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Cottage Charm
Timber Frame Homes,
Fall 2002
Written by Linda Vaccariello
Photography by Roger Wade
A Wisconsin native finds cozy, Provencal appeal in a magnificent timber frame
Stephen Mosling grew up spending summers on Crystal Lake in Wisconsin. He played in its banks with his brothers and sisters and learned to swim in its quiet, clear water. The memory of those days stayed with him, and in the late 1980s, he bought a little cabin on the lake to use as a peaceful summer home. Three years ago, he took a big step, building a timber frame house on the property to replace the modest cabin. Today, his family and friends delight in visiting, making new memories to add to the old.
His idea for a timber frame was inspired by the land itself. “People started building summer cottages here in the 1920s and ’30,” Stephen says, “and years ago the home owners association planted trees that are now quite tall.”
The serene pine forest that now rings the lake has created such a beautiful outdoor setting that he thought it might be echoed inside. He’d seen some timber frame houses and, he says, “It seemed like a neat way to have a natural home.”
He hired architect Bill Aubrey and builder Stan Kellenberger, both of Oshkosh, WI to work on the project. Stephen worked with both men before, when he remodeled another home in Wisconsin. He liked their creativity and professionalism, and since both had experience with timber frame construction, Stephen felt confident about having them build his new house.
Bill and Stephen worked on the drawings for a year before they were ready to turn the plan over to timber frame producer Riverbend Timber Framing in Blissfield, Michigan. “It’s a very nice site,” Bill says. “Stephen owned two lots, so there was plenty of space for us to build the new house next to the existing cabin.”
Stephen wanted a design that would maximize the view of the lake. Even though he was building it for himself to live in alone, he decided he needed space for entertaining and hosting house guests. But, he says, “I didn’t want the house to look big.” So Bill designed a house that would tuck into the hillside, and run down towards the lake. From the front, only the top portion of the house is in view so it has a cottage charm. But, because the ground falls away in the back, it’s actually two full stories overlooking the lake with a dramatic series of windowed walls.
“With some clients, we do all the architectural drawings,” says Riverbend’s Tom Schrock. “In this case, we just collaborated with Bill on the finer points of the frame and panel design.” When Bill completed the plans for the 6,000 square foot home, Riverbend started constructing the handcrafted frame and Insulspan panels used to enclose the frame and roof.
Since the new house was built next to the existing cabin, Stephen lived on site during the raising of the frame and early stages of construction. He even found himself helping out. “I waxed the pegs before Stan and his partner pounded them in,” Stephen says. “Otherwise I tried not to get in the way.”
At one time Stephen owned a 1930s home that was built in the French country style. He enjoyed the character of that house so much that he explored the motif in his new home. The pale, creamy stone suggests a Provencal farmhouse. “You have to pick every stone, and then it takes a lot of cutting to fit it correctly,” says Jeff Rockey of Rockey’s Masonry in New Gilarus, WI.
So do the softly curved braces of the frame set against the ‘ancient’ walls. To get the aged look, painters hand rubbed the plaster with layers of color for texture, then applied a glaze to get its mottled down effect. “People always want the formula,” Stephen says.
Although the house is large, there are comfortable spots at every turn.
The living room is well-proportioned for conversation, with several furniture groupings, creating convivial corners. The den, with glass-fronted doors, can be closed off for more privacy without feeling closed in, and the sunroom offers a secluded spot wit comfortable furnishings. But invariably, guests gravitate to the kitchen where sunlight coming from the windows reflects off the wide plank white oak floors and sparkles on the cabinets glass doors.
“I wanted a slightly unusual design,” Stephen says. “I put the sink in the island and the stovetop in front of the window instead of the other way around which is more common. When I have company, every body hand out around the island. And when I am cooking, I can enjoy the view of the lake and the woods.” Other eye-catching features in the kitchen include the handsome custom built cabinets, and the windows in the gable end high above.
These gable end windows were a feature in the original plan but installed only after the house was enclosed because Stephen was not certain that he wanted them. Once the house was underway and he could actually stand inside, Stephen asked Bill to put them back in the plans.
Bill also made adjustments to the size and placement of the windows to take advantage of the sun’s position in the summer, and capture the changing light throughout the day.
“The light seems to come in from all directions. The morning sun reflecting off the lake is spectacular, then the light comes in through the dormers in the afternoon, and in the evening, the sunsets are marvelous,” Stephen says.
Everyone working on the house says their sense of satisfaction grew out of the chance to be creative during the finishing process. Both Bill and Stan—who studied architecture together and have worked on many of the same projects—are comfortable working that way. “You’re cutting yourself short if you don’t have an open mind,” Stan says. “There are usually three or four solutions to a problem.”
While Stephen has the place to himself, he’s seldom there alone. Friends from the city, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, are always welcome guests. “It’s easy to entertain here,” he says. “You can canoe, swim, play tennis and hike. And the house is big enough that everyone has a lot of privacy.” And that is a testament to good design. |
