Kitchens, more than one way to stir the pot.

When Joe and I were planning our hopefully last home together we spent a LOT of time discussing details.  We both like multifunctional rooms.

Kitchen in 'Deer Chase'

The room  I think we spent the most time on was the kitchen. When we joined households back in 2001; we both had large collections of books. Not surprisingly they were a lot of the same books; duplicates were donated to friends and our local ‘friends of the library’ bookstore. We STILL have an inordinate amount of cookbooks – they take up four selves in our pantry. (It is on our to-do list - to go through and thin them out, hopefully soon…before their numbers creep up to five pantry shelves.)

Kitchen Island in 'Deer Chase'

Now that we have cooked separately and together all these years, we think we have a kitchen design that now works well for us. We do have a walk in pantry where we store a lot of our serving pieces and small appliances that would normally in the kitchen or on the counter tops. Luckily we both like clean counter tops and space to sprawl out when we are cooking.  We have two sinks in the kitchen so we can work on separate prep projects.

Kitchens are very individual- that’s why your kitchen design has to work for YOU, or you both. When I find a recipe that works, I really don’t like to muck around with it; Joe is always saying, “How can we make this better?”

We have a piece of crewel work in our kitchen that’s says ‘The kitchen is the heart of the home.’

Company, close friend or not seem to find there way into just about everyone’s kitchen.

In the years we have been building homes for people, couples I have yet to hear “the kitchen in our house is too big, I want a smaller kitchen.” That said, it is probable that you will spend more time on this room than any other when planning your new home or re-model.

Click here to view some of the kitchens in timber frames we have built over the years.

Raising A Custom designed Douglas fir Timber Frame Home



Photo of Cabin Creek Timber Frames raising a Douglas fir timber frame.

This photo is to be published in "Carpentry" a textbook by Pearson Education

 (Author Keith Powell). The book is scheduled to be printed this year.

Planning --- Placing Your Timber Frame on Your Land

    Placing your home on your land.

•      What if any views,  do  you want to take advantage of? The answer to this question may not be as easy as you think it is. By way of example- When we were planning our timber frame home we had only walked the property in the spring and summer; when fall came we realized we had a view of the mountains we could not pass up. 

     If possible view/consider your property seasonally. The leaves are not always on the trees. This should be taken into consideration when assessing how much natural light a room will receive. Last winter we experienced rain and snow and very low temperatures that I have not experienced in the twenty-seven +years I have lived in North Carolina. There were many natural springs flowing - that no one ever remembers flowing in the past. Things to keep in mind:

• How much does Mother Nature love you?
• Will your home be subject to heavy snow loads?
• How much rain will you get?  
• Will you have to have an erosion plan?
• Will extra money have to be spent dealing with run-off? 
• Snow-belt, sun-belt, will temperature extremes be involved?
• Are the R-values of the SIPS's going to change from the norm?

      Let deciduous trees shade your home in the summer, decreasing heat gain in the summer. They will allow sunlight in to warm the house in the winter.
      A two-foot over hang will help protect the sides of your timber frame home decreasing heat gain in summer, and it will let sunlight in from a lower winter sun in the cold months.

No man is an island at least not where building departments and utility companies are concerned.

Timber Frame Home - Project Planning Guide

Make It --- MADE IN AMERICA

One of my fellow timber frame guild members posted this on his facebook page. I thought it was great and decided to share it with you too. Please watch the video and when you decide to proceed with your timber frame heavy timber project we hope you will decide to have it 'Made in America too!!!  Made in America Video Part 1

All of our heavy timbers come from the United States - North Carolina for the Eastern White Pine or Cypress from Georgia and South Carolina, Douglas Fir from Oregon and Washington state and so on. This video has inspired me to find out just where ALL the bits and bobs in our timber frames come from. I am willing to bet it's in the United States.

