New Take On A Farmhouse
Southern Living – September 2003
Down-home charm and modern conveniences give this Virginia couple the best of both worlds. Download the article (see below) to learn more!
Timber Frame Building for a Fresh Take on the Traditional Farmhouse
On a 20-acre hilltop in northern Virginia, Russ and Polly Scoville partnered with Blue Ridge Timberwrights to build the “Seaway House,” a modern take on a farmhouse with long views to the Blue Ridge. Working with architects Charles Swartz and Elizabeth Reader, they oriented an open, cathedral-like great room to reveal much of the home at a glance, while the ground level doubles as an easily accessible apartment with its own kitchenette and utility room. Outside, alternating lap and board-and-batten siding, flared metal roofs, and deep overhangs lend down-home character with crisp, contemporary lines.
The timber story is the heart of the house. This timber frame home uses Douglas fir reclaimed from wooden rafts that once protected the St. Lawrence River and Seaway shipping channels; the homeowners learned about this source through Blue Ridge Timberwrights and christened their home accordingly. Inside, a mezzanine and rail appear “peeled back” to showcase the joinery, while individual insulated wall panels tie into the frame for efficiency.
Southern Living’s judges called the design a fresh, award-winning interpretation of a classic farmhouse — rooted in practical, readily available materials yet elevated by a clear sense of order, balance, and hierarchy that shapes the home’s feel. It’s a comfortable, light-filled retreat that brings together familiar Virginia vernacular and thoughtful modern craft.
