beams

The light-filled master suite with exposed beams and a private balcony overlooking the city.

Main living space with western views of conservation land (exposed structure)

Main living space with open plan connection to kitchen (exposed structure)

Kitchen looking into the dining and out towards the Atlantic Ocean. The collar ties are exposed to express the homes structural integrity and bring down the scale of the space

Maker Space Ceiling with Exposed CNC Framing

Master bedroom with built-in ledge and exposed beams

Inside, rustic elements (like wood beams and whitewashed wood) nod to the structure’s former life, while walls of glass, black metal accents, and sleek furnishings give it a fresh, new look. After the renovation, the couple loved the guesthouse so much they decided to make it their full-time dwelling.

A dining nook is framed by timber beams running above the space. The sunny corner is illuminated by an additional grouping of clerestory windows.

The living room’s showpiece is a Zircon stove by Malm; its flue snakes 25 feet to the ceiling. “We really wanted the fireplace to be the anchor within this large space,” says Raj. A rust velvet Lenyx sofa from CB2 provides a punch of color within the minimalist palette. Nearby is a custom maple credenza by Croft House. The white-trimmed windows are from Loewen and the white paint throughout is Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore.

Inspired by historic farmhouses, beams are left exposed in the bedroom ceiling.

Exposed beams in master suite

A timber and glass canopy provides protection without diminishing views.

The residents furnished the interior themselves, even hand-picking the exposed reclaimed beams from a barn in Pennsylvania. The dining table and shelving unit are 1970s vintage and the sofa is from Design Within Reach (left). The height of the top level varies from around nine to 12 feet.

Exposed pine wood trusses support the roof structure.

Rough, scrubbed concrete and rounder plastering contrast with the restored timber roof beautifully.

The construction process was super-efficient, even the joinery was manufactured on site. The kitchen (which uses exposed copper piping for taps) has chunky timber worktops, and the stairs use an innovative dry jointed system that gains strength as the timber dries. The handrail is made of mild steel bent piping, which was also welded on site.

The white oak heavy timber framing is left exposed for dramatic effect in the open-plan great room. A minimalist palette of natural materials creates a soothing environment.

Timber ties the kitchen and dining area to the outdoors, from the exposed wood ceiling joists to Arauco plywood on the island topped with Corian solid surface.

Taking inspiration from barns, warehouses, Case Study Houses, and Japanese residential architecture, architect Marcus Lee and his wife, Rachel Hart—an architectural model maker—created a unique timber-framed home in Hackney, London. In the kitchen, the Corian kitchen island unit acts as a real hub with a television tucked away under the worktop. However, the kids sit at the island for breakfast and other meals, and when guests come, they end up sitting there and talking while the owners are cooking.