A Timber Frame House With A View

Don and Nita Jackson purchased a 160-acre hilltop retreat in Bradford, New Hampshire in 1986. The property came with a charming 1800s farmhouse, which unfortunately lacked any insulation for cold winter nights. The couple had the farmhouse renovated in 1997 by Timberpeg Independent Representative, Old Hampshire Designs, which made for a much more livable retreat. Approaching retirement, the Jacksons were considering many locations for their permanent residence but kept getting drawn back to this mountain site. The existing farmhouse would not do for a permanent home, however, with its single bathroom and lack of closets. The Jacksons again turned to Old Hampshire Designs, a Timberpeg Independent Representative, to build them a 3,385 square foot mountain home. The Bradford home is designed around the magnificent views of the Sunapee Mountains. In order to emphasize this view, there is no formal entryway and guests proceed directly into the great room. With its 26 foot height and bank of windows filling the entire rear wall, the great room certainly brings the outdoors in. A large stone fireplace compliments the room’s grand wood trusses, posts, and beams. The two halves of the upstairs are separate, not connecting through the great room, which adds to the airiness of the room.

On one wing of the first floor lie the dining room and kitchen. The home has a great deal of built-in furniture, in order to keep the furnishings simple. In line with this philosophy, the dining room has a built-in window seat with storage beneath and cabinets to the sides. The kitchen has all the amenities needed for everyday living and exceptional entertaining, including an island with bar seating and commercial-quality range and prep sink. The outer L counter features plenty of prep space and a large sink, while the remaining wall houses a built-in refrigerator, storage, and a double wall oven.

Although the great room provides grand views of the mountains, a sunroom off the dining room provides great views of the remainder of the property as well. The sunroom is appointed with comfortable furniture and is a great place to read a book, and its location next to the dining room and kitchen makes it a great place for entertaining as well. On the other wing of the house lies the master bedroom. It features a fireplace with built-in bookcases flanking it on each side. The room has its own cathedral ceiling and loft space, and the build-in theme extends here with another window seat with drawer storage below. A large walk-in closet also has built-in drawers, while the master bathroom has a soaker tub with a grand view. In the front of this wing is a mudroom area connecting the house with the breezeway, complete with laundry and a lavatory.

The upstairs wing over the kitchen features a large guest bedroom with walk-in closet and full bathroom. The upstairs wing over the bedroom houses a home office, while the cathedral space above the master bedroom could easily be converted into an additional bedroom if desired. If you wished to join the two wings, a balcony across the great room is an easy addition. If you would like to learn more about this timber frame house, or if you have a piece of land yourself that you’d like to build a timber frame house on, then contact the team at Timberpeg today. They can help discuss design options and put you in touch with an independent representative in your area.

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