Painted Cabinetry in a Timber Frame Home

A beautiful kitchen in a timber frame home is always a winner in my book.  In a conventionally framed home, natural wood cabinetry would be my choice, in almost every situation.  But, what about a timber frame home?  Wood timbers, probably wood flooring, the cabinetry in another wood choice might be too much.  Painted cabinetry wins out for contrast alone.

Painted Cabinetry in a Timber Frame Home

What do you think?  The white cabinets are very pretty and very safe.  Would you be more daring?

Hand Hewn Timbers Contrast Nicely.

Count me in on all of this.  Hand hewn timbers, gorgeous stone fireplace and hearth, love it.  Let’s take a look at the exterior, just for fun!

Let it snow!

Thank you for stopping by, comments are welcome!

Custom Timber Frame + Custom Kitchen

Great combination!

The big question (for me)…to paint the cabinetry or not?

Wood timbers, wood cabinetry and maybe wood flooring? Too much wood?

If you want contrast, I suggest staining the timbers OR the cabinetry a few shades darker.  Maybe painting the cabinetry, but not painting the timbers…unless we talking about a timber cottage on the beach?

The painted cabinetry in this home (above) provides needed contrast.  I wonder if that is Old Fashioned Milk Paint?

(below pic) This design works well, in my opinion, due to the windows.  Upper cabinetry would be too much wood for my taste, not enough contrast from the timber framing.  What are your thoughts?

Counter top is also an area to have some fun and create contrast.  A favorite is Vermont Soapstone, and of course, everyone loves granite…(don’t they)?

What are your thoughts on center picture? Too much wood?

Location, Location, Location

Okay so maybe those are the three rules for real estate but a structural engineer is very interested in the location of the project.  So, why does the structural engineer want to know where the project is located?  Are they going to make a house call?  No they are not going to show up at your house; they actually use this information when they design the building.

The structural engineer is looking for the physical address of the project.  They are going to use this information.  Please provide it.  Other information that works is the map and parcel number and even the longitude and latitude of the job site works.  Seems fairly simple right?  Oh, the following is a list of answers that will get you another call from the engineer:

• Just give the state that the project is located (i.e. – New York, Iowa, etc.)
• General directions (i.e. – 55 west of Albany, 1.5 hours south of Manchester, etc.)
• The architects or contractor office address

The location will determine the magnitude of the natural forces acting on the building.

Depending on where you live in the United States (or in the world) the loading requirements will vary.  Here in the mountains snow loading is a large factor in the design.  With timber frames, unbalanced snow likes to control the design.  There are maps and charts that layout the snow loads for towns across the U.S.  Even the general chart for the U.S. has some areas labeled as case study areas.  These are areas that the snow loading really varies.  Case study areas are typically located in areas of mountain ranges.  The elevation of the mountain affects the amount of snow load on the building.  To address this some states have put together their snow loading maps and if they haven’t the building department for the town needs to be called.

If you are closer to the coast, in the eastern U.S., high winds from hurricanes need to be accounted for.  If you are out west, wind isn’t an issue but earthquakes are.  The proximity of a building to a fault line can really affect the lateral loading.  The engineer doesn’t want your house to walk off the foundation.  But more on lateral loading when we talk about the “Where are the windows and doors going to be located?”

Another thing that structural engineers have to think about is flood zones, especially in coastal areas.  Depending on the flood zone that you’re building is in will affect the design of the house.  The building codes have specific requirements on building systems like mechanical, electrical and even the material that are used if you are listed in an A or V zone.

The location of the building is important information to a structural engineer.  With this information they can accurately put together the loading that is required for that specific building location.  This can lead to a more economical design and less changes in the long run.

Timber Frame Garage and More

This timber frame is ready to go…2 tractor trailer loads, lots of timbers, beautiful design.

Must get organized…

Rafters?

Ok, check…Ties? Where are the ties?

Oh, there they are, good.  Joists are all set also, excellent.

