October’s Timber Frame of the Month “…greater than its parts”
When Brenda called to tell me she had decided to paint her master bedroom black, I fell out of my chair. A few days later, the phone rang, lime green in the kitchen and dining areas this time. Dusting myself off, I asked if she had chosen her countertops yet. “Yes” she replied and proceeded to tell me about the granite which had been ordered. Feeling much better about this project, I asked to see a sample via email. Opening the attachment knocked me to the floor again, the granite looked as if it had been shot with earthy colored paint balls. Needless to say, I was worried how this timber structure would “feel” when I walked through.
Have you ever been around a couple that can lovingly tease each other, yet not cross any internal boundaries? Matt and Brenda are like that. I don’t remember how many times during design, I would say, “Well, you two work that out and let me know what you want to do. I charge extra for conflict resolution.” The thing is…there wasn’t any conflict. Both of them are strong individually, and dynamic as a team. They divided up the decision making responsibilities and respected the others opinions and directions. It was a beautiful thing to witness.
The design went through a couple twists and turns before settling on a hybrid ranch, with attached garage. A finished basement brought the total square footage to just over 4000. The exterior was specifically intended to appear aged. The couple really wanted to compliment their property, not “force” a design into it. Obtaining 400 acres in the Smoky Hilled Buttes of southern Saline County was somewhat of a “coup” for the couple. Property there is hard to come by and coveted by many. The landscape is reminiscent of eastern Wyoming, not flat like most of Kansas.
Brenda describes her home as “casual elegance”. Although Brenda has a background in interior design and decorating, she had never before worked with a timber frame. Her recent experiences, has given birth to new business venture, “Designs In Mind”. She has partnered with good friend Sabrina, who also brings a wealth of experience in interior design. I’m looking forward to the day when they can consult on one of my timber frame projects. Their website is under way and will be linked to mine when completed.
When I toured the finished project, I was blown away. The oak frame looked fantastic as a backdrop to Brenda’s eclectic taste. The wall colors were perfect, the countertop was exactly the right choice, the floor coverings were warm and complimentary. Their timber structure had a great “feel”…it felt like “home”. It proves the old saying, “The sum of the whole is greater than its parts”.
John Van Bruggen Clydesdale Frames Co. 610 N. Clydesdale Dr. Hutchinson, KS 67501 www.clydesdaleframes.com 620-663-6200
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