The decor was not my style. I discovered one of the best, most cost effective and immediate ways to create a totally fresh look was with paint. I also learned the importance of choosing the correct shade of a color. Do you have any idea how many shades of white exist out there in the…
You’ve fallen in love with a rustic barn home; its beautiful timbers, great wood beams, wide board ceilings and heavy plank floors. It has great bones but is just a bit tired looking… and dark! How to spruce it up? Begin by setting a realistic budget. What do you want to accomplish and how much…
People often suggest the need to design a house with the master bedroom on the first floor. You hear things like “someday you may not want or be able to climb stairs”. Possibly, but it may also be true that we could stay in better shape as we age if we are climbing stairs. My…
Yes, even in this economy. I know you’re saying to yourself “Is she nuts?” but please hear me out. I have a point or two that may resonate with some of you non-believers as I, too, would have fit into your category not so long ago. Having just built a new post and beam…
Exterior Do’s & Don’ts Part 2 Do Concern Yourself With Window and Door Placement. While many of us spend time pouring over drawings of our floor plans, picturing where walls will be, how furniture will fit, the layout of the perfect work triangle for the kitchen; this thought process does not necessarily include how…
Here’s a virtual video of my Carriage House. This was created as we finished the design phase at Yankee Barn Homes to help us get a feel for the interior. We’re thrilled with how the 5ft kneewalls give us an intimate feeling of space on the second floor. Enjoy! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-XhtQp1H34] Want more information about Yankee Barn Homes?…
Planked kitchen ceiling by Yankee Barn Homes One of the beauties of a timber frame home is the gorgeous planked ceiling contrasting with the beams. It really complements what a post and beam house is all about. But the 2 ½” planks used by some builders for second floors leave the homeowner with quite…
The other day I asked a friend of mine what would be important to her should she design a house at this stage of her life. Her response was so funny I asked her to write it down. Here she is in her own words: “First, I feel that I must admit something: the…
Many people see the terms academic help “post and beam” or “timber frame” as synonymous with log home living. Nothing could be further from the truth. Log homes tend to be more rustic with a sometimes overwhelming amount of wood exposed on the interior. Post and beam homes expose the timber structure in the interior while still allowing for the warmth…
Lesson # 3: Know what you need. Know what you want. Consider interior & exterior. Bring pictures. This will assist both you and your designer/planner (whether it’s an architect or a post and beam design specialist) immensely. People often know the amount of money they’re willing to spend but many don’t really know how they’d…
I must confess: I’ve not always been a fan of the boys and their over the top opulence. But you know what they say about those who come late to something. I’m so pathetic; I decorated my home without consciously realizing I was totally creating a Louis XVI French Country Look. How sad is that?…
This fantastic seaside home sits on a half acre lot! Consideration 1 – It’s true – size matters…but not that much. It’s not the lot size that matters; it’s the aesthetic of the lot. There must be a good marriage between the site and the structure being built on it. Where people often go…