10 Timeless Timber Frame Homes to Inspire Your Next Build

On June 26, 2020 in Round-up with No Comments.

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Timber frame homes are the ultimate home for so many people, effortlessly combining eco-friendly rustic materials with a modern luxurious feeling.

Cleverly incorporating hand hewn trusses, the frame is a masterpiece in itself, and is often left exposed in certain places so its true beauty can be admired.

We at Log Cabin Hub love all things created from beautiful pieces of wood, and these structures are no exception.

We have rounded up 10 of the most timeless, inspiring builds from all over the country, for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

If you would like to read more about the process of building one of these homes, or more about what exactly a timber frame home is, you can jump to the relevant sections below.

10 Timber Frame Homes Beautiful Inside and Out

#10. The Bungalow

Perfect for retirement living, or just for those who would rather live on a single story, the Bungalow has 1081 square foot of living space.

The porch which stretches the length of the front of the house, is surrounded by solid and decorative trusses. This creates a welcoming and cozy space, and the front door then leads into the great room.

It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, a laundry room and pantry, and large open plan living space.

Built by the well-known Southland Log Homes, this cabin combines the typical structural look of a log cabin with the striking frames supporting the front of the timber framed house.

#9. Prince George

Born from a desire of wanting to escape the city and reconnect with nature, Prince George has a delectable mix of natural materials creating a modern and warm interior.

Complementing the surrounds well, this timber frame home has a spacious open plan living space including the great room, a dining area and a kitchen.

The main level also has a mud and laundry room, as well as an office and master bedroom with bathroom and walk in closet.

The second floor has three further bedrooms and a bonus room which could be used as a games room or second office.

#8. Greenbrier

Greenbrier is a large five-bedroom home that has plenty of unique characteristics. From the arch shaped trusses which line the front of the L shaped porch, to the curved covered entrance and the stone chimney breast.

On the ground floor there is a large great room with a beautiful vaulted ceiling, which leads through to the open plan kitchen dining space. The dining room opens onto a further decking area outside.

Two of the five bedrooms are located on the ground floor, one of them is the master bedroom which has built in storage and a master bathroom. The second bedroom also has its own bathroom and storage.

To the second floor, there are a further three bedrooms, plenty of storage and some additional loft space. Each of the upstairs rooms has a dormer built into the roof which extends the ceiling height creating more space.

#7. Eaglestone Forest

This dream 6,000 square foot home is set in a 400-acre sanctuary in New York’s Catskill Mountains.

It has a two-story great room, two offices, four bedrooms, six bathrooms, a lounge, an indoor lap pool and a spa!

It is extremely eco-friendly and was designed around the exquisite land which it sits on, almost appearing to grow out of the mountains themselves.

Eaglestone Forest is a labor of love, with many different companies getting involved in the design, planning and building phase.

The timber frame was constructed and built by Woodhouse and took almost one and a half years to complete.

#6. Cooney Timber Frame Home

This unique looking home is unlike any of the others featured on this roundup. With a blue front and red roof, it looks like something straight out of a movie set.

It has lots of original features such as the cylindrical tower which stretches up the full three storys of the home.

Cooney home sits on 6.5 acres of land in Pennsylvania, and has 6,350 square foot of living space.

It has beautiful exposed beams running throughout every single room in the home, each of them offering a very different feel to the next.

#5. Jackson Country

This beautiful home is set in a national forest in North Carolina and was specifically designed to blend into the sloped hill which it is built on.

There are plenty of outdoor living spaces spread out over the three floors of this home, one of which has a cozy outdoor stone fireplace on the decking area.

The basement has two bedrooms, a family area and a bathroom. The first floor as a spacious open plan great room, dining area and kitchen.

The master bedroom is also located on the first floor, along with a master bath and a walk-in closet.

The second floor has an art studio with two balconies, and another bedroom. There are just over 5,000 square foot in the Jackson Country Residence.

#4. Possum Kingdom Residence

Possum Kingdom is the ultimate home to entertain guests, with multiple gathering spaces including a theatre room, recreational space with bar, and a guest suite all on the basement level.

To the main floor there is a spacious and open plan great room, dining area and kitchen. The decking area almost fully surrounds the ground floor, providing beautiful views over Possum Kingdom Lake.

The master bedroom has a walk in closet and bathroom and is located on the main level, and there are a further two double bedrooms to the second level, and a large bunk room which is great for having the grandchildren over!

#3. Nashota

Inspired by the owner’s trip through Europe, this architectural masterpiece sits on a lake front with beautiful views.

