News + Inspiration
Modern and Traditional Mix for a Tennessee Family
The residents of this home outside of Jonesborough, Tennessee wanted a home with a Rocky Mountains aesthetic – rustic textures, heavy timber all grounded with natural stone, but also wanted to marry it with the vernacular of their East Tennessee mountain location.
Our clients are a social family of four. Building a new home would give everyone their own private space, but plenty of areas for the family to spend time together and to entertain their extended social circle.
The exterior of the home uses a natural, woodsy palette. While keeping in the same color scheme, we gave the house a bit more dimension by using different materials on the exterior. Most of the house uses cedar shingle siding, while other parts, like the front porch, are set apart by using horizontal cedar boards as the siding. The whole home is anchored by Tennessee Fieldstone accents.
The most striking feature of the home’s exterior are the stunning gable trusses that frame the front and back of the house. These white oak timbers were handmade and installed by Carolina Timberworks. Each truss weighs 2,400 pounds and required a crane to lift into place. (See video here.)
Inside, the timbers are also a prominent feature, like in the vaulted great room. This room is a grand two-story room with a generous window that frames distant mountain views to the back of the house. With such a grand room, it needed bold features, which is why we designed a statement fireplace with stone surround and horizontal reclaimed barn wood extending up the wall. At the ceiling of this room is a large metal chandelier that samples from other metal accents in the space’s interior: timber frame connections, railing, and fireplace surround.
The main level of this home maintains an open feel, but there is a separation between the living room and kitchen and dining areas. In the kitchen and dining area, the ceiling drops from the great height of the living to make a more intimate space. Industrial and sleek lighting are used throughout the room that lends itself with the style of the black kitchen countertop. The kitchen island uses the same reclaimed horizontal boards that are found over the fireplace to tie the two rooms together. Dark cabinetry provides plenty of storage and camouflages the refrigerator.
The master bathroom is one of our favorite features of this home. The spacious room gives husband and wife their own sink and storage areas. Toward the back of the room there is a copper Japanese soaking tub that fills from the ceiling. Frosted windows allow for plenty of light to come into the room while also maintaining privacy.
A central stairwell made from oak timbers and custom metal railings sits in the middle of the house and connects all three levels. Upstairs is a catwalk balcony that has a small desk area for the children to do homework or build Legos. Beyond the catwalk is a cozy reading nook that sits in the middle of the sons’ bedrooms.
The lower level can be considered the true “fun zone” of an already entertaining house. This space incorporates a family den, home theater, bar and wine room, and a golf simulator. Outside is a custom shaped, infinity-edge pool to fit the topography of the site. The pool uses natural stone to blend in with the house aesthetic. The pool features a large stone diving board and a swim up bar to the outdoor cabana. The cabana features a large flat screen TV on a swivel, so you can watch TV from the pool or from the outdoor kitchen under the cabana.
This home is the perfect balance of modern and rustic. Thanks to our collaborators – Alchemy Design Studio, Carolina Timberworks, Medallion Pool Company and Terranera Family Builders for making this project a success.
See more photos of this project here.