Hi Josh!  It must be break time.

Posts?  I know there are more posts…not to worry.

Each timber is carefully labeled (very important).  Our client’s general contractor and his crew will be raising this timber frame.  We often travel for the raising, but  not in this case.  Only a site-super will be needed.  (Vermont Timber Works is flexible…well, about some things)!

Snowy Timber Frame

Snowy timber frame picture anyhow…and since we don’t really have much snow yet, I thought this was a good choice for today.

This custom timber frame design features a gambrel roof, dormers,  a wonderful porch area was added.

The white pine timbers are hand hewn, can you see the detail? Hand hewn the old fashioned way, with an adze and slick.

Custom cabinetry in white, creates a nice contrast.  Fireplace is stunning, great job to all involved.

Timber Frame Shopping…Done. What’s Next?

Ok, you’ve picked out your timber framer and soon you’ll have your new timber frame home.  Many more decisions still need to be made, important decisions.

Now, let’s finish up on the inside.  One of my favorite rooms to design & shop for is the kitchen.

Cabinetry, custom designed and hand crafted just like your timber frame (of course). Let’s go, Vermont Custom Cabinetry.

Counter tops?  I’m thinking soapstone, let’s check in with Glenn Bowman and see what he thinks?

Maybe a soapstone sink also…Yes, I like that idea.

Lighting Design?  Yes, another area I like, alot.

How about  Hubbartdon Forge, lighting with some weight, to balance out those timber beams.

Hand-forged wrought iron, made in Vermont, can’t beat that.

This pretty pendant is hanging over my dining room table 🙂 LOVE it.

Ok, more shopping…

FLOORING = Vermont Hardwoods & The Flooring Mill

Country Red Birch is on sale, through the month of November, great to hear!

Eastern White Pine is always a hit.

OK, shopping is done…for now.  Maybe next time we’ll venture over into New Hampshire?

Comments welcome 🙂

Custom Designs

When you think about a timber frame home, do you think custom design?  If so, Vermont Timber Works is the timber frame company for you, because…so do we! 

Hand hewn hemlock beams and timber arches shown above are handcrafted. Can’t get this from a cnc machine!

Timber frame home design with douglas fir timbers and more arches, beautiful.  Does a custom designed timber frame home need to have arches?  Of course not 🙂  but it is an option!

Sunrise and Timber Framing, Beautiful!

This is a rare progress shot, sunrise into this timber frame home, so beautiful.  Custom designed for a client that just walked into our shop one day with some questions.  Here is the design as drawn:

Native hemlock timbers were chosen, rough sawn and semi-sanded to soften the look.    Modified hammer beam design in the dormer, love it.

Hammer beam  is looking good, don’t you think so?  Traditional joinery with pegs extended, too bad this needs to be covered up, but it  is a residence :).

Engineering Timber

Nature gives us many forces to challenge our lives on earth.

Gravity, in particular, affects construction work.

You’ve heard the expression, what goes up will come down?

Well it will, indeed, if earth’s forces are too great

or…if it is not engineered correctly.

Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans understood the laws of nature,

and their engineers applied this knowledge to their structures.

I find it incredible that pyramids, the coliseum, and aquifers remain standing today.

An arch is not just a curved line!

In timber engineering, although an arch may lie inert in our shop,

once raised it must deal with compression, tension, shear, bending, and twisting forces.

A timber arch or truss must be willing to accept bearing weight as well.

Snow can weigh tons on a large structure.

This residence is in Wisconsin; there will be snow!

Vermont Timber Works applies the ancient art of engineering

to create what will last generations.

We’re engineering our way into the future.

Timber Frame Roof System

OK…This timber frame roof system is going on top of these pilings…

YES, that’s the plan! Timber beams are in the shop and fabrication has begun.

This custom design timber truss system was created working closely with our client and her architect, our design team (DOUG) and our engineer. I’ll be posting many pictures of this project!