Hildebrandt’s Haven — An Award-Winning Florida Heart-Cut Cypress Log Home
Published by: Polk County Builders Association
Seven Awards at the 2026 Polk County Parade of Homes, Including Home of the Year
Some homes are designed to make an impression. Others are designed to stand the test of time. Hildebrandt’s Haven, a custom Heart-Cut Cypress log home by Log Home Guys in Bartow, Florida, was created with both goals in mind.
After many years of living in Louisiana, Thomas and Donna Hildebrandt made the decision to relocate to Bartow, Florida, to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Their move represented an opportunity to begin a new chapter surrounded by family while creating the custom log home they envisioned. They wanted a residence that combined the natural beauty of Cypress, traditional log-home character, modern conveniences, and thoughtful architectural design.
Working with Log Home Guys for custom design, engineering, and Heart-Cut Bald Cypress log-home manufacturing, and Hickman Homes as General Contractor, that vision became an exceptional Florida residence.
The completed project received seven awards at the 2026 Polk County Builders Association Spring Parade of Homes, including the prestigious Home of the Year recognition.
Cypress Log Home of the Year — 2026
Hildebrandt’s Haven, a custom Heart-Cut Bald Cypress log home designed, engineered, and manufactured by Log Home Guys, received the prestigious Home of the Year award at the 2026 Polk County Builders Association Spring Parade of Homes.
This award-winning Cypress log home earned seven awards, recognizing its exceptional architectural design, craftsmanship, and overall construction quality. Hickman Homes served as General Contractor, bringing the project to completion.
But the recognition tells only part of the story. Equally meaningful are the experiences shared publicly by the homeowners themselves.
Seven Awards at the 2026 Polk County Parade of Homes
General Contractor: Hickman Homes
Hildebrandt’s Haven received seven awards recognizing its overall quality, craftsmanship, architectural design, and distinctive interior and exterior features.
The seven awards were:
- Home of the Year
- Best Overall Quality
- Best Floor Plan
- Best Primary Bath
- Best Exterior
- Best Kitchen
- Best Feature — Victorian Cypress Tongue-and-Groove Ceilings
Together, these awards recognize the home across a broad range of categories, from its exterior architecture and interior living spaces to the overall quality of the completed residence.
For a custom log home, this recognition is especially significant. Hildebrandt’s Haven demonstrates that traditional log construction can be combined with sophisticated residential design, quality workmanship, and the amenities expected in a substantial modern home. This design is from Log Home Guys Signature Country-Style Log Home Series.
Recognized by the Polk County Builders Association (PCBA)
Hildebrandt’s Haven received its seven awards during the 2026 Spring Parade of Homes, presented by the Polk County Builders Association.
Log Home Guys extends its appreciation to the Polk County Builders Association for its commitment to recognizing outstanding residential design, construction quality, and craftsmanship throughout Central Florida.
Official project recognition and documentation:
- 2026 Polk County Parade of Homes
- Hildebrandt’s Haven — Official Parade Entry No. 12
- 2026 Spring Parade of Homes Winners
Thomas and Donna Hildebrandt’s Experience — In Their Own Words
Perhaps one of the most meaningful measures of the project's success came directly from the homeowners, Thomas and Donna Hildebrandt.
Their satisfaction extended beyond a single testimonial. They voluntarily shared their experience publicly through both a ★ five-star Google review and a separate Facebook comment, describing their satisfaction with Log Home Guys and the process of creating their custom residence.
In their Google review, Thomas and Donna praised the company's hands-on involvement from their initial contact through design and construction.
They described Bill Mathews, owner and founder of Log Home Guys, and his continuous communication with the subcontractors, emphasizing the importance of that coordination during the construction of a unique custom log home.
Their review included this assessment:
"The end result is a very impressive home with meticulous attention to every detail."
The homeowners also highlighted the features they enjoy in their new residence, including its full-length front and rear porches, primary bedroom suite, two comfortable dens connected by a full bathroom, spacious great room and cooking area, walk-in pantry, and overlooking loft accessed by a spiral staircase.
Thomas reinforced that satisfaction in a separate public Facebook comment as the couple prepared to move into their completed home.
He described the building experience as extraordinary, praised the involvement of Bill and his team with the craftsmen throughout construction, and wrote:
"We are delighted with the finished product."
He concluded by strongly recommending Log Home Guys to others considering a custom log home.
These two independent public endorsements are particularly meaningful because they describe not only the finished log home but also the personal attention and commitment that went into creating it.
The seven Polk County Builders Association awards recognize this home. The homeowners' own awards recognize the experience of building it.
A Custom Brahma Heart-Cut Bald Cypress Log Home
Hildebrandt’s Haven is based on the Brahma floor plan by Log Home Guys, which was modified to accommodate Thomas and Donna Hildebrandt's individual design preferences and lifestyle.
