See How They Built This One-of-a-Kind Timber Frame Pool House

Craftsmanship Meets Tradition

You'll want to take a closer look at this stunning timber frame pool house built using traditional, old-time European building techniques, the way manors, castles, homes, and inns were built in the Middle Ages. This unique timber frame design is incredibly sturdy thanks to the solid timber beams and post-and-beam style construction. The builders used traditional timber framing in the construction process, combining lap jointing and pegged mortise and tenon joints to create a one-of-a-kind rustic chic luxury pool house. This pool house used a traditional timber frame construction combined with a set of more modern, upscale elements that celebrate innovative design and master craftsmanship.

Unique Materials and Design Features

In the pool house main room the builders brought in pieces of Northern White Pine milled by an expert local craftsman, each uniquely shaped and sized to create the iconic post-and-beam style construction. If you look closely at the arches at the top of each supporting beam, you can see the carefully hewn arches installed above the beam and below the post. The sturdy pool house construction using the arches and beams means that the only thing it takes to hold them up is a series of wooden pegs. The bathroom features an ode to the traditional roots of timber frame home construction with a sliding antique Northern White Pine barn door with steel hardware.

Modern Amenities in a Rustic Setting

The walls were constructed out of Pennsylvania Ashlar Stone held up by antique hardware posts, complementing the rustic wooden door and main-room siding with textured, colorful stone. The pool house builders took a more modern approach to the shower, which features a luxurious rain shower head and glass-tiled walls. The pool house doesn't include a fully equipped kitchen but rather a refined kitchenette with top-of-the-line appliances, including an electric cooktop and stainless-steel sink, paired with a Kitchenaid refrigerator.

Flexible Spaces for Year-Round Enjoyment

The flooring, just like the rest of the main room is a cement slab with hot water radiant heat, perfect for entertaining year-round. The bathroom wall backs the space behind the cooking and prep area, which features a honed granite countertop in Rain Mist. The second of the custom timber frame pool house was specifically built to be open to endless possibilities. It can be transformed into a second-floor bedroom, a game room, or a general entertainment space. The owners opted to give the Northern White Pine flooring a darker stain, deciding on an oil-based Minwax wood finish in Provincial.

Exterior Aesthetics and Historical Techniques

The exterior of the pool house design reflects the interior, featuring that same beautiful Northern White Pine. To complement the darker exterior, the builders also installed a cupola with a copper top, stained with Sikkens Cetol to create an orange cast. The gleaming copper and the stained siding are set in contrast to the Anderson French Doors with Venetian Bronze hardware.

The Timelessness of Timber Framing

Timber framing is a method of building that is hundreds of years old and predates the use of iron nails. Timber frame joinery is secured with hardwood pegs that are sometimes called treenails. There are plenty of examples of early timber frame designs that you can find in America, which date back to the late 1600s which are still in use today. Timber frame home designs are known for their longevity. Timber framing became less popular as there was a need to mass-produce buildings.