Combining a mix of wood trusses, stonework and stucco (a fine plaster), this idyllic home has three floors.

The great room has a wall of windows, a cathedral ceiling and a stone fireplace which creates an open and airy yet rustic feel.

There is also plenty of outdoor living space with the balcony decking area to the rear of the home.

#2. Pfendler Family Home

This spectacular lake front home was the result of a combination of companies including Hearth Stone Homes and TN and National Custom Homes, both of which were brought together by the owner, Rick Pfendler to create his vision along with project manager Jove Leonard.

The unique structure and superior design of this home makes it one of the most incredible timber frame homes ever built, there are no others quite like it!

It combines the old rustic look of a log home, with the modern technology and luxury of a vacation home.

The Pfendler family home was built using cedar logs which were harvested from the 16 acre site which it is built on.

#1. Timber Frame Mansion

Sitting at a colossal 8,198 square foot, this Wisconsin home has six bedrooms and 6.5 baths. It has spectacular vaulted ceilings throughout, with plenty of open plan living space.

It enjoys wonderful views over the 40 acres of lands which it is built on, from the multiple porches and patio areas which are scattered around the home.

Capturing the essence of an English country style manor home, this timber frame mansion is oozing with style and luxury.

As another Hearth Stone Homes build, it is clear this company knows how to design one-of-a-kind unique homes!

What is a Timber Frame Home?

Not one of these homes looks the same as another, this is what make them so unique. From huge mansions, to cozy vacation homes, each one will have its own feel.

Built using large pieces of timber, these pieces are used to create a frame for the home, using vertical and horizontal pieces. They are crafted by highly skilled tradesmen so that each piece fits perfectly with the next.

The frame creates a skeleton, and then a wide variety of building materials can be used to build the walls, each giving these homes the unique look they have.

What Sets Timber Frame Homes Apart from Others?

There are a few different building methods which these homes could be compared to, including log cabins and post and beam homes.

Post and beam homes are a type of timber frame construction, but they do not require as much craftsmanship or skill. The beams are secured using metal plates or pins rather than sophisticated joinery methods.

Log homes are equally as beautiful, but they create a vastly different appearance to these homes. Built by piling the logs horizontally, the logs form the entire wall, whereas timber frame homes tend to use a combination of different materials for the interior and exterior walls.

5 Simple Steps from Concept to Finish

If you have decided that this method of building is the best fit for your future home, you will be spoilt for choice with companies that can design and build your home.

But what are the important steps you need to consider when choosing your dream home?

#1. Budget

Before you even begin to look at different designs, and interior ideas you need to figure out what your budget is. Kit costs start at around $150 per square foot for the shell, and $250 for a turnkey package.

You can expect this cost to increase if you choose high quality products for your build, or if you want to design a custom cabin that requires the help of an architect.

If you buy a kit, remember that is only around 1/2 of the total cost, as you will need to pay for contractors to complete the build, permits and all the finishing touches.

Always allow a 10% contingency allowance to cover any unforeseen extras which might pop up along the build.

#2. Land

The second step to complete before jumping into the design stage is to find the piece of land you want to build on.

It is much easier to design a home around a piece of land rather than adapt an existing floorplan to the land. This way you can incorporate any gradients, views which you want to make the most of, and orient it to make the most of the sun.

#3. Design

You’ll most likely have a number of ideas about how you want your property to look but enlisting the help of a company or architect to get these plans on paper can be really helpful.

Many companies offer an in-house design service, or the option to change their existing floorplans to suit your needs.

It’s better to spend longer on this stage, than having to make changes when the build has already started so make sure it is exactly what you want.

#4. Foundations

Once your design is finalized, you can start to build the foundations. The exact type of foundation will depend on the soil type of your land and the size of your future home. The most common type of foundation is a concrete wall foundation.

This phase can be done alongside the factory building stage of the timber frame home. You’ll need to have it inspected by local authorities to ensure it complies with foundation building codes.

#5. Build

Once the company has finished manufacturing all the parts of your home, they will deliver it to your site and depending on whether you have bought a kit or ordered a custom home either you or them will start to build the home.

Summary

Providing a rustic yet modern feel to a home is a difficult thing to do, but timber frame homes achieve this effortlessly.

As you can see from the featured homes, each one looks completely different, from modern to rustic to traditional.

Are you designing your own home, or making some alterations to your existing home? Did any of these designs catch your eye and inspire you to think about designing a forever home?

If you’d like more information about timer frame kits, you can read our article here.

We always love to hear from you, so please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below!