The result is a distinctive, personalized version of the Brahma Country-Style Log Home that demonstrates the flexibility of Log Home Guys' custom floor plans.
The residence incorporates Heart-Cut Bald Cypress, the material at the center of Log Home Guys' approach to custom log-home construction.
Heart-Cut Bald Cypress is selected for its natural appearance and the favorable durability characteristics of Cypress heartwood. Its distinctive grain and warm color provide the architectural character that makes a traditional log home recognizable.
For Log Home Guys, the material is only part of the equation. Custom design, structural engineering, attention to the building environment, and coordination with the construction team are equally important.
Hildebrandt’s Haven brings these elements together in one substantial country-style log home.
A Special Family Heirloom Dating Back to 1880
Among the many distinctive architectural features of Hildebrandt’s Haven is something that cannot be replicated with modern materials: a set of antique double French doors carrying nearly 150 years of family history.
The doors were handcrafted in Michigan in 1880 by Thomas Hildebrandt's great-grandfather. Three identical sets were originally made and passed down to three granddaughters, one of whom was Thomas's mother.
Thomas later inherited one of these original sets of French doors from his mother, preserving a treasured piece of his family's history.
When Thomas and Donna began planning their new home in Bartow, Florida, they chose to incorporate these treasured family heirloom French doors into the design, where they would serve as the entrance to the den, preserving an important piece of their family's history.
Today, the doors connect the craftsmanship of 1880 with the craftsmanship of modern Cypress log homes.
For the Hildebrandts, their new home is more than a beautiful residence near their children and grandchildren. It is a place where their family history has been preserved for generations. It is their legacy log home.
Distinctive Architecture and Thoughtful Living Spaces
The home was listed in the official Parade of Homes publication with 4,371 square feet of total area, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an attached three-car garage.
Its architecture combines the warmth of natural Cypress logs with stone accents, contrasting exterior siding, a black standing seam metal roof, open beam cypress covered porches, and prominent cypress timber details.
The finished exterior design features black entry and garage doors that complement the black roof and window details. The stonework, gray siding, and landscaping create contrast with the natural color of the Cypress logs.
Inside, the home incorporates a collection of distinctive features described by the homeowners and recognized through its Parade of Homes Awards.
Full-Length Open Beam Cypress Covered Porches
The full-length front and rear covered porches extend the living spaces of Hildebrandt’s Haven outdoors, creating comfortable areas for relaxation, entertaining, and spending time with family.
The rear covered porch system features an inviting combination of natural Cypress wood, exposed Cypress timbers, Cypress headers, Cypress posts, Victorian Cypress tongue-and-groove ceilings, contrasting black doors, gray architectural accents, and a unique paver stone floor system.
Together, the porches complement the warmth of the Heart-Cut Cypress log home while providing generous sheltered spaces for enjoying the Florida outdoors.
A Spacious Great Room and Kitchen
The great room and open cooking and bar area form a central gathering space, complemented by an exceptionally large walk-in pantry.
For Donna Hildebrandt, the oversized walk-in pantry was one of the most important features of the home's design. Its generous size and storage capacity were especially important to her, and she was extremely pleased with how it turned out.
This personalized feature demonstrates how the original Brahma floor plan was modified to accommodate the homeowners' individual priorities.
The kitchen earned recognition as Best Kitchen at the 2026 Polk County Parade of Homes, reflecting its role as one of the home's distinguishing features.
A Primary Bedroom Suite
One of the most impressive features of Hildebrandt’s Haven is the primary bedroom suite, highlighted by a breathtaking 24-foot vaulted ceiling finished in beautiful Victorian Cypress tongue-and-groove.
This dramatic ceiling height creates a remarkable sense of openness, while the natural beauty of light streaming through the gable dormer enhances the space. Rich character and craftsmanship of the Victorian Cypress provide warmth and elegance throughout the room.
The primary bathroom complements this exceptional suite and received the Best Primary Bath Award at the 2026 Polk County Parade of Homes.
Two Dens and a Connecting Bathroom
The residence also includes two comfortable dens connected by a full bathroom, offering flexible spaces for personal use, guests, hobbies, or relaxation.
An Overlooking Loft and Spiral Staircase
One of the home's distinctive architectural features is an overlooking loft accessed by a beautiful, authentic black wrought iron spiral staircase.
The loft creates an additional dimension within the interior, combining the openness often associated with custom log-home design with a visually striking staircase.
Award-Winning Victorian Cypress Tongue-and-Groove Ceilings
The tongue-and-groove ceilings received special recognition through the Best Feature Award.
These natural wood ceiling surfaces complement the home's log construction while emphasizing the craftsmanship and warmth of its interior architecture.
Custom Design, Engineering, and Manufacturing by Log Home Guys
Log Home Guys' involvement in Hildebrandt’s Haven extended beyond providing a log-home materials package.
