When golf legend and six-time Major Championship winner, Nick Faldo, decided to build a vacation retreat in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, it’s fair to say it wasn’t just about the house. Overlooking the famous Old White TPC golf course at The Greenbrier resort, the 6,526-square-foot home brought Nick’s passion and career into his own back yard — literally.
But while the decision of where to build might have been an easy one, the design itself required a bit more thought and planning. “The project came to us through the architecture firm of Hart Howerton, and also via one of my partners who used to golf with Nick,” says Jay Pohley, owner of Pioneer Log & Timber. “It was kind of a win-win right from the start; like the project was meant for us.”
Even though the home was being built more than 2,000 miles away from Pioneer’s headquarters in Victor, Montana, the partnership with the design/build team proved to be a seamless one. “We listened to what the architect had planned, and they listened to us when it came time to talk about how the house would come together,” says Jay. “They drew the pretty pictures and we drew the shop drawings. The process went really smoothly.”
To create the mountain-style home that Nick had in mind, Jay and his team worked off those custom plans, bringing the house to life through a mix of all-natural materials. Large, Engelmann spruce logs were used for the full structural timber frame that takes center stage in the home’s great room, while the rest of the main house was conventionally built before timber accents were added. Tongue-and-groove ceilings top off each of the interior spaces, and smart window placement (including clerestory windows in the kitchen and eating area) brings in added light and frames the mountain views beyond.
While the home’s interior is impressive, visitors are wowed before ever setting foot inside. A blend of finishes, including hewn-plank siding, vertical board-and-batten, stacked stone around the foundation and a combination of wood-shingle and metal roofing crafts a perfectly rustic vibe. Both the main and lower levels walk out to stone patios, while the rear of the home also features a swimming pool and putting green. Another stand-out element: A freestanding “man cave” that’s accessible from the main house through a covered, open-air breezeway. The separate structure includes an outdoor fireplace and fly-tying room that’s the only full-log space in the house, according to Jay. Dovetail corners and thick chinking complement the home’s blended aesthetic.Despite its size, it’s the focus on natural elements that makes the home work so well with its environment, instead of competing with it — a smart design decision when the surrounding landscape is as striking as The Greenbrier. “This place is world-class,” says Jay. “It’s definitely fun to be able to say we’ve built here.”
Home Details
Square footage: 6,526
Architect: Hart Howerton
Log & timber provider: Pioneer Log & Timber
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The Art of Hybrid Timber Framing
