Looking closely at some older homes on the Eastern Seaboard, I have noticed that the timber ceiling design is sometimes reminiscent of a boat hull. It’s quite likely that many of the homes I am thinking of were built by the inhabitants using the joining skills that they had developed in ship building.

It’s a natural progression as pioneer communities develop and advance that home building will become a profession. Home designs like the Cape Cod style home were replicated so many times because people were inclined to stick with a plan that worked in the environment of the place and the economy of the time. I grew up in a timber frame Cape Cod style house. I moved to a newer home on the same property when I was 11. A man from Vermont bought the 200 year old vacant house years later and had it disassembled and trucked to Vermont.

That’s very interesting, but if I was looking for a home, I think I would prefer new construction in the old style as opposed to a rebuilt pioneer home. For one thing, there are a lot of modern conveniences and efficiencies that the old houses don’t easily accommodate.

At VermontTimberworks.com, you will find photos and designs that illustrate what can be achieved with timber frame construction. This company builds houses, barns, places of worship, retail facilities and more. I think an imaginative and impressive retail design can create a situation where customers consider a visit to your store as an event rather than a chore. Timber frame design is a great sustainable way to make that happen.