Homes Archives - Page 4 of 4

Hand-Hewn Pine Timbers in Striking North Carolina Residence

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

Nothing adds more rustic character to a structure than hand-hewn wood beams, and this incredible mountain residence in North Carolina by Hearthstone Homes and Scaly Mountain Builders is a dazzling example. The Jackson Family Home was built for a couple from Palm Beach, Florida who wanted a warm and welcoming getaway in the mountains that reflects the ambiance of its surroundings.

Located on a lake at the headwaters of a river, the Jackson Family Home features lots of glass to look out onto the natural setting, with the main view framed with hammer-beam timber frame trusses made of Eastern White Pine. These beams are the most notable feature in a home that is full of visually stimulating elements, including a stone fireplace and dark-stained floors.

The timbers were hewn with a foot adze, which is a traditional tool used for smoothing or carving rough-cut wood. This axe-like tool strips off pieces of wood for a relatively smooth finish that retains the traditional look of hand-finished timbers. The result, especially in this case, is ideally suited to the centuries-long history of Eastern White Pine in America.

The Jackson Family Home is a great representation of how rustic and contemporary elements can be blended in interiors for a traditional look that fits the modern family’s lifestyle. The architectural details of the hand-hewn beams are an ideal complement to the whitewashed wood plank walls, which are also made of Eastern White Pine. See more photos at HearthstoneHomes.com.

Stunning Modern Lifeguard Tower Home Features Eastern White Pine Floors

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

The warm, rich antique look of Eastern White Pine floors has long been a major draw for homeowners, with a patina that grows more nuanced with time. And while this material is found most often in more traditional residential architecture, it makes an appearance in modern homes, too. The ‘Lifeguard Tower’ home by Lazar Design Build features wide-plank Eastern White Pine floors that contrast beautifully with white walls, large expanses of glass windows and highly textured reclaimed barn wood.

While the design of this home is undeniably contemporary, it has its roots in tradition: overlooking the ocean in Hermosa Beach, California, the home is inspired by lifeguard towers and ships in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Three stacked trapezoidal structures narrow to create a ‘lookout tower’ topped with 1,600 square feet of open-air roof terrace. The walls of windows on the very top floor offer an effect reminiscent of lighthouses when illuminated at night.

The outside of the 3,400-square-foot home is covered in cladding reclaimed from a 100-year-old barn. This factor, combined with dual-glazed windows, daylighting, impeccable insulation and the innate sustainability of Eastern White Pine, makes the Lifeguard Tower a green home with character and style to spare.

Eastern White Pine has a long tradition of flooring use in America, known for being one of the most widely-used building materials among early colonists. It comes from sustainably managed forests, where it’s allowed to grow strong and tall among hardwoods in a natural ecosystem before it’s harvested. Eastern White Pine flooring comes in a variety of grades, from the smoothest and palest wood to rustic knotty looks befitting cabins and country houses.

Eastern White Pine Siding Adds Eco-Friendly Warmth and Character

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Jeff Easterling

Known for its characteristic knots, Eastern White Pine is a versatile building material for both indoor and outdoor applications. This sustainable softwood is becoming an increasingly popular material for exterior siding, adding warmth and texture to homes that range from rustic cabins to sleek modern residences. Architects and builders turn to Eastern White Pine as a biodegradable, energy-efficient exterior finish that stands up to the elements and grows more beautiful with time.

Cushman Design Group of Stowe, Vermont has incorporated Eastern White Pine into much of its architectural portfolio, showing off the beauty of this locally-sourced building material. For Goose Farm, a barn-inspired residence, Cushman Design Group chose band sawn shiplap Eastern White Pine in a translucent stain, giving it a weathered look that pays tribute to long-lasting wood structures found in the countryside all over the nation.

For the architects, Eastern White Pine was a natural choice in an environmentally conscious home that also features passive solar orientation, triple-glazed windows and superior wall and roof insulation.

Why Eastern White Pine? Aside from its aesthetic qualities, this wood variety native to the Northeast United States won’t swell or shrink significantly with changes in moisture conditions. Its soft, smooth texture makes it easy to sand, paint and stain. It’s also an effective insulator against heat and cold, so when it’s used as exterior siding, it can help lower energy bills year-round.

Customers looking for building materials that are grown, harvested and processed with respect for the environment also love the fact that Eastern White Pine is grown in sustainably managed mixed wood forests. The trees are harvested once they reach an age of 80 to 100 years old, so they can grow tall, straight and strong.