Simple Repairs to your current home = $$$, Wallpaper

Wallpaper.
     Most home buyers hate dated wallpaper. Keep in mind it is/was not their choice but yours and if it's dated that makes it worse. Really, consider getting rid of it. If the buyers think its going to cost them $$$ and oodles of time to get off - remove it. Most home buyers in today's market are looking for homes that are 'move-in ready' not fixer-uppers.
     Our son removed the wall paper that had been improperly applied to the walls of the great room of his home using this DIY tip:  He scored the old wall paper with a wallpaper scoring tool, then applied a mixture of 1/2 part fabric softener 1/2 part water --- let it soak in for a half hour or so then used a used a rented wall paper removal steamer device to "peel it off". He then rinsed the area where the old wall paper had been with fresh water to remove all the old wall paper glue and residue. Remember to be careful not to over wet or saturate the walls....especially if they are dry wall or plaster walls. Once the wall is completly dry again, you can do any minor repairs--spackle and sand before a fresh coat of paint = you will have new walls and $$$.

What Our Clients Have To Say About US

Here are few comments from our past clients. Perhaps the biggest compliment they give us however, is recommending us to their family and friends. Not a week goes by that we don't get an email from some of them. We appreciate them sharing photos of their completed timber frame homes with us and now you.       Love It - Live It

I'm very proud of my Cabin Creek timber frame. It has created quite a stir in the community.
 ----- Judge Jimmy W.


"We would like to thank the entire Cabin Creek staff for providing us with the best timber frame home. We looked very hard at multiple suppliers of timber frame homes and then we saw one of yours that was in the final stages of construction. We were sold on Cabin Creek immediately. The quality of joinery in your product was superb, as well as the quality of timbers. We didn't even see a close second from any of your competitors. We also changed our mind and went with cypress after seeing one of your cypress frames. We had not even considered cypress until we talked with your company. We were also very impressed with the craftsmanship of your group when the timber frame was raised. Please feel free to us as references for other potential customers. We moved into our new home the first of September. We learned a lot, acting as our own general contractor. The house is built to withstand an earthquake or tornado problem."
 ----- Judy and Gary, (P. Engineer)

"Ruth and I want to thank you and the whole Cabin Creek team for all the effort and hard work you put into our home. You did a beautiful job." ----- Ruth and Jim

My wife and I contracted with Cabin Creek to build and erect our timber frame on a beautiful lot in Franklin, NC. From the first day we talked with the owner who explained what timber frames are, and the process, we were convinced that it was to be our new home. From that moment on, we were kept informed about the progress of our new home on a regular basis. Cabin Creek worked with us throughout the process, including financing, and regular visits to the site to inform the contractor as well. In our experience with Cabin Creek, it was obvious that building timber frames with the utmost quality and dedication was one of their primary goals. Working with them was a very friendly but committed experience. The finished timber frame is as beautiful as we expected it to be.  ----- Art and Stephanie

We enjoyed working with Cabin Creek and felt like we were part of their family. We are also very pleased with the quality and craftsmanship of our timber frame home. We like to show it off and really are looking forward to the day when we are living there on a permanent basis. We would be more than happy to tell our story to anyone interested in purchasing a Cabin Creek Timber Frame home ----- LTC. George & Linda

We feel very fortunate to have a frame that is such a work of art. The craftsmanship of our frame is very impressive. Having a timber frame on a tight budget is possible. We feel that our frame is one of a kind, and that the men who built it are very talented. We are very fond of Cabin Creek and the service we received through the construction process. ----- Laura and Jamie

The house is beautiful-just as pretty as the ones in the magazines. Many of our friends have never seen a timber frame. We love the frame and loved watching it go up. We highly recommend Cabin Creek.
----- Dr. Phil and Tiffany

Excellent quality and craftsmanship. ----- Mark

Excellent! Joints are tight. The design, which you worked out for us, is outstanding. Since you started with planed timbers, it was easy to finish the frame. The timbers are beautiful. People are saying this is where they would come in case of a tornado or hurricane. The hammer beam bent makes a special impression. Our experience in dealing with Cabin Creek was enjoyable, from planning to raising. And we can recommend Cabin Creek without reservation. ----- Professors Lester and Linda

Heads look up and say, "I can't believe it". They really like it, and come back with kinfolks and friends. It is very energy efficient. Average bill this summer was $52. Very quiet. Can't hear anyone drive up in driveway. Cabin Creek cares about what they turn out.

They don't (just) cut and ship. These folks are craftsmen.   ----- William

We wish everyone a GREAT New Year - and many thsnkd to our happy timber frame home owners.