Cambridge Springs Residence
Our first frame for family! Fred and Susan spent weekends on their forested land in tents, and later a weekend cabin, for ten years. There they’ve raised their family and in September of ’06, the timber frame for their home.
The house is sited tightly in the trees beside a ravine. In this design, continuous oak tie beams spanning the width of the house are supported by pairs of matching interior columns. These pairs of live-edge walnut and forked black cherry define a central hall and frame a long view through the home. The floor steps down into the great room with windows and passages outside framed with pairs of matched braces. Overhead we placed two large, live-edge cherry beams chosen for their similar climbing curves. These beams help to lower the ceiling to a more comfortable scale. We’re told they’re also relaxing to look at.
Upstairs Fred and Susan wanted a steeply pitched roof with large gabled dormers. This made for angled and interesting spaces for bedrooms and a bath. From their own tree plantation Fred and Susan harvested and hand peeled all of the spruce rafters for their frame. These spruce logs made for heavy, tapered rafters and a good contrast against the white oak plates and darkly stained ceiling boards.