The Simple Life: A Blue Ridge Mountains Timber Cabin

In Henry David Thoreau's epic, On Walden Pond, he writes, "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach." Similar to Thoreau, Ann and Jean Fitzsimmons longed to create a retreat where they could not only enjoy their lush natural surroundings but also get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They found exactly what they were looking for at the serene Hound Ears Club in Boone, North Carolina.

"I love the wonderful sense of isolation," Jean explains. "The woods are gorgeous. Our friends and family understand why we go up there and hide from the world." After they found their setting, Ann and Jean began their search for the perfect house. Before deciding on a timber frame, they visited a few timber homes. "We like the look and feel of a timber frame—it feels substantial yet cozy," notes Ann.

Ann, a computer consultant, and Jean, a history teacher, built a 2,500-square-foot, three-bedroom timber home on about 3 acres at the Hound Ears Club, a gated golf community near the resort towns of Boone, Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, complete with tall hardwood trees, eye-catching boulders and rolling streams.

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Their main home is in Hickory, about one hour from their new retreat, and they visit most weekends. Family members, including their son Knapp and daughter Cameron, often spend time at the timber home. The couple selected Harmony Exchange (now Harmony Timberworks) as their timber provider, a North Carolina-based company in operation for more than 25 years. Because the property is steep, Ann and Jean were concerned that too much of the house would show from the street below. They didn't want it to dominate the landscape and appear too imposing. So they called their friend, Charlotte-based architect Scott Mitchell, to design a house that addressed their worries. "We explained the situation, and he quickly understood our concerns," Ann recalls.

Hybrid Design

According to Dan Kiser, a designer with Harmony who worked on Ann and Jean's home, the couple's biggest decisions for the home were the truss design, species selection and exterior deck details. They chose a hybrid style with conventional framing for the kitchen, dining area and master bedroom, while the great room and covered deck are timber framed. Ann and Jean selected white pine for the interior and cedar for the exterior. Ann and Jean sought a simple but dramatic truss style, so Dan designed a modified king post and strut truss with a curved lower chord for some flair.

"The frame is simple and quaint. We were able to use a timber frame without being overly elaborate," notes Dan. There also were aesthetic concerns for the exterior. For underneath the deck, Dan created decorative end cuts on the joist plates and purlins, and used curved braces. The deck system also was designed on piers to lessen the amount of wall area visible from the street. For the interior, the couple wanted an open floorplan and a cozy atmosphere. "We spend most of our time in the great room—it's the focal point of the home," says Jean. An alcove off the great room, which the couple uses as a library and office, is where Ann paints and quilts. Faux fieldstone was used for the impressive 14-foot-high fireplace in the great room.

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Quilting Time

"We chose it primarily for cost considerations and we thought it looked just as good as real stone," Ann says. Ann and Jean have created a relaxing retreat that they can go to whenever they want to get away from it all. As Jean notes, it's truly a "great escape." Thoreau couldn't have put it better.

Shortly after building their home, Ann decided to take a quilting class on a lark and got hooked on it. Her colorful quilts became a wonderful contrast to the home’s wood walls and floors.

“I think my favorite quilt is the one above the fireplace because it was my first one and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing,” explains Ann.  “But I had seen one made in a similar style and was compelled to try it.”

Instead of using a pattern, Ann typically comes up with her own distinctive designs for the quilts. “It usually takes about one month to design and piece the quilt,” explains Ann. She then takes her creations to The Quilt Shop in Boone to finish the process.

Many of the quilts boast vibrant multi-colored patterns. There are now eight quilts throughout the house, with four on the walls, one on every bed and one covering a swing. “I’ve run out of space,” laughs Ann.

TIMBER FRAME DETAILS:
Square footage: 2,500
Timber producer: Harmony Timberworks

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