A Hybrid Timber Home in New England

Photography by Matt Kisiday

From the beautiful beaches knitted with sand grass, to its marshes, bogs and a cadre of rare and endangered animals, Nantucket Island is a remarkable habitat. In fact, half of the island is protected in a land conservation program for the preservation of its natural splendor. 

But in the spaces in between, the island also plays host to another kind of habitat — a setting in which cobblestone streets lead to seashell driveways and weathered getaways clad in cedar shakes. Tucked in among these icons of New England architecture, Eliza Silva’s home speaks to both this classic vernacular and a conservationist mindset.

Constructed with a unique, high-performance thermal envelope developed by New Energy Works (NEW), a timber frame designer and manufacturer based in Farmington, New York, the roughly 4,000-square-foot home and its 2,000-square-foot basement take energy efficiency principles to new levels, utilizing both timber frame and conventional construction systems. Here, where summer’s warmth is fleeting and bitter winters are a harsh reality, Eliza’s home is comfortable no matter the season.

An interior designer by trade (and the founder of Eliza Allés Interiors), Eliza stepped into the role of general contractor for this project. She sent her drawings, plans and elevations to Kyle Barber, design manager and lead architect at NEW, who worked closely with Eliza, aligning her design concepts with the engineering necessary for the timber frame hybrid. 

Portions of the home — like the dining room, office and third-floor bedroom — are structurally built with timber framing. The rest is a conventional build, with NEW’s unique layering system. Rigid board insulation outside the sheathing provides continuous insulation even at stud locations, making it weathertight yet breathable. Walls and timbers were manufactured at NEW in advance, facilitating a rapid onsite building process that reduced construction costs. “We were able to get this beautiful home for a reasonable amount compared to a traditional stick-built [house],” Eliza explains. 

A bevy of creative, sustainable materials bolsters the home’s eco-friendly approach. Take, for example, the sheep’s wool batting that Eliza employed as insulation for the walls, which she and her family installed themselves, or the lye-and-soap finish that seals the heated, 25-foot-by-18-inch Douglas fir floorboards. With repeated mopping, the combination transforms into a waxy, flat finish that rehydrates the floor and removes stains. “It’s like a living finish,” Eliza says.  

The dwelling’s organic nature makes it a sanctuary of health and wellness. Aesthetics also support this, infusing each space with the tranquility of Scandinavian minimalism while respecting the Nantucket aesthetic. Throughout, an air of earthy elegance ties it all together. 

In the entry, a bespoke mural of flowering tree branches sets the tone for a refined, biophilic ambiance throughout. Just off the entry through arched openings, the living room is anchored by a sculptural floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace with an 800-pound stone imported from Malta for the floating hearth. In front of it, two couches, each taking a unique form, are upholstered in the same sand-colored fabric, bringing soothing continuity without the monotony of an overly matched set. 

Eliza deployed a similar strategy in the kitchen. She selected two cabinetry styles from deVOL Kitchens, one for the pantry and island and one for the remaining kitchen cabinets. On both, Calacatta Gold marble caps the countertops. 

But as much as the interiors are shaped by the landscape and natural materials, they’re informed by the structure itself — three floors that taper down to a single level. “This helps the house feel grounded, even though it’s three stories,” Kyle explains. “It also works in conjunction with what we wanted to do with the interiors. We worked with Eliza, figuring out how to define the ancillary spaces.”

This tactic is particularly evident in the dining and living areas. The nearly 22-foot vaulted living room ceiling is supported with 8-by-10-inch truss chords. Smaller, 6-by-8-inch rafters with a tongue-and-groove inset dial the volume down in the 15-foot-high dining area for a cozier space. 

Outside, cedar-shake siding and coastal landscaping pay homage to the Nantucket setting. A boardwalk-inspired deck wraps around the natural pool, and feathery grasses and minimal turf align the landscaping with the landscape. 

From top to bottom, inside to out the home embodies a sense of sophisticated minimalism. It’s the kind of natural, practical beauty that reflects the sandy, salty spirit of Nantucket itself.

Home Details

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Square Footage: 4,000 (not including basement) 

Bedrooms: 4

Baths: 4 full, 1 half

Architect/Timber Provider: New Energy Works

Design: Eliza Allés Interiors

See Also: A New Timber Home With the Look of a Historic Lodge