The Barkely Family Home
Although they were happy living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Bill and Kay Barkley longed to call Prairie Oaks Ranch, their 5,000-acre working cattle ranch, home. Wanting to preserve what was already there, the Barkleys chose a Timberlake-style log home with similar design features such as square logs and dovetail notching.
The Barkleys worked closely with Hearthstone and general contractor Harold Tucker to build their single-level, 4,848-square-foot home crafted of eastern white pine logs. But it is inside where Southern hospitality and log-home grandeur are taken to a new level of sophistication with it’s elaborate and eclectic mix of old and new. River rock fireplaces in the formal and informal living rooms, numerous head mounts and beautifully worn furniture add to the rural charm.
One of the home's most unique features is the front door, which was salvaged from an old Irish castle. Kay discovered it at market in High Point, North Carolina. Weighing in at nearly 1,000 pounds, the door and its casing had to be set with eight-inch long steel bolts.
The home is positioned so that the back screened porch overlooks the valley and one of the property's many lakes. When the sun sets, lighted fountains in the lake turn on, creating the perfect ending to any day. “I wanted our home to have contrast,” shares Kay. “So many log homes reflect a ski lodge or they have a country or a Southwestern theme; I wanted my home to have a mix of everything.” And surprisingly, it all comes together beautifully.