Noah Bradley, Author at Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley

29 06, 2019

A word or two about Hobbits

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:05+00:00

There are a lot of things that I admire about Hobbits… one of them is how nicely that they frame their homes. (I do wonder about the practicality of having a round door though).

And, I admire the way that a Hobbit’s home blends into the environment… the way that the landscaping comes all the way up to the front door and wraps all around the home. I like the variety of building materials too… wood, stucco, stone, and brick… each offering something of visual interest. And, just look at how attractive the aged paint is on the front door… so many would be tempted to give it fresh coat of paint, but I suppose the wee Hobbit would rather smoke his pipe and tend his flowers. Such a fine life.

Originally posted 2015-09-07 14:42:07.

A word or two about HobbitsNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:05+00:00

29 06, 2019

Handmade vs Perfection

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:04+00:00

The corner notching on this barn is beautiful, in part because it is flawed. It was built by a man who clearly understood the characteristics of wood and who was also highly skilled at using an axe. This barn was clearly not created by a man who built cabins for a living. The result? There are many flaws in the workmanship… gaps and irregularities abound. And yet, his work is absolutely gorgeous… because, it looks “handmade”.

There is a curse within all the building trades. It seems that the more a craftsman works on developing his skills, the more his work ends up looking manufactured. A stone mason shapes his stones so much they begin to look like brick. The brick mason’s work begins to look like rolled-out vinyl flooring. The plasterer’s work is so smooth that it looks like drywall. The blacksmith’s work becomes so free of character that it belongs on the shelf at Walmart.

There are many people that can do a sloppy job of notching a log cabin. I am fortunate to know a dozen or two that can do a perfect job at it, notches so tight that a dollar bill cannot be inserted anywhere between two logs. But there are precious few artisans who could reproduce this corner… something that “great, great, grandpa of old” whipped out when he wasn’t farming.

Originally posted 2015-09-07 14:05:52.

Handmade vs PerfectionNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:04+00:00

29 06, 2019

A cabin connected to a cabin

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:03+00:00

An attractive way to create a large cabin is by combining two or more together as this home does.

Originally posted 2015-09-06 20:24:14.

A cabin connected to a cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:03+00:00

29 06, 2019

Quality does not need to be expensive

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:02+00:00

There is not a single thing in this photo that was expensive… in fact I can say that this area likely would cost less to build than what is being built today in many subdivisions.

Originally posted 2015-09-06 20:11:37.

Quality does not need to be expensiveNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:02+00:00

29 06, 2019

On placing a house

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:01+00:00

Now that is one nice picket fence.

Of course, what’s behind it is not bad either.

I was once told by a photographer that “any builder can build a home that has a view… but few know how to build a home that is part of the view”.

Keep that in mind when building your home.

Originally posted 2015-09-06 13:55:38.

On placing a houseNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:01+00:00

29 06, 2019

Curious what you can find in a wall

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:00+00:00

Now that is curious… the mason must have run low on rocks to use in this wall?

I’ve seen my share of new chimneys built with an occasional beer can installed, but this is my first full bottle of whiskey that I’ve seen prominently displayed.

Originally posted 2015-09-06 13:42:56.

Curious what you can find in a wallNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:41:00+00:00

29 06, 2019

Wealthy in all that matters

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:40:59+00:00

I wish this image was a little sharper. It appears this woman is extremely happy about something… maybe it’s because she has two darling children and they all live together in a handmade log home?

Originally posted 2015-09-05 22:49:01.

Wealthy in all that mattersNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:40:59+00:00

29 06, 2019

A settler’s cabin

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:40:58+00:00

I’ve heard it said that men would hike into the wilderness of Kentucky with nothing but a rifle and an axe head. Upon arriving they would take the axe head and create a handle for it. And then, they would take the completed axe and make a simple cabin like this where they would live for a few years while clearing their land and building a larger home… a cabin with wood floors, a stone foundation, and stone chimney.

Originally posted 2015-09-05 22:27:53.

A settler’s cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:40:58+00:00

29 06, 2019

One cozy cabin

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:40:57+00:00

It take a LOT of logs to build a full size cabin… but one this size, only a few. This is a one person cabin and that’s including the back addition.

Originally posted 2015-09-04 21:49:29.

One cozy cabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:40:57+00:00

29 06, 2019

Lives have been lived in old cabins

Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:40:56+00:00

A family makes yarn in the front yard.

I have had the privilege of restoring, and working the materials from, a lot of very old houses over the years that I have been in this unique building trade. I can’t help but reflect on the craftsmanship and beauty of these old structures as I work on them, but I also make an effort to reflect on the lives that must have been lived in them as well. The stories these old homes could tell, if only they could talk.