Design Considerations for Mountain Style Timber Frame Homes

Sometimes the best design ideas spring from our favorite childhood memories – a camping trip, fishing with Grandpa, building a fort in the woods. And then we grow up, and it all comes back around in that full, beautiful circle – you find that perfect piece of paradise, and these cherished memories now become the foundation to bring your dream of a Timber Frame Home to life, so you can continue making those same memories with future generations for years to come.

Timber Frame Homes offer unrivaled beauty and unparalleled craftsmanship – the kind of craftsmanship that is rare to find today. Whether your home is on a lake shore, a mountain top or a vast valley, there are different design elements to consider while customizing your home.

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Pretty and Practical

Timber Frame homes, by definition, are a traditional method of building with heavy timbers, with joints secured by large wooden pegs. The method comes from working directly from logs and trees, rather than pre-cut dimensional lumber, which gives each home a distinct look and unique style.

Timber Frame homes are unique masterpieces with distinctive elements that set them apart from other styles of homes. Let’s look at five important design elements that make up Mountain Style architecture for Timber Frame homes.

Connection to the land:

The terrain and slope surrounding the land will have a massive impact on the design and overall look of the home. Whether it is in rugged mountain terrain, on an expansive prairie dotted with wildflowers, or deep in the woods, the best architects will design the home to aesthetically merge into the natural elements surrounding, while preserving the existing land, so the home belongs within the view.

Orientation will also play a major part in the design – thoughtful planning will go a long way towards maximizing the potential of your site, allowing the home to utilize the sun’s natural light to create bright, dramatic spaces, and substituting artwork with walls of windows showcasing every bit of the view.

Materials & Color Palette:

The natural elements of a mountainous environment (snow, wind, temperature swings) can lead to additional stresses on a home, so selecting the proper materials will play an essential role in the design process. Natural, earthy tones, organic elements, and reclaimed wood and stone that will bring the outdoors inside are all standard in Mountain Style homes. An experienced architectural designer will help to narrow down the vast range of materials that will be best suited for your location.

Sloped Roofs:

A common characteristic of Mountain Style Architecture is sloped rooflines. While they can be complex with multiple angles, or very modern with a single large surface, the incline is characteristic of the Mountain Style – even to the most basic level of mimicking the shape of a mountain. Inclined roofs are a necessity to resist hail and snow, but these dramatic rooflines are what makes the home stand out, while at the same time blending in.

Lighting:

Capturing nature’s raw beauty is the ultimate challenge. The drama of a spectacular sunset should be complimented in a well done lighting plan. Combining warm, textured fixtures with well appointed natural light that goes from bright to soft as the day progresses can take a standard space and transform it to a stunning, luxurious masterpiece.

The Nashota residence is a showstopper at dusk.

The Wow Factor:

This is your moment – to do the unexpected. Dynamic arched beams, a custom outdoor living area, walls of windows, a massive stone fireplace, and hand-crafted

woodwork – these are the unique elements that will showcase the great outdoors, increase the value of the home as the years go by, and cause your guests to stop in their tracks. The conversation starters where memories are made, and statement pieces that your grandchildren will be excited to show their children.

Balancing luxury with leisure, capturing the love of the great outdoors, and turning rugged surroundings into a personal paradise – these are the challenges Mountain Style Home designers solve every day, and with an experienced team of professionals to guide you, the Timber Frame home of your dreams can become a reality.

For nearly half a century, Riverbend has been designing beautiful homes of all styles, including Mountain Style. Visit our photo gallery to see examples of how Riverbend’s architectural designers have led the industry in Timber Frame Homes. Our award winning designers are waiting to hear your story.