The Log Cabin is a 125 year old old cabin located on the 62 acre Het Landhuis estate. The Log Cabin was moved about 6 miles from its original location; it was an unused building that was about to be burned down. A symbolic price of 500 dollars was paid and no expense was spared to move and completely renovate this century old historic hand hewn log cabin. The outside the building was covered with old tiles, these were removed and all the chink in between the hand hewn logs was replaced.
The second floor was inaccessible and could not be walked on. The floor was reinforced with steel beams and a staircase had to be installed. A wrought iron rail from an old New York apartment building was reworked and serves as the hand rail. The original roof was tin with exposed beams; insulation and boards were added, leaving the unique beams in place. A bathroom was added to the structure, a difficult to find small claw foot tub was installed; the owner custom made the cabinet in which an old ceramic sink was built in.
To complement the overall feeling of the building, antique pieces were added. The living room wood stove is over a hundred years old; the round piece in the opposite corner is an antique refrigerator. In the old days ice was dropped in the top to cool the bottom part.
The structure is part of a private Dutch influenced estate that after 20 years of work is now opening its doors to the public.
Please download the Het Landhuis app for directions, additional pictures and more details about this unique property.
If you are looking for an upscale unique property in a quiet country setting this is the right choice for you.
Besides the Log Cabin there is the Pool Cobeana guesthouse available as well. This building can also be found on VRBO. The Pool Cobeana (not a misspelling but the combination of our two children's names) is beautifully situated overlooking a large pond with islands connected by a wrought iron bridge. The house has very unique features, from re-purposed chicken house interior tin ceilings to an outside oak bar at the pool. The house was built in 2005 using oak boards from a local sawmill. The tin ceilings were repurposed from a local chicken house; the upstairs and downstairs floor tiles were designed, cut and installed by the owners’ family. The bar in the kitchen was constructed using aged boards from the original Het Landhuis Barn across the street, prior to its demolition. (The current Het Landhuis Barn was reconstructed in 2004) The Cobeana bathroom sink was removed from a demolished Chatham County home and refurbished, the sink cabinet is custom made by the owners. The beds are antique and were given to the owners by family members.
Other buildings and features of the Het Landhuis Estate are described below:
The Het Landhuis Barn was constructed over a 2 year period and was finalized in 2004. The original barn was a smaller version of the present structure; unfortunately it was the only building that could not be saved on the Het Landhuis 62 acre property. However some original barn items were re-used successfully in the new structure. The sliding door to the back room upstairs is the authentic front door and railing and the bar tops both upstairs and downstairs are constructed from the old barn’s floor planks.
The barn was originally designed as a private entertainment area for the owners; it was designed to feel majestic and magical. Attention was given to the smallest details thereby offering a new surprise each time you visit. The downstairs area originally served as a garage, this was later changed into an additional entertainment area with a bar, imported antique European church door entrance, as well as custom made double wrought iron doors giving access to the foyer.
The foyer main entrance floor mosaic design represents the coat of arms of The Netherlands, the French words in the crest stand for We Will Survive. The mosaic was laid over a 2 month period by family members; additional mosaics can be found in the bathrooms upstairs; they are representative of the City of The Hague in Holland, the birth place of one of the owners.
Each of the three bathrooms represents a work of art; most items were repurposed and have been customized to create very special unique rooms.
Thick oak boards were brought in from a local saw mill to build the walls and floors; the iron work is designed by the owners and welded together by the father of one of the owners. Each piece is unique, the 12 foot iron double doors upstairs open up to the hallway leading to the back room of the barn. The back room originally was designed as an office, complete with a huge lion faced desk and magical throne chair. The crystal chandelier in the hall way was custom made in Slovakia and was shipped to Het Landhuis in 2008. The round 6 feet diameter iron chandeliers in the main room upstairs were designed, custom made and wired by family members. For fun a shiny disco ball was added.
The warming kitchen is very well designed and is equipped to service all events. Just outside the kitchen, behind the red door with the stained glass, is a 7 ft high humidor for fine cigars that will delight the pickiest cigar aficionado.
The fully equipped upstairs bar was designed to create a Dutch “bruin café” look; a place where you can relax and chat for hours. The downstairs bar was built with an iron tree as main focal point, the iron branches crawl out over the walls and ceiling.
The barn has authentic imported English stained glass windows, the 3 part stained glass entry door was imported from England. Other doors were purchased from surrounding homes in the area that were scheduled for demolition. By recycling them into their renovations and upgrades, Het Landhuis has found a way to preserve history.
The small other log building on the East Side of the Log Cabin is the oldest structure on the Het Landhuis property. It is over 150 years old and was originally used as a smoke house. The dilapidated structure was converted into a climate controlled wine room without changing anything on the outside. It houses collectible wines, as well as the Het Landhuis wine that is being produced from the scuppernong vineyard on the property.
The Het Landhuis vineyard is the oldest vineyard in Chatham County; for generations people have stopped by to taste the scuppernong grapes at harvest time. Het Landhuis has been making its own Het Landhuis wine every year; a labeled bottle is given to each patron as a gift of appreciation for choosing Het Landhuis as the venue for their event
Make a wish from the pool terrace and toss a penny into the wishing well which was constructed from the original well that used to service the estate. The eagle perched atop a large stone that overlooks the water was imported from Europe where it once overlooked the entrance of the owner’s childhood home.
Across the pond you will find the Het Landhuis cemetery; this family cemetery was built in 2002. It resembles old European cemeteries built of stone, wrought iron fencing, and majestic wrought iron entrance gates. All of the iron work was done by one of the owner’s father.
The cemetery was built to give Het Landhuis owners, their family, friends and significant contributors a final resting place. It consists of 4 parcels, the first and second parcels are dedicated to the owners and their immediate family; the 3rd parcel is reserved for people who have actually constructed and maintained the Het Landhuis buildings and grounds for the past 15 years; and the 4th and final parcel is dedicated to the owners’ circle of friends.
We welcome you to Het Landhuis, a magical place where you can still see the Milky Way at night and where the air is filled with the soothing sounds of nature.
