Are the logs that green? Most modern log cabins are composed of well seasoned or kiln dried or radio frequency dried material to maintain their size after construction. Otherwise it would be back to the frontier days and you'd be re-chinking the gaps that opened up between the logs every fall. Rent a moisture meter and check with the log home manufacturer....your logs' interior moisture should be below 17%. If not, a standard residential dehumidifier won't touch them for about a year. I've built a kiln drying shed and dried big timbers with fan forced heat and it took six weeks for the wood to reach 17% moisture content....at over 180 deg. F with continuous air flow and gaps around each timber. Stacked timbers become a mass unto themselves and without air flow on all sides can take many years to dry. If it is humid in the house, the more likely cause is drywall finishing, paint and tile work, all trades that introduce copious amounts of water to the interior environment. That would be mitigated by a dehumidifier.

hello bonnielynn75 and THANK YOU! your comment put a smile on my face re the red on the interior side of the door. It IS red on the inside as well, he insisted on that when we purchased it. no one here has it red on the inside and I wanted it to be white on the inside. do you see my dilemma?;) I agree with everything you are saying, I suppose this is the reason why so far I was not 100% sure about the black for the door either, although I like black...Agree, there is too much wall and I find the house to be looking a bit 'bland' and would like to change that. I LOVE shutters, but read somewhere that you never put shutters on wide windows, so got unsure about that, too...but perhaps just the one as I stated earlier. Would the color on that shutter be the same as the door (if I ever settle on a door color)? Unfortunately window boxes are not an option as we have quite a few cats and they may be used as litter boxes;) please don't tell me to get rid of the cats;)... Regarding the stoop (entrance) : we need to add another step (made of cement) on top of the existing step: it was removed when the new door was fitted. We were thinking of putting slate tiles or something dark to match the roof, if that makes any sense.... It is porous cement so unsuitable for painting, I think. What place in Ireland did you visit, we are close to the Irish Sea in the country surrounded by sheep;)...

I would suggest white cabinets with a dark grey Caesarstone counter. The splashback will be the variable with lots of options. This scheme is a lighter and more neutral alternative to the masculine dark grey. Both are great! Good luck, Mary

Well, you could certainly provide some counter height stools without adding onto the counter. I would make the stools simple ones that don't call attention to themselves. Look at how the ones below are there to be sat upon but there's no overhang. The height you will need is called a counter stool. Or you have space for 2 at each end of the island with just a big of an overhang. People just like a place to perch while they chat with you while you're cooking. White stools would blend right into the island and be inconspicuous.