For the next few days, I’m off to the great city of Quebec for a “wor-cation”; my made up term for combining work and fun. I’ll be staying in my dream hotel, Le Chateau Frontenac, taking in as much as possible; particularly the fantastic architecture of both the hotel and the city. It’s going to be rough, but…
Whenever it nears the holidays, thoughts turn to fond memories of the season. “Over the river and through the woods” brings on a whole new meaning when the house at the end of the journey is a gorgeous salt-box post and beam barn home. This salt-box style post and beam was specifically built to fit…
As promised in my post on October 13th, this post will recommend paint colors to use in post and beam bedrooms and baths. As always, the main consideration when choosing color for a timber frame home is to accentuate and compliment the architectural structure. But not to worry as it’s not rocket science. If it’s…
Actually, this addition to an 18th century cape came about in a very unusual way. Normally one finds or has the old cape first then adds on; not so in this case. These homeowners were house hunting in New England when their realtor showed them a gorgeous timber frame home. They were captivated but came…
In compiling a list of items for my post a few weeks ago (October 7, 2009), I soon realized I had far more Discoveries than would possibly fit in one entry. I mused that if I were reading this blog, I would love to see more of this type of post. Then I thought, ‘Hey,…
The design plan for this timber frame vacation home was not complex. It needed to be suitable for large family gatherings of the owners children and grandchildren while fitting in with the landscape; a gorgeous site located on a back field of an old farm that sloped down to a lake. Traditional barn designs inspired…
While her husband was stationed in Southeast Asia as an Army Officer, this interior designer took the opportunity to soak up the culture which so interested her and ultimately influenced her design style. The vibrant jewel-like colors, the rich tones of the woods, and the vivid iridescent silks all played a prominent role when the…
What to do when you have a wonderful location, a beautiful site with a home you love and a well established business reputation but no available space for that home-based photography business? The completed photography studio added on to this Connecticut home. Well, if you’re this New England home owner, you take inspiration from the…
The wonderful thing about a timber frame home is its chameleon-like capability for nearly infinite interpretations. That being said, one of the most natural designs for post and beam is the true ‘Adirondack Camp’ as it typifies rustic while maintaining a high degree of style and comfort. This recently built Adirondack camp sits on lake’s…
I was recently involved in a major remodel of a large kitchen which incorporated a Viking cook-top with a built-in down draft system. We had great plans for the back splash area. It was going to be a very chic tile I’d seen in one of my favorite magazines, Veranda, and become the focal point…
In my first post “The Education of Beam Babe” I promised to tell you what has gone right with our carriage house barn and what could have gone better. I’m pleased to report that far more was done and has gone right than has gone wrong. Of the two things that have gone wrong, the…
Part three in the series Homes I’m Loving Right Now is actually a barn addition to a beautiful 1700’s cape located in central New England. The young accomplished family loves to spend free time riding their horses. I challenge you to imagine a more bucolic New England setting. The lifestyle is so much a part…