Exterior showing timber frame porch and embellishmentsHybrid house with creative timber frame elements

Darryl & Jill Plandowski, Port Williams, Nova Scotia

This project was fun and economical for the clients.  Because the house was large, it w as decided to do a hybrid, with timber framing in different areas of the home.

rafters added to denrafters in the denthe finished dentimber rafters in den


staining beams in our shopThe first phase took us to the 30’ x 30’ room above the two-bay garage.  We used hemlock timbers for the rafters because of their length. 

On some occasions the client can pitch in and help with staining timbers.  So Darryl was involved in applying coats of Benjamin Moore cherry stain and one coat of Sansin timber sealer to the seasoned timbers.  We were very pleased with the results.

truss in great roomtruss and stone chimneytrusses in great roomupstairs view


The vaulted ceiling in the main part of the house displays three king post trusses with two joining ridges.  Local stone mason Bobby Smith did his magic with the stonework on the fireplace.

Richard's custom post bootsporch with boots before finishingfinished porch with stoneworklooking down the covered verandahlooking up at the beams of the verandah


The third phase took us to the front porch where Richard suggested his custom post boots which add not only anchors to the posts but an elegant detail to the overall project.  The combination of timbers, stonework and metal make for a striking entry.

timber frame archtimber frame arch with gunstock postgreat room with timber frame archhybrid timber frame great roomentrance with timber frame arch


The icing on the cake was when the clients asked Richard to do something at the entrance to the great room.  Having the luxury of 10’ high ceilings, we could be creative with large gunstock posts and graceful knee braces for the archway.