Our home is based around a 20-ft. by 50-ft. timber-frame open plan that includes all of our non-sleeping spaces – kitchen, living room, and two offices. A second timber frame (24 ft. by 26 ft.) houses the foyer, powder room, laundry, closets, and stairs to guest quarters (above the garage). The remaining spaces on level one consist of the master bedroom and master bath. Level two includes a guest master with bath, two additional bedrooms, a living room with kitchenette, and a second full bath.
The project goals were:
1. Net zero—achieved by using SIP panels, efficient windows and doors, proper air-sealing, an HRV tied into bathroom venting, solar hot water, a wood boiler with a thermal storage tank, and a ground-mounted solar PV system.
2. Design to match our lifestyle—single-level living with guest spaces above the attached garage.
3. Showcase of our design/building skills—Ben is an amateur woodworker and wanted to take his skills to the next level by building the timber frames for the house. Sanfra is an interior designer and wanted to design and outfit their dream home. Together they spent two years designing and tweaking the home in SketchUp before starting the build.
4. Sharing our experiences with others—Ben now runs a small business designing timber frames and teaches SketchUp at Yestermorrow Design/Build School. Sanfra helped design the headmaster’s house for a local high school.
5. Indoor/Outdoor living—with a wraparound deck, a stone patio, and three covered porches, the house transitions from inside to outside with style.
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Would you share your floor plan?