PORTFOLIO
Sandfield Custom Home
For this project, we collaborated closely with the owners to design a home that truly reflects their lifestyle. The result is a custom 1,000 square foot home that seamlessly blends traditional timber framing with conventional framing in key areas like the living room ceiling and screened-in porch. From breaking ground to the ‘drywall ready’ stage, we installed board-and-batten siding, doors, windows, and a durable steel roof. To add both character and warmth, we also integrated a unique masonry heater from Finland.
Porch 1
Sheguiandah Porch & Interior Reno
We took an outdated porch and turned it into two beautiful timber frame porches, featuring a standout live-edge Ash log as the main tie beam. The lake-facing deck was extended, and the home now boasts stunning cedar siding and a durable steel roof. Inside, we completely renovated the living room, wrapping existing beams in clear pine and adding custom inlays for a clean, natural finish that perfectly reflects the homeowners’ style and vision.
Manitoulin Custom Adjustable Cedar Dining Table
This custom cedar dining table is a masterful blend of natural beauty and functional design, crafted with accessibility and versatility in mind. Constructed from three stunning pieces of premium cedar, the table showcases the wood’s unique grain patterns and rich tones, making it a standout centerpiece for any dining space.
The design incorporates adjustable features, ensuring it adapts seamlessly to a variety of settings and user needs. The thoughtful craftsmanship not only highlights the natural elegance of cedar but also ensures durability and practicality for everyday use.
Perfect for hosting gatherings or enjoying quiet family meals, this custom dining table combines timeless aesthetics with modern functionality, making it a valuable addition to any home.
- Fireplace shelter
Manitowaning Outdoor Fireplace Shelter
A striking timber-framed structure located on Manitoulin Island, this outdoor fireplace shelter features large, durable beams that create a grand, open design, perfectly complementing its natural surroundings.
The centerpiece is a beautifully constructed fireplace, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Built with meticulous craftsmanship, the shelter is designed to provide comfortable outdoor living while withstanding the elements.
Combining timeless design with practicality, this structure is an enduring addition to the property that enhances its value and usability.
- Reciprocal rafter roof
Aundeck Omni Kaning Ceremonial Building
For this project, we began by pulling big boulders out of the side of the field.
The 13 posts represent the 13 moons of the year. The boulders are known as “grandfathers” in Anishinaabe teachings.
The boulders are partially embedded into a concrete pad and we scribed the posts on top of these boulders.
As with other traditional ceremonial buildings, the unique design challenge is to make the structure as culturally appropriate as possible, while adhering to the engineering requirements and the building code.
The rafters are arranged in a “reciprocal” system, wherein each rafter supports the one above it and rests on the one below it, creating a compression ring in the centre. The hole allows for the smoke of the ceremonial fire to escape.
This building will be used for traditional ceremonies and traditional funerals.
In Anishinaabe culture, when someone passes, their family keeps the fire burning for some days to honour the life of the person, telling stories of their life by the fireside.
Ready to discuss your next project?
GET IN TOUCH- Lakeside view 3d
Kagawong Lake-side Porch
This 36’x16′ porch faces west and overlooks Lake Kagawong. It’s framed in Eastern White Pine, stained with a beautiful dark stain.
The ceiling is unfinished 2×6 tongue-and-groove pine boards. The full 1 1/2″ board thickness allows the asphalt shingles to be installed right on top.
The owners did a great job finishing off the wall and installing a ceiling fan. What an amazing spot to relax, unwind and take in some stunning lakeside views!
This entrance porch is sure to last and be utilized daily for generations to come.
- Birch Island
Birch Island Timber Frame Porch
This 16’x10′ timber-framed porch took a challenging site and turned it into a work of art. The bedrock outcrop in front of the front door meant that the porch had to turn 90 degrees. Luckily, using a timber framing method allows you to do pretty much anything you want!
We built it using mostly a square-rule layout system and scribed in the live-edge collar ties.
The porch is made of all Eastern White Pine and the collar ties are Ash. The Ash logs was destined to be cut into firewood, but we up-cycled them to this use.
The outside corner has a cool roof member called a dragon beam: that’s the piece that the hip rafter lands into. The compound joinery on this project was fun, it all went together like a glove.
- Cedar deck panorama
Cedar Deck
This multi-tiered 700 square foot cedar deck took over a year to plan and organize. The first thing was to source the perfect cedar trees and to mill the slabs for the railing. Then, we had to find and peel by hand over 300 balusters. This was no small task! Once we started work on-site, it went quickly, and the project was complete on time and on budget, as always. All the cedar came from the Island. The result: a lovely deck for the owners to enjoy for years to come. Check out the video to see how we did it!
- Ceremonial Building Inside
Ceremonial Building on McLean's Mountain
This 13-sided ceremonial building is purposely built for holding Anishinaabe ceremonies four times a year. Eastern White Cedar was used for the entire build. Roofing is cedar bark shingles. The posts are scribed to boulders and each board is scribed to its neighbour to archive an organic feel. The only straight line in the entire structure is the railing. Take a look at the video below for more info.
Misery Bay Trail Marker
When you are hiking in one of the more remote Provincial Parks in Ontario the last thing you probably want is to lose the trail. This sturdy trail marker will not blow away and it will point you in the right direction for years to come.
Made out of locally harvested Eastern White Cedar, the bottom braces were specifically chosen for this project from bowed trees which otherwise would have been cut to make a logging trail and left to rot in the bush. They are connected to the main post with traditional mortice-and-tenon joints, secured with oak pegs.
Big Lake Gable Shingles
- Center Post and Spline Close Up
Covered Porch in M'Chigeeng
- Big Lake Porch Complete
Basement Entrance Porch in Big Lake
- Kagawong Porch Finished
Entrance Porch in Kagawong
This entrance porch was framed in solid White Pine. The clients wanted a timber frame that would transform the look of their 1980’s bungalow. With 8″x10″ top plates, 8″x8″ posts, and traditional mortice-and-tenon joinery throughout, that is exactly the result. Stained dark brown, this porch is sure to last for generations to come.
- Thatchers Cider Railway Inn Restaurant Solid Oak Timber Frame
Thatcher's Restaurant in UK
- Circular Staircase
