TIMBERFRAME, POST and BEAM HOMES

by North Woods Joinery

ARTICLES > Home Building Autumn 2003

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Spacious Interiors Spill Over Into Expansive Porches, Extending The Living Spaces Into The Outdoors

In addition, the home has two half-baths, three full baths, and four bedrooms, which are "essentially guest rooms," says Lynne. For privacy, the rooms are separate from the main floor. A bridge, visible from the living areas, connects the master suite with two upper level bedrooms; two additional bedrooms are on the lower level. For comfort, all three stories have radiant-heat floors.Wherever possible, the couple specified Vermont or locally crafted products. Wrought-iron chandeliers in the entryway, the living room, and the dining

room were made by craftsman Richard Spreda, who also built the railings on the stairways and upstairs bridge. Entry floors are Vermont slate; kitchen counters are Vermont soapstone. Fieldstone from the property was used in fireplaces and retaining walls.

Lynne and Johannes agree that their new home was worth the wait. "Anywhere we look, we have nature all around us," says Lynne. "It's a very restorative home, and lovely any time of the year."

Right: A view through the French doors onto the adjoining porch. Below: The screened porch off the kitchen is a comfortable spot for meals or for reading, says Lynne. All porch roofs have tempered-glass panels to admit sunlight into the rooms.

New home design FAMILY FOCUS

One of the best qualities of a vacation home is its emphasis on time well spent with family and friends, a quality that could be lost when the retreat is designed for year-round living. To keep the camaraderie and conversation going, the von Trapps provided many comfortable places to gather, indoors and out, just to visit or enjoy the views.

The only television is confined to the sitting area in the kitchen, where Lynne and Johannes are apt to spend time alone, watching a show or catching up on the day. "We purposely kept it out of the living room," says Lynne. "Families and guests can get so wrapped up in television that they forget to talk with one another."

Living room furnishings were chosen for their sturdiness and comfort. In the wake of an afternoon of reading, tables and floors are often strewn with newspapers, books, and magazines. The couch in particular invites many a guest to doze in the afternoon sun. "Before we bought it, Johannes stretched out on it, just to make sure it was a good napping couch," says Lynne.