Timberframe Journal - Update

As promised, I have some progress photos from Lawry's timber frame home. I am so excited by his home. I just can't wait to see the finished product.

See Lawry pictured right applying the finish coat to the sanded beams.

At some point last fall I had the idea that rustic timbers would be the perfect material for the window sills. Lawry ordered the material from Olde Wood and picked up the wood somewhere around November.

Well, it's deadline time now for the sills to go in before our faux painter arrives on Monday.

I would have had them installed as rustic and rough as they arrived from the supplier but...Lawry was concerned that the sills might be a tad too rough if folks brushed against them, or that they would be impossible to dust. I understand - function first.

So, Lawry spent all of last weekend sanding the sills and filling some of the super deep crevices with his special blend of black fill. I arrived on Monday to see his progress. I admit that I was concerned that he had made them too smooth or that they would look too finished.

Really, it's not possible to make these beam pieces too smooth, and after all the long hours that Lawry has put into the sills - they are simply wonderful!!!!

As of today - the sills are my favorite thing in Lawry's new home!!!

Not to worry, they are smooth with TONS of character. What we do have is a huge range of wood tones. Is there anything we can do about this?

I think not. I believe that we install them as they are and enjoy the unique character.

My next stop at Lawry's was to see the newly finished red and white reclaimed oak floor.

Again, the wood is gorgeous!! The red and white oak blend together to create a breathtaking floor with depth and character. I am not an oak lover - but these floors could convert me.

Today we spent a few hours looking at counter top material for Lawry's Master Bath. The tile we purchased last fall has been giving us a bit of trouble. We can't find a floor tile that seems right.

We agreed - let's start over. Trying to push for a solution that isn't coming means we should take a step back and review our options.

Our tile was purchased from the Seneca Tile Factory Outlet. Their tile is rustic and we love what we found but...it's a brown with a tad of a pinkish tint and it seems limiting.

We visited two granite showrooms here in town today. A polished granite is not my first choice for a timber frame home, but...you just never know what stone might speak to you.

Mont Granite carries a nice selection of "leathered" granites that I thought might might work for Lawry's Master counter top.

Leathered Granite - Cosmic Gold Leather

FYI - Some of the stone suppliers make up their own names for the stones. This can make it challenging to find the same stone from another supplier. Hum???

Can you see the texture in the photo above? It's wonderful to feel this surface.

Another option that I have rolling around in my mind is a soapstone. I LOVE the way soapstone feels. Smooth and somehow soft. It's an inviting material. Mont had three soap stones that were all a version of green.

Not sure about using a green - we'll have to mull over our choices.

Those of us who work with stone a lot know that the best way to really see the material is to wet the stone.

Shown above - Damp Soapstone - note the veins

I wouldn't normally think of a granite for a timber frame but this granite, Tuscon Persa, is really speaking to me. It looks like cracks in the earth and the dessert southwest. I think we can work with this material.

I'm fairly certain that we can find shower and floor tile that will just look wonderful with this stone.

Mont Granite has a slab on hold for us. Lawry and I will reconvene on Tuesday and visit a few other suppliers - just to see what's out there.

The Final Coat arrives on Monday to work on the faux finish. Jason will work his magic on the walls.

Until next week...enjoy the sunshine and think of spring.