Blog - Page 50 of 123 - Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley

What am I not seeing?

Please help me out here…
Which cabin would you choose?
The vintage design?
Or the modern design?
(assuming that both cost the same… which they likely would, if matching finishing details are applied)
I must admit that I was recently stunned when a large log cabin facebook page posted a photo of this orange cabin and then thousands of people chose to “like it” or make comments about how wonderful they thought it was.
I was… confused… at the response.
What am I not seeing?

Originally posted 2015-09-13 15:54:38.

What am I not seeing?Noah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:46+00:00

What happened to good design?

Why is it that every home in Colonial Williamsburg is so attractive, more than 200 years after they were designed, yet every home in the new subdivisions in my area are so ugly?

Originally posted 2015-09-13 15:12:37.

What happened to good design?Noah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:45+00:00

Hewn timber frame

I find that timber-framed buildings that are made of hewn timbers (those shaped with an axe, rather than a saw) are much more attractive than their more modern sawn counterparts. The same holds true of log cabins.
They look… handmade.

Originally posted 2015-09-13 14:54:51.

Hewn timber frameNoah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:44+00:00

The perfect oven

I do so love that stove!

Originally posted 2015-09-12 17:34:45.

The perfect ovenNoah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:43+00:00

Please, hire the right people

Such a nice log cabin.
It’s a shame that they hired a talented carpenter with no skill in historic aesthetics. (a very common mistake).
The cabin, overall, is wonderful.
But, my eye is quickly drawn to the pressure treated lattice applied under the porch (it would be a quick fix to pull that out), but then I nearly fell out of my chair when my eye caught a glimpse of the replacement “chimney”.
What were they thinking?
It would have been better to haven no chimney than this wooden box.

Originally posted 2015-09-12 15:30:41.

Please, hire the right peopleNoah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:42+00:00

Two windows on the front

Now isn’t this a fine place to come upon. 🙂

I’ve always found that a stone home with three windows across it’s front presents a formal, grand, impression. But a home with only two windows seems to be more like a cottage, more inviting, more intimate.

Originally posted 2015-09-12 14:39:03.

Two windows on the frontNoah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:41+00:00

Why are tiny houses attractive?

1) Many small houses are visually appealing.
2) Large rural homes that are composed of a series of unique smaller structures each attached to the other are equally attractive.
3) Historically many farmhouses were built this way… start small, and add on as the family grew and as the funds were saved to pay for these additions.
4) This method of housing makes financial sense, as huge mortgages are avoided.
5) It all makes me wonder why we rarely build this way today.
6) And a more basic question… why is it that we find small houses so adorable?

BTW… this cute little place is located in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.

Originally posted 2015-09-11 16:58:58.

Why are tiny houses attractive?Noah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:40+00:00

Window guidelines

The classic “six over six” double hung window.
You cannot go wrong with this window, just make sure that the window panes are taller than they are wide.
If your window measurement doesn’t allow this pattern try a “six over nine” or a “nine over nine” pattern.
I much prefer an odd number of horizontal window panes. I have observed that people, when they look out a window, tend to center themselves on that window… an even number of panes places a mullion in their line of sight, whereas a centered pane is a delight.
If your house has windows that vary in size… aim to maintain the size and proportions of the individual panes throughout the house, not a consistent window pane pattern.

Originally posted 2015-09-11 15:32:03.

Window guidelinesNoah Bradley2019-06-29T11:01:39+00:00