate the same type of brick, making the new garage an incredibly close match to the old. We poured a thick, 6 inch concrete slab, giving Mike the option of installing a car lift in the future. We installed two garage doors, one facing the street and one facing his backyard. That way, when Mike is working on a woodworking project, he can have a garage door open without exposing all his tools to people on the street who might be a little too interested. Mike is installing mineral wool insulation himself, and will eventually add electricity. Overall, Mike had a good experience with the Ulrich team, and is proud of his new, site built suburban garage. His next door neighbor approves of it too! #MikeMcGough

Campers love the log cabins from Ulrich for their family vacation stay at Jellystone Park. Life gets busy, and we often spend more time looking at our phones than talking with the people we love. At North Texas Jellystone Park in Burleson, they provide a place for families to make their own set of memories. “We want to bring families back together,” says Marcie Purviance, Marketing Manager. “A lot of people have never been camping,” she said. The campground provides a range of options, including tent sites, RV hookups, and premium log cabins from Ulrich. So whether you like to rough it, or if “glamping” is more your style, the park has you covered. I talked with Tori and Rebekah, teens who are staying in an Ulrich cabin with their mom for vacation. They thought the two-bedroom cabin was really nice, and they liked the fact that they could each have their own space. The park is kicking off its official summer season, with activities like paintball, laser tag, hiking, biking, and even the world’s largest swimming lesson. Summer is here. Take some time off to make some memories with the people you love most! #portablelogcabins #loghomesintexas #JellystonePark #logcabin