Portfolio – Cornerstone Timberframes

Deep Waters

The granite under this big cross-gabled cottage drops steeply to the lake’s edge, continuing below the water’s surface to depths of 150’ and more.
Large west-facing overhangs protect the great room from receiving too much mid-day sun. Big brace-supported outlook beams ensure this large roof extension doesn’t sag or lift.
The great room’s centerpiece is a soapstone fireplace with an impressive 20’ flue pipe.
Parallel chord trusses add visual interest to the great room and provide mid-span support to the cottage’s long valley rafters.
A welcoming entry canopy, numerous timber brackets and a spacious screen room maintain the timber aesthetic on the cottage exterior.

The poolside is designed to block the main wind direction so the pool area can be used further into shoulder seasons.
Food and beverage are now close at hand, saving trips to the kitchen.
Outdoor theatre, lighting and sound installed in the poolside help to extend use of the pool area into evenings.
Placement helps to limit views to neighbouring property and reduces sound from nearby roads.

A single slope roof, as in this poolside, are uncomplicated, contemporary and can work well, even with less common layouts, like the trapezoid in this case.
The design of the poolside nicely ties in with the timbers used to build the porch area of the main house.

This lake home’s interior provides a masterclass in how modern aesthetics and timber can combine to create a visually welcoming and soothing space.
Scissor-braced trusses in the main living area pull in the warm wood of cabinets, the mantle, and the creamy tones of the fireplace stone.
These trusses also carry into the adjoining sunroom, where the look becomes distinctly rustic with the full wood treatment of walls and ceiling.
Outside, a covered timber entry and gable details with curving tie beams may not seem to align with the modern interior – but that’s the freedom of being outside!

This compact cottage is located on a rare lakefront lot in Riding Mountain National Park. The exceptional beauty of the area is maintained by a set of rules that restrict construction to the renovation of existing cottages. Cottage redevelopment can extend to full rebuilds but need to stay entirely within the existing building footprint and abide by limits on both height and hard cover.
Additionally, exterior material choices are curated to those historically found on early park buildings. Thankfully, timber details are encouraged.
The 28 ‘ x 48 ‘ main floor accommodates four bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry, kitchen, living room, and dining area.
The roof over the main living area has been raised, and timbers and a T&G board ceiling create the lodge-like feel the clients desire.
King post trusses beautify the 9/12 gables, and large brackets make a 10’ by 4’ entry canopy possible within the rules.
White cedar shakes at the entry and west gable amplify the rustic feel of the cottage.

Western red cedar boards make a lovely companion to Douglas fir timber accents throughout the main floor and lower level of this upscale home.
Cedar soffits and cladding wrap the home, adding visual interest and warmth.
A contemporary outdoor living space features a beautiful, covered kitchen and gathering space, wired with sound and infrared heat for cool evenings.
Satellite pergolas bring timber to the hot tub and sun deck areas and are ideal for mounting light and audio components.

Coming home to the lake is a welcome reality for this busy professional family whose work requires regular travel.
Charming, cozy, and practical, the home’s 28’ x 34’ design allows for a main-floor owner’s suite, two bathrooms, kitchen, dining, and living area.
A loft area over the lower suite and kitchen provides two more bedrooms and a small reading nook.
Of course, nature’s beauty comes with the odd mosquito, so a 14’x14’ screen room doubles as an entry porch, ensuring minimum bother from biting bugs.
A garage/workshop with a fully equipped studio apartment above allows for easy hosting of friends and family, even with the possibility of short-term vacation rentals.

This home blends the styles of a lodge-like exterior with a bright, contemporary interior.
A hammer beam entry sits at the corner of a walk-around deck, inviting visitors to choose between the formal entrance to the left or a path to the lakeside on their right.
The generous lakeside deck features a high timber canopy extending from the main interior living area, complemented by two flanking verandas with ample seating to enjoy lake views.
The timber accents repeat the “hammer beam truss” motif throughout the home’s interior. Here, the timber’s warm wood tones make a nice counterpoint to the bright white of the ceilings and walls.
A large, four-season sunroom is a wonderful gathering space, and the ceiling’s wood beams and planks add to the relaxed atmosphere.

Situated on a good-sized lake this site feels much more remote than the 4 minutes it takes to drive into downtown Kenora!
A very modern home with low sloping roofs, it utilizes a grey exterior with black trim that allows the red-hued Douglas fir timber to stand out visually.
From the lakeside, a double-height timber canopy features a scissor-braced truss and provides cover for the living room’s south-facing windows. A large gathering deck is easily reached from the kitchen and has powered screens to keep the summer bugs at bay.
The interior living room incorporates the kitchen and dining areas under a wood and timber ceiling that echoes the scissor trusses outside.
The owner’s suite feels bright and airy, with 14-foot ceilings, transom windows, and timber details that ‘pop’ thanks to white walls.
A full lower level adds two bedrooms, a central billiards lounge, and a bar area. A wood-feature wall at the stairway carries down from the floor above.

This pool and entertainment space shows the exceptional fit and finish possible with mass
timber.

Traditional timber joinery with pegged connections add a nice visual detail where posts and
beams meet.
A bright sunspace features a timber curtain wall and soaring corner vault that invites the
eye to scan the sky and prairie beyond.
The bar and poolside ceilings convey a more traditional feel with closely spaced rafters
while the eave and header beams carry the roof over 20’ spans.
Nickel gap wall cladding carries the natural beauty of wood into the pool and change areas,
with quartz stone providing a light and luxurious counterpoint.

This client meeting space showcases the compatibility of our favourite wood
products:
- - white pine joists and ceiling board
  - black spruce center beam
  - black spruce CLT feature wall at entry
The power and accuracy of CNC machining allows for endless creative detailing as
demonstrated in the closely spaced apertures of the feature wall.
Black metal fixtures, brick and wood create a welcoming, visually rich space.