When Craig and his family came to us, they already knew what they wanted: the open feel, cathedral ceiling, and two-wing layout of our popular Sunapee model. There was just one problem. At 1,648 sq ft, the Sunapee was bigger than they needed.

So we did what we've been doing for our customers since 1978. We customized it.

The result is "The Little Sunapee," a 1,300 sq ft ranch log home with all the character of the original, scaled down to a footprint that fit Craig's land, lifestyle, and budget. In our latest site visit video, Lia walks through the in-progress build, talks with the homeowner and builder, and shows exactly how a custom log home comes together from kit to finished home.

Watch the Full Site Visit

Watch on YouTube: The Little Sunapee Site Visit →

From the Job Site

A few snapshots from the build in progress. The two-wing layout, central brick chimney, and triangular gable windows are all unmistakably Sunapee, just at a smaller, more efficient scale.

The Little Sunapee under construction with the brick chimney rising through the center and triangular gable windows on either side Side view of the Little Sunapee during construction with scaffolding around the brick chimney Close-up detail of the brick chimney capstone meeting the pine ceiling soffit

What Makes the Little Sunapee Special

The Little Sunapee proves that "smaller" doesn't have to mean "less." Every feature that makes the original Sunapee one of our most beloved models is right here, just in a more efficient package.

At a glance:

  • 1,300 sq ft of single-story living
  • 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
  • Cathedral ceiling with exposed timbers in the great room
  • Two-wing layout for private, separated sleeping areas
  • Open-concept kitchen and great room
  • Ranch-style with no stairs, perfect for retirement, vacation, or full-time living

The cathedral ceiling with its exposed timbers is the showstopper. It floods the great room with natural light and gives the home that unmistakable log home warmth, the kind of space that makes you exhale the moment you walk in.

A Stress-Free Build, Straight from the Homeowner

One of our favorite moments from the site visit happens when Lia sits down with Craig, the homeowner. We won't spoil it, but Craig has built before, and his honest take on the Merrimac experience says it better than we ever could.

"This has been the most stress-free build ever. The house is perfect for us. It's excellent quality. They've been very accommodating, and every request we've made for the house has been taken care of." Craig, Merrimac Customer

That's the kind of feedback we work for.

What the Builder Has to Say

We also caught up with Darrell, the builder constructing the Little Sunapee. Darrell has built log homes across New Hampshire and throughout New England for years, and he's worked with a lot of different log home companies.

"They have the best log placement and the milling of their logs. It's amazing. They sit nice and flat. They go together nice and smooth. The layout is spot on with all the windows. It's an easy product to work with." Darrell, Builder

When builders compliment your product, that's a quality signal money can't buy.

How Customization Actually Works at Merrimac

Here's something a lot of people don't realize when they start exploring log homes: every Merrimac model is a starting point, not a final answer. Our designs are popular because they work, but we know your land, your family, your view, and your budget are unique. That's why we offer full custom modification on any model we build.

Common customizations we handle every day:

  • Scaling a footprint up or down (just like we did for the Little Sunapee)
  • Adding or removing bedrooms, bathrooms, or wings
  • Changing the roofline, porch configuration, or window placement
  • Combining elements from two different models
  • Adapting the design for sloped lots, lakeside views, or wooded settings
  • Designing fully custom plans from scratch

You bring the vision. Our design team brings 45+ years of log home expertise to make it real.

The Merrimac Difference: Full Project Management

A custom log home is one of the biggest projects you'll ever take on. We don't think you should navigate it alone, and you won't have to.

When you work with Merrimac, you get more than a log home kit. You get a full project management team that supports you through:

  • Design and planning, including custom modifications
  • Financing coordination with your construction loan bank
  • Builder selection and ongoing communication with your build team
  • On-site support throughout the entire construction process

We stay with you and your builder from the first design sketch to the day you walk through the front door. That's the Merrimac guarantee.

Family-Owned, Mill-Direct, Since 1978

Merrimac Quality Log Homes is family-owned and operated, milling and shipping log home packages from our facility in Henniker, NH. We ship nationwide, and because we're mill-direct, you're not paying for a middleman markup. You're paying for the logs, the craftsmanship, and the support, nothing extra.

We specialize in:

  • Custom log home design
  • Ranch log homes
  • Hybrid log homes
  • Tiny log homes

Ready to Customize Your Dream Log Home?

If watching the Little Sunapee come to life made you imagine your own version, we'd love to help you build it. Whether you want to modify one of our existing models or design something completely custom, the first step is simple.

Your dream log home is closer than you think. Let's build it together.

Lia Jackson
Director of Sales & Project Management

Lia is the project quarterback at Merrimac Quality Log Homes, the bridge between homeowners and the architects, engineers, builders, and designers who bring a log home from sketch to handed-over keys. She writes about the design process, the project management craft, and the lessons that only show up after dozens of projects.

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