Timber Frame House in Vermont

Our clients, Charlie and Tracie, have owned a beautiful piece of property in Windsor, Vermont for the past fifteen years and are planning to build a timber frame home there in 2010. An existing cabin on the property will be moved and converted to a guest house to preserve its heritage and serve a new purpose.

We started the timber frame design (right), placing the home to take full advantage of the site’s solar orientation and breathtaking views. (It is never too early to start the home design process! Starting early allows plenty of time to consider sustainable materials and features which can be incorporated into your energy efficient house plans.)

The home design began with black and white models of the exterior formation of the timber house for massing and size, which will feature many of the indoor and outdoor uses of the home.

The first floor plan of the timber frame design includes an octagon breakfast nook off the kitchen, which will capture the mountain views and sunsets. The octagon will use SIP Panels, which will provide a continuous R-Value both in the walls and roof area without thermal breaks or studs, helping to maximize energy efficiency.

A Tulikivi soapstone masonry heater will become a focal point in the timber frame great room area. In addition to the Tulikivi, a wood burning fireplace will create ambiance on cold, snowy Vermont evenings.

Other sustainable considerations in this design will be a geothermal heat pump, solar energy using photovoltaics, and the possibility of a wind turbine which will convert wind energy to electricity.