Contemporary Archives

Mountain Style: Rustic Vacation Home Made of Eastern White Pine

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

When you think of a contemporary mountain log cabin, this is probably what comes to mind: large, rustic rough-hewn logs in amber tones, paired with stone masonry and a dark green roof. Mountain Construction Enterprises built this getaway in the Pisgah National Forest of Western North Carolina using massive Eastern White Pine timbers.

The logs for this home weighed a total of 760,000 pounds, requiring 19 tractor-trailer loads to bring it all in. There’s no doubt that Eastern White Pine is the focal point, making up the frame, the ceiling, the staircase, the deck railings and nearly all of the walls.

The diameter of these logs ranges from 12 to a whopping 28 inches, with particularly notable examples visible in the ceiling of the kitchen. The gleaming finish comes thanks to an environmentally friendly coating. All of the logs are hand-scribed with a modified saddle notch, with no chinking in the walls.

The highest quality craftsmanship is evident in every corner, paying homage to mountain traditions and the solidity of historic wooden architecture.

Contemporary Timber Frame: Sleek New Mexico Ski House

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Jeff Easterling

This gorgeous timber frame ski house in New Mexico is a prime example of how this rustic architectural style can be adapted for a more contemporary look. Designed and built by Hampshire Timber Frame, the home shows off two ways of highlighting the exposed pine beams of the frame: with wood paneling, and drywall.

Wood paneling paired with timber frame construction creates a more rustic effect. In this home, it’s seen on the arched living room ceiling as a visual accent that enhances the ‘cabin’ feel while maintaining a bright, open and modern feel.

Contrasting the exposed beams of the timber frame with white drywall provides an effect that’s crisp and up to date, making the wood stand out even more.

Hampshire Timber Frame designs custom, hand crafted timber frame houses in a variety of wood species, including Eastern White Pine. These ‘true timber frames’ are built without the use of metal connectors, with beautiful all-wood joinery and timbers hand-chosen for their location in the house.

New Eastern White Pine Log Home Brims with Historic Charm

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

This log home complete with a rusted corrugated metal roof looks like a historic pioneer cabin, but get a little closer and you’ll see some contemporary details, like brickwork on the foundation and chimney. Created by Hearthstone Log Homes and built by Champion Construction, this new Western North Carolina home was made using rustic beams of Eastern White Pine.

The home was intentionally built in two slightly different volumes – the main rustic log structure, and a secondary volume covered in board-and-batten siding. This was done to make it look as if a historic log cabin had been added to over the years, giving it a sense of authenticity.

Inside, hand-hewn wood textures are virtually everywhere you look, from the exposed timbers and log walls to the paneled ceiling and pine plank floors. The wood was stained in seven different shades to add a sense of depth.

Far from a period recreation, the home has all the comforts of modern life, including contemporary appliances and beautiful design details like doors reclaimed from a monastery. See more cabins by this Tennessee-based company at HearthstoneHomes.com.