The company worked with the homeowners, the general contractor, and the subcontractors throughout the design and construction process, providing custom log home design, engineering, manufacturing, and hands-on builder training, with ongoing support throughout the entire project.
This hands-on involvement is a fundamental part of the Log Home Guys approach.
Rather than simply delivering materials and leaving the customer to manage the remaining details, the company emphasizes communication and technical support during construction.
In Florida, where homes must be designed and constructed with attention to wind conditions, moisture, and local building requirements, careful engineering and coordination are particularly important.
The homeowners' own testimony illustrates the value of this approach.
Their Google review specifically praised Bill Mathews, owner and founder of Log Home Guys, for his communication with the subcontractors, while their Facebook endorsement described the involvement of Bill and his team throughout the entire construction process, even after the home was completed and they were living in it.
For Log Home Guys, Hildebrandt’s Haven demonstrates how custom design, carefully selected Heart-Cut Cypress materials, and continuing involvement can contribute to the success of a distinctive residential project.
Construction by Hickman Homes
Hickman Homes served as General Contractor for Hildebrandt’s Haven, overseeing construction of this award-winning custom Heart-Cut Cypress log home in Bartow, Florida.
The project brought together Log Home Guys' specialized log-home design, engineering, and Heart-Cut Cypress manufacturing with the construction management and craftsmanship of Hickman Homes.
Special recognition goes to Hunter Hickman, whose professionalism, exceptional communication skills, and commitment to quality made him a pleasure to work with throughout the project. The entire team, including Mike Hickman and Jessica Whittington, demonstrated a level of dedication and attention to detail that distinguishes outstanding professionals in the homebuilding industry. Their ability to communicate effectively, coordinate with everyone involved, and maintain a high standard of workmanship contributed significantly to the project's success.
The completed residence received seven awards at the 2026 Polk County Builders Association Spring Parade of Homes, recognizing the quality, design, and craftsmanship of the finished home.
General Contractor: Hickman Homes
A special thank you again to Hickman Homes for their professionalism, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the success of Hildebrandt’s Haven.
Visit Hickman Homes: www.hickmanhomes.net
Featured in the Official 2026 Spring Parade of Homes Magazine
Hildebrandt’s Haven was officially featured as Entry No. 12 in the 2026 Spring Parade of Homes magazine published by the Polk County Builders Association.
The event took place April 25–26 and May 2–3, 2026, showcasing residential construction throughout Polk County, Florida.
The official magazine identified Hickman Homes as the builder of the residence and included Hildebrandt’s Haven among the custom homes participating in the event.
The home's subsequent seven awards, including the top “Home of the Year” award, further established its recognition within the 2026 Parade of Homes.
Official project entry: Hildebrandt’s Haven — Polk County Builders Association
An Award-Winning Home — And Homeowners Who Love It
There are many ways to evaluate a custom residence: its architectural design, quality of materials, construction techniques, interior finishes, or overall appearance.
Hildebrandt’s Haven received recognition across all these areas.
Yet perhaps the most compelling part of its story is that the homeowners independently expressed their satisfaction with both the finished home and the experience of creating it.
For Thomas and Donna Hildebrandt, this is their personal custom residence.
For Hickman Homes, it is an award-winning construction project.
For Log Home Guys, it is an example of what can be accomplished through custom Heart-Cut Bald Cypress log-home design, engineering, manufacturing, and continued involvement throughout construction.
Seven awards. One distinctive custom Cypress log home. And homeowners proud enough of the result to share their experience publicly on both Google and Facebook.
Coming Soon — Professional Photography and Major Magazine Feature Story
The story of Hildebrandt’s Haven continues.
This award-winning Heart-Cut Cypress log home is scheduled for professional architectural photography by Hilliard Photographics, a valued professional partner of Log Home Guys and one of the top photographers in the United States for photographing log homes and timber frame structures.
The home is also being prepared for planned coverage in Log & Timber Home Living, an established publication dedicated to log and timber homes.
The upcoming photography will provide an opportunity to showcase the home's remarkable architectural details, including its 24-foot vaulted Victorian Cypress ceiling, award-winning interior spaces, extraordinary walk-in pantry, and treasured 1880 family heirloom French doors.
Check back for the professional photography and future magazine coverage of Hildebrandt’s Haven.
Explore Custom Heart-Cut Cypress Log Homes
Log Home Guys specializes in custom-designed and engineered Heart-Cut Bald Cypress log homes for Florida and Georgia.
Whether you are considering a traditional log home, a custom country-style residence, or a design developed specifically for your property, our team can help you explore the possibilities.
Discover our custom Log Home Floor Plans, learn about the advantages of Heart-Cut Bald Cypress, or contact Log Home Guys to discuss your own custom project.