Homes Archives - Page 3 of 4

Post and Beam Eastern White Pine House by Eric Watson Architects

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

Eastern White Pine may be more closely associated with log cabins and the historic architecture of the Northeast than with beachy contemporary cottages in Florida, but architect Eric Watson proves the material’s versatility with the Haupt Walstrom House. This two-story residence in Seaside, Florida is a post-and-beam structure made with Eastern White Pine timber.

The natural, pale creamy shade of the wood is enhanced with just a touch of whitewash to give the home’s interior an airy, bright and open feel. It lines the walls and ceilings, and comprises the clean and simple cabinetry in the kitchen. While still maintaining its rustic charm, the wood adapts beautifully to this surprising usage, resulting in a beach house that’s anything but typical.

Light stains, whitewashing or nothing but a clear coat finish not only allow Eastern White Pine’s natural beauty to shine through, they also lend a more contemporary air to residences and other structures than medium to dark treatments.

Choosing between light and dark wood can change the entire vibe of an interior, making the difference between a clean and spa-like environment and a cozy, historic-feeling space.

Mountain Log Homes Show Off the Natural Beauty of Eastern White Pine

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

The natural beauty of Eastern White Pine lumber is put on spectacular display in beautiful cabins by Grandfather Mountain Log Homes in North Carolina. In addition to authentic log cabins made of reclaimed wood, the company builds traditional-style log cabins in a variety of designs ranging from rustic, single-story structures in the style of Appalachian pioneer cabins to larger, more contemporary homes.

Each of the lofted cabins features exposed beams that create both the first floor ceiling and the second story floor. Exposed beams are also used to create cathedral ceilings that open up the space and make it feel airy and cozy at the same time. Each log cabin includes a “heavy timber” porch system including exposed rafter beams.

“Grandfather Mountain Log Home Packages contain solid Eastern White Pine logs that are inspected to the highest standards in in the industry today,” the company states. The photo gallery of cabin interiors demonstrates how the warmth and charm of this material can transform a space, whether in a country kitchen or a grand living room with a vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace.

Eastern White Pine is a popular choice for timber frame buildings, which are experiencing a boom in popularity, because of its affordability, reliability and aesthetic value.

Architectural Monographs: Early American Doorways

Posted on June 7, 2013October 21, 2021 by Jeff Easterling

The doorways of colonial houses were the most ornamental part of virtually any exterior, and there can be a considerable variation from one home to the next. Eighteenth century houses in New England, particularly Massachusetts, feature beautifully wrought doorways typically carved from Eastern White Pine.

Volume VII, Issue II of the White Pine Monographs details the different types of doorways seen in these homes. Written in 1921, this historical record provides photographs from that period of homes built from the late 1600s through the mid 1800s that are still standing today.

The doorways featured in this issue are classed according to the simplicity of their design. Writes the author, “The subjects resolve themselves into two categories: those which are mere ornamental frontispieces, applied to the buildings, and those in which the more complex treatment of a doorway sheltered by a porch is used. The average Colonial house was a simple boxlike mass, relieved by decorative treatment of the door and cornice. The proportion of the mass, and the shape, placing and division of the windows were the only other features over which the builder had control to influence his design.”

Get This Look: Rustic Horizontal White Pine Paneling

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

Warm, rustic and full of character, horizontal wood paneling in highly versatile Eastern White Pine is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to totally transform a room. It can be white-washed, painted or stained to match your decor, or simply protected with a clear coat to let the natural beauty of the wood shine through.

Horizontal paneling got a less-than-stellar reputation after the faux wood versions of the 1970s made it seem dark and dated. But using real wood, this interior wall treatment has a fresh look. Narrow tongue-and-groove panels in a smoother grade of pine have a more modern look, while shiplap or wide-plank paneling can add a rustic or country aesthetic.

In the top photo, KellyBaron Design gave a home on Lake Joe in Canada a cozy cottage feel with knotty white pine paneling that contrasts with modern bathroom fixtures. The second photograph depicts a lightly stained wider plank in a home by Georgetown Development. In the third photo, Kate Davidson Design uses pale paneling to give a master bedroom a rustic-chic look.

Pine Possibilities: Ways to Incorporate Wood Into Your Home

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

By their very nature, new structures can lack that ‘old house’ character and charm, which often comes from the use of hand-crafted materials and components, and the time-worn qualities that wood takes on over decades. But even brand-new wood can go a long way toward making a house feel like home. Eastern White Pine has been a highly-prized species of wood for both exterior and interior applications in the home since it was first discovered in New England by settlers looking to start new communities. Here are eight ways to use it in your home, from floor to ceiling.

Interior and Exterior Siding – Board and batten, tongue and groove, D-log and bevel styles of cladding are all available in Eastern White Pine in a variety of sizes and grades, with smooth surfaces and just enough knots to give the wood texture and character.

Ceilings – Whether it’s allowed to be the main feature or whitewashed to set it back visually in order to highlight other architectural elements, Eastern White Pine is a rustic alternative to drywall for ceilings. Check out a video of a unique basket weave ceiling featuring this wood.

Floors – Wide-plank floors are one of the most popular ways to use Eastern White Pine, and they’re an especially beautiful choice in farmhouses and log cabins.

Moulding and Trim – Eastern White Pine has long been a favorite species for use as trim because it’s so easy to work with and provides such a fine, smooth finish that holds paint and stain exceptionally well.

Millwork – A combination of softness and strength makes Eastern White Pine ideal for detail work. Carpenters love it because it’s easy to carve with both hand and machine tools.

Cabinetry – Thanks to its light weight, good looks and affordability, Eastern White Pine is often used for cabinetry and built-ins throughout homes and businesses.

Timbers – Few species of wood work better for rustic, beautiful timber frame homes, in which tree trunks are kept in their natural shape rather than milled into lumber.

Photo: NELMA.org

Sanctuary: Cozy Vermont Home is an Eastern White Pine Showcase

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

The character of Eastern White Pine shines through in every wooden surface of Sanctuary, a beautiful Shaker-style home in Burlington, Vermont. This 1,850-square-foot, three-bedroom home by Cushman Design Group is a sustainable getaway with rustic charm and contemporary comfort, featuring large plate-glass windows that look out onto the tranquil meadow setting.

The owners, Demaris Wehr and David Hart, wanted a design that would connect thematically and emotionally with the woodland Vermont setting. They showed the architects an image of a fairy house in Wales as inspiration, and the result is an inviting modernized interpretation. Cushman Design Group, of Vermont, often features Eastern White Pine in their creations, ranging from modern homes and historic-style barns to commercial interiors.

Locally harvested Eastern White Pine is the star of the show here, from the exterior siding to the kitchen cabinets. All natural wood surfaces in the home are treated with polymerized tung oil rather than oil-based urethanes for a greener finish that highlights the beauty of the wood.

All of these surfaces, including the shiplap ceiling and the wide-plank floors, were custom-built. The countertops are heart pine, procured from standing dead trees. The Eastern White Pine surfaces even extend to the furniture, with built-in dressers, shelving and bathroom vanities.

Photographs by Susan Teare, used with permission