The modern types of log cabins are called the log home. These are usually made of milled logs. The interior and exterior of the log home are visible.
Although log cabins and log houses are constructed from the similar materials they do have some differences; log cabins are usually built with round rather than hewn or hand-worked wood where as log houses tend be a one story building, with an almost "less finished" appearance (unlike the log cabins) as these were initially constructed with the intention of being short-term.
More and more log cabins are being built as a permanent dwelling for many people.
Among log houses already built, only 10% are those built with individually handcrafted logs with the use of handheld tools.
Europeans tend to build a log cabin for use in the garden and used as a summer house. However, log cabins are being built and used as home extensions more and more as a cheap alternative.
There have been massive constructions of log homes in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
A summerhouse is much more attractive than a standard shed and can just as easily be used for storage.
However, if you have any doubts or live in a conservation area or a listed building, you should contact your local planning office.
It is interesting to note that currently, there are over 500,000 log homes in the U.S. This count accounts for 7% of the whole custom home building market in the U.S.
William Henry Harrison made use of log cabins, along with the "Whigs" to show to the Americans that he was a people's man.