You would be hard-pressed to find an architectural style more connected to traditional timber framing than the centuries-old homes built in the Italian, French and English countryside. With its stone exterior, decorative gables and steep roof pitches the Tuscany conceptual plan has inspired a number of Riverbend clients to build a timber home which captures the essence of this distinctive European style.

Although the Tuscany plan - based on an original design by architect Jerome Cerny - has been used by multiple clients, each finished home has its own character, as it is a reflection of the way each family lives and the land on which they chose to build. For the Wolfe family, they choose a more open public space between the kitchen, dining area and great room. The Devlan project required creative positioning to sit atop a cliff overlooking Lake Michigan, while the Koblis' added a family room off of the dining space.

The origins of each of these completed homes can be found in the original concept of the Tuscany plan, yet each home has unique, personal warmth. These examples help illuminate just how much you can customize a plan, while staying true to the elements of the original design that first attracted you.

"Clients often wonder just how many changes they can make to one of the plans we showcase in our portfolio," says Riverbend designer Marty Birkenkamp. "Our normal response is 'however many you want' and at first that can be intimidating. They don't always realize that we are trained to work with them to design a home that meets all their needs, from style and buildsite to flow of layout and budget. All they need is to provide these parameters and we go to work."