Cozy Timber Frame Homes Designs

Living in timber homes is not for everyone. These homes are unique, especially if you are designing and building your own timber frame home. Your new home can have one or more bathrooms, bedrooms, and floors. The square footage can range from less than one thousand to more than four thousand. The sky, or should we say budget, is the limit. With so many variables to consider there is no set price range for a timber frame home. One thing that is known is with a traditional timber frame home it is approximately twenty percent more than a conventional home. Wood prices fluctuate and what the labor would cost depends on the company. It also depends long it takes to construct the home. Basically, the final cost of your new home depends on the building material, size of the home, fixtures, and finishes you select. Before choosing a builder ask for an estimate of costs to make sure that what you want is within your budget.

Making your timber frame homes cozy

Having a cozy home means something different to each person. For some it could mean a one bedroom open floor plan home while others want a lot of space and defined areas.

• Let in the sunshine—having a lot of sunshine in your day is nature’s daily little pick-me-up. When you have enough sunlight during the day, it can help rejuvenate your mind and body so choose glass doors and many windows. In the lower level, opt for nine-foot ceilings so you can install eight-foot windows.
• Vary the heights of your ceilings—because of the frame, most of these homes are based around an open floor plan, which gives you plenty of space to highlight those gorgeous beams and for entertaining. Unfortunately, this type of floor plan does not create a cozy factor because with an open floor place there can be a high volume of noise with people talking, music playing, noises from the kitchen, etc. It is recommended that for the main living space of the home to use a two-story ceiling. You should then bring down your kitchen ceiling to the standard height because if the ceiling is too high it makes it hard to install venting, lighting, and cabinets.
• Create nooks—when you design cozy areas that holds just a reading chair, a game area, or a breakfast table this makes it easier for relaxing and having a place for casual entertainment. When making your floor plan designs make these areas different by incorporating architectural details. This will help to distinguish these cozy areas from the open living room. You could do this by installing a step up, step down, or half-wall.