Friday, July 18, 2008

Custom Timber Frame or Classic Barn Home?

We've received a few calls and emails from folks who were interested in learning more about the differences between our "Custom" and "Predesigned" lines of post and beam timber frame homes.

On our site we have a variety of models and floor plans but it's important to point out that you are never limited to these examples! Typically, our predesigned Classic Barn Homes are less costly than a full customized home yet both models create an extremely energy efficient envelope that can help reduce your heating and cooling costs by 40-50%!

Pre-Designed Classic Barn Home Models & Floor Plans

Just because they are called predesigned, does not mean they are cookie-cutter homes. In fact, even when selecting one of our Classic Barn Home series, you can always customize it based on your needs and wishes.

Inspired by the beauty and tradition of homesteads, seashore cottages, farmhouses and colonial buildings of days gone by, we’ve designed more than 25 standard timber frame barn house plans and models to suit every lifestyle and budget—what we call our Classic Barn Homes.

Because they are pre-designed, choosing one of our handsome Classic Barn Homes reduces some of the costs typically associated with building a timber frame, and can get you into your dream home faster.

No matter what you choose, you’ll get Davis Frame’s same unwavering commitment to quality and attention to detail—and the benefit of our more than 20 years of experience in handcrafting authentic timber frame homes. Let Davis Frame create the beautiful, functional, traditional house that you and your family will be able to call home—for generations.
To help get you started, we invite you to check out our different models and floor plans, as well as our gallery of Classic Barn Homes.



Classic Barn Models
Centuries-old timber frame barns are so handsome and sturdy that it’s increasingly common to see them painstakingly converted into beautiful homes. Achieve a similar aesthetic with our Classic Barn Series.

Classic Farmhouse Models
Typically situated not far from the barn and other outbuildings, the farmhouse was the soul of the family farm and came to stand as a symbol of self-reliance, hard work and homey comfort. The typical farmhouse is two-story, typically with a central corridor and stair. Long farmers' porches along one, two or three sides were not uncommon. Our Classic Farm House Series was designed to offer solid comfort and lots of flexibility for the interior plan.

Very popular in the American colonies from 1690 to 1830, the distinctive features of a colonial style home include the squared, symmetrical shape, central door, and straight, aligned windows on the first and second floors. For a fresh take on tradition, we’ve opened up the living and dining room areas to make them perfect for modern entertaining.

Custom Timber Frame Models and Floor Plans

This is where the fun starts! Over the past twenty years, Davis Frame Company has designed and built hundreds of beautiful custom homes. Along the way we've collected our favorite timber frame home floor plans to act as starting points in designing a home. Whether you're looking for a timber frame home, home addition, or barn home, you'll find plenty of ideas here and in our Gallery.

Timber frame construction offers greater design flexibility than post and beam. From spacious luxury homes to developing plans for a smaller cottage-style houses, our in-house home design services can help you define exactly what you want.

The below examples are some of our favorite custom timber frame homes that we simply felt obligated to turn into "custom models" for you! Please click to see more of our custom timber frame home models and plans!

The Chesapeake

3 Bedrooms
2.5 Bathrooms
2,378 Total Sq Ft
1,008 First Floor
1,370 Second Floor




The Mountainside

3 Bedrooms
2 Full, 2 Half Baths
3,220 Total Sq Ft
2,112 First Floor
1,108 Second Floor
As always, if you ever have questions, please feel free to give us a call, visit our timber frame website or contact us! We'd love to see the floor plans you are working on, too!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Timber Frame Open House and Clambake

(Davis Frame Staff and the homeowners)
Davis Frame hosted the big event of the year, our clambake and open house on Saturday, June 28th. The event took place in South Dartmouth, MA near the beautiful south shore. The day could not have been any better! The rain held off and we had a picture perfect day! Over 62 people came to the event to enjoy a wonderful clambake style lunch while touring one of our custom timber frame homes.

The home is a 6,047 square foot timber frame home featuring Douglas fir timbers. The home owners chose the clean and simplistic look of the common rafter timber frames for their dream home. Principal Purlin, Ridge Beam and Collar Tie timber frames were all used in their home. A pergola connects the home to the detached timber frame barn that they use as their garage.
The guests fell in love with the house, especially the open design layout and the overall beauty of the timbers. The homeowners truly put a lot of effort in making this timber frame home a masterpiece. You can tell the owners of this home really enjoy it and it was designed to entertain. We want to thank them for sharing their beautiful custom timber frame home with us.

If you missed this event, we will be hosting a fall open house in Vermont as well as the Pacific Northwest. Don’t forget to check us out at the Lakeside Living Expo near the beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee in Gilford, NH on July 18-20th. Check later this summer for details on the upcoming fall events at our events page.

If you can’t make any of our upcoming events, please schedule a tour of our manufacturing facilities and model home today!

PS: Thanks to Ibex Outdoor Clothing for the cool merino wool polo jerseys we are wearing!