A Small Fortune
Timber Home Living – June 2014
One lucky couple hits the jackpot with a well-designed timber frame home built for two. Download the article (see below) to learn more!
Crafting a Small Home That Lives Large Through Timber Framing
Carl and Helen Stoesz set out to build a modest, made-for-two retreat on five wooded acres in southern Virginia. Blue Ridge Timberwrights delivered the winning ticket in the form of a timber frame home. Acting as timber provider and general contractor, the team crafted a 2,000-square-foot home whose straightforward frame and careful detailing keep costs in check while elevating character. The open plan includes three bedrooms, two baths, and an airy loft oriented to postcard mountain views. Oversized windows flood the living areas with light; an efficient wood-burning stove replaces a bulky masonry hearth to save space and budget.
Smart tweaks amplified livability without adding excess: the couple stretched dormers from four to eight feet to capture usable loft space, lengthened the house by two feet to improve the kitchen, and kept interior walls to a minimum for an easy flow. Blue Ridge’s simple, honest timber lines set a warm backdrop for “city-meets-country” finishes, including DIY concrete countertops, streamlined furnishings, and cobalt accents alongside oak timbers and tongue-and-groove floors. French doors in the primary suite open to sweeping Blue Ridge views, reminding the owners daily why they chose this place. In their words, even a windfall wouldn’t tempt them to change a thing. Their timber frame home is proof that thoughtful design and skilled craftsmanship can make a small home feel like a fortune.
