Quaint & Cozy

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Jacqueline and Lee have seen and lived in all kinds of houses as they had traveled throughout the world with their military commitment.  The varying construction styles and techniques had captured their attention and had created a vision for their own house.  While many of the architectural styles would not necessary blend into a US setting, they did however, learn what quality construction looked like.

Living so away from their roots and family also helped Jacqueline and Lee define what was important to them; that is, giving their kids a place to call ‘home.’  That’s right, not just a house, but a respite.  For Jacqueline and Lee, that meant creating a quality home that would stand for generations.  That was warm, inviting, and low maintenance.  So what did this vision of warmth and quality look like to them? 

Jacqueline and Lee became enamored by the century old timber framed homes of Europe.  For them, seeing the natural warmth and rich variability of the wood inside these homes gave them a feeling of awe.  “It’s very calming to get away and enjoy nature,” says Lee.  “So to bring that indoors with the use of timbers and tongue and groove paneling feels surreal.

Also important was to create a place where their kids could call home.  “Having to move every couple of years can be very unsettling to a child.  We want our children to have one place they will always remember as home.  A place near relatives where fond memories can be created.” So they settled on Lake Hickory in their hometown of Hickory, NC. 

Jacqueline and Lee were not looking for a big retreat in today’s standards.  They wanted to create a cozy place in the woods.  They also had an aggressive budget which drove the style and size of the home.  But for them, this home was more about quality than size, and more about atmosphere than statement.

For them, like most Timberpeg® home-owners, quality started with service.  Having never built a custom home before, they did not know how to get started.  They also had not purchased any land.  So finding the right lot that would fit their vision was important.  Upon narrowing down the available options, they solicited the advice of their local Timberpeg® Representative, Bruce Hafley, who was able to evaluate and advise them on the lot’s building feasibility.  For example, would the lot demand expensive excavation, retaining walls, site work?  How might their current vision of a home fit on this lot?  Would their neighbors be on top of them?  Would they be able to enjoy their views of the lake from inside? 

Service continued through a long distance custom design effort across the ocean.  “Once we purchased the lot, Bruce was able to lead us through design options that both fit into and challenged our vision,” comments Lee.  “Most importantly, he was always cognizant of our tight budget and tried to keep us reigned in.” 

Having seen a variety of building materials on homes throughout the world, Jacqueline and Lee grew to understand how important the use of quality building materials and sound construction practices was.  “We got to see and live in homes that were hundreds of years old.  Then we would visit the States and become disenchanted about how most homes were being built.  We wanted to know that only the best quality materials and building practices were going into our home.  And once we discovered Timberpeg®, we knew we had found a match.” 

“We were going to be building long distance and couldn’t be at the site much, so wanting to ensure the builder wasn’t cutting corners was important to us,” says Lee.  So by having Timberpeg® provide the critical materials that are exposed to the elements: windows, doors, siding, and roofing, “we knew we were getting the best before the construction process even began.  With all the unknowns and decisions to make during the construction process, this gave us an early level of comfort.”  How would you go about creating a place to call home?