May 1, 2010
Designing timber frame homes is a very personal journey for homeowners. We started designing our own timber frame almost fifteen years before we actually built it. The design we ended up building was not even close to the early designs. We built a smaller, more charming home. We traveled many roads leading to this design, discussing simplicity and complexity, weighing the size and scale options, and always, style.
We poured over books of very old home designs. The kit homes from Sears, Wardway, Aladdin, and Van-Tine offered a sense of history. Stickley’s craftsman homes were charming. Many of these designs offered character that would work well when translated into timber frame construction. So much of what made them special and unique actually carried from one design to another. They were designed to a human scale, something missing in many homes today.
The Creekside was designed to fit our lifestyle and to be comfortable. It sits on a small footprint and is energy efficient. The living space is open and flows well, but not overwhelming. We designed in smaller, cozy spaces for the office and reading nook, while making sure that this home will age in place. Designing a timber frame home that brought all of this together was important to us.
Sharing this experience with people who visit us at Goshen Timber Frames is important to us. We want to help them design a home that works for them. We see many clients who are interested in the older character and style similar to our home. Whether they want smaller or larger, they are looking for a sense of shelter in their new home.
So, my advice as you research your new timber frame is to design and build what draws you, what engages you, and what works for you. Don’t think about the current trends, but design a home that fits with your land and your lifestyle. You will be well rewarded.
November 29, 2009
Timber frames lend themselves to any type of home, single story, two story, or story and a half. You’ll make the decision on which works for you as you consider your lifestyle and the style of home you want.
We are often questioned about the feasibility of having our bedroom upstairs in our new timber frame home. This wasn’t a decision we made without much thought. While we can easily go upstairs today, there may be a day when it isn’t so easy (however, I had two lovely little ladies in their nineties who didn’t hesitate to go upstairs).
By locating our bedroom upstairs, we were able to maintain a small footprint and still make the first floor accessible to anyone in a wheelchair. This was important to us.
The upstairs space in our small home offers space for a “reading nook” where we can sit quietly and enjoy a book without being isolated from everyone else. Our loft will soon have bookcases, floor to ceiling, to house the books I’ve insisted we box up and move around with us over the years. And our bedroom suite (well, maybe not quite grand enough to be a suite, but our version of one) is upstairs, offering a respite from a day’s work.
We also wanted a home that was more cottage and bungalow than a sprawling ranch. Our home sits on the site of a home that was built in 1923. The older home just didn’t survive the years well. We hope that our home will sit here for centuries and will be enjoyed by many people, young and old. We designed it to sit almost exactly on the existing footprint. There was reason they built there in 1923.
So, stairs can be incorporated into today’s lifestyle and first floor living can be planned for later.
Just remember to “Build Boldly”.
October 28, 2009
Timber frames offer an opportunity to age in place, with grace. Our home plan was carefully thought through as we considered the years to come.
While not fully compliant with “universal design”, we did think through living on the first floor of our home as we age. The only (short) hall is 4′ wide. The interior doors are all 34″ to 36″ wide and are pocket doors. Exterior doors are 36″ and more wide. The bathtub can easily be replaced with a shower, when needed. The bedroom and bathroom are accessible through two doorways. The back porch steps were positioned so they could be replaced by a ramp if needed. Access to the kitchen is 4′ wide.
We purchased a washer/dryer combination that is loaded from the front (and only once…clothes go into the tub dirty and come out clean and dry).
We built so that with very little renovation, our home would take us through our golden years, even if they are not as golden as we’d like. The upstairs offers a sitting area, bedroom, and private bath for a caregiver, if needed.
Timber frames typically have no bearing walls. This flexibility, if needed, will allow for changes to accommodate lifestyle changes. Today’s “open concept” home will translate easily to “livable” when it is harder to get around.
So think through your plan as you consider a home. Plan for today…and for tomorrow. While we’d all like to be 105 and dancing with the stars, it may not happen and we need to be ready. Design a home that lives well today and will live well tomorrow.
Our plan has become Goshen‘s Creekside model. Check out all of the plans to get an idea of the possiblities.
And remember to Build Boldly!
