A Classic Timber Frame Home in Pennsylvania

The lure of wood drives one couple to build a classic timber frame home in central Pennsylvania.

Photos courtesy of Mid-Atlantic TimberFrames

List the benefits of building a timber home, and you’ll instantly think of characteristics such as quality craftsmanship, long-lasting durability and strength, and traditional construction and design.

Also, if you build the home just right, the frame itself will serve as an instant focal point, drawing eyes upward and creating beautiful interior spaces. All of these qualities were important to the owners of this 5,500-square-foot full timber home, located in Honeytown, Pennsylvania, alongside the peaceful waters of Raystown Lake.

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“The owners wanted everyone to immediately know that it was a timber frame upon entering the home,” says Sam Ebersol, general manager at Mid-Atlantic Timberframes in nearby Paradise, Pennsylvania. “To do this, we created a design with an impressive Douglas fir frame with no drywall — a decision that really lets the wood take center stage.” Instead of drywall, the team went with eastern white pine walls in the kitchen and hickory walls throughout the rest of the house. Crowe Staircase

Other standout qualities in this mountaintop home include an open floor plan that’s perfect for entertaining, a master suite plus sunroom, and a striking second-story balcony. “We really wanted to create a design that showcased the vaulted ceilings and traditional frame,” says Ebersol. “All of the details that went into this home really accomplished that.”

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What makes it the best

The structural frame successfully breaks up the interior spaces, while still creating an open, airy feel.
The home’s entry provides a warm welcome for family and friends, thanks to a spacious porch, large roof overhang and exterior timbers that frame the space.
Ample outdoor areas, four bedrooms, and a finished basement with a game room and media space make the house an accommodating getaway for guests.