Love boating and life on the water? Woodhouse has the experience and creativity to craft the custom waterfront home of your dreams.
You’ve spent years using your precious time off to escape to the water—be it a salty coast or glimmering lake. Now, perhaps retirement or an empty nest means you can finally have that coveted lifestyle—all the time. A custom-designed timber frame home gives you the best possible version of that life. Whether your vibe is sailing out on the coast or posted up on a pontoon on the lake, it’s time to dive in and discover all the refreshing ways a timber frame home can make life on the water that much better.
Planning & Design: Waterfront Considerations
Understanding the special considerations that come with waterfront homes is paramount for a successful custom home design.
Siting Smart
Waterfront properties are premium for a reason. They offer unobstructed water views for a daily dose of nature’s amazing beauty. Taking full advantage of these views requires knowledge of smart siting practices as well as design flexibility. Woodhouse has both.
We’ll work with you to maximize the views from the rooms you use the most. For instance, some people prefer bright morning sun and views from their bedroom, while others prefer it darker. Some may prioritize a spa-like bathroom with an infinity bath that’s one with the water, like this Woodhouse contemporary waterfront home. Meanwhile, others say it’s all about the great room and kitchen.
Skilled home orientation and personalized floor plan design also account for prevailing winds and sunlight that occur over the course of the day. Proper siting and design ensures comfort while you lounge on the deck or great room. Even more importantly, correct siting will account for critical setback requirements and weather considerations such as ice dams, storm wave action, and other potential water-related issues for a durable design and peace of mind.
Boathouse or Dock
The dock and boathouse are the gateways to fun on the water and often are the highlight of a waterfront home. A timber frame version will make yours spectacular in both performance and aesthetics. Plus, it’ll perfectly complement your home. After all, timber frame boat houses come with all the creativity and design flexibility of a timber frame house, including some of the highest levels of energy efficiency and fire safety available in a residential structure.
Not only will a timber frame boathouse do a superb job of protecting your boat, but your boathouse can even provide space above for an office, apartment, guest suite, studio, or dedicated entertainment/bar space. It’s your dream to fulfill! Take a peek at this timber frame boathouse and home situated along the St. Lawrence River in New York.
Outdoor Showers
Rinsing off after time in the water is a must, but why not make it a luxury? Elevate the experience with a private outdoor shower. These private spaces can be seamlessly incorporated into your timber frame home design, creating a spa-like bathroom in the outdoors.
Materials for Durability
Waterfront living comes with extra exposure to the elements. Luckily, our timber frame homes are designed with durability in mind. Think: cement siding that looks just like logs or even cedar shingles that age to a silvery patina in salty air. Woodhouse will help you select what works best for your home’s climate and location.
Storage
Living by the water means living next to a natural playground and that means toys — rafts, kayaks, paddle boards, wakeboards, surfboards, water skis, inflatables, and more. All waterfront homes need a place to store these toys, and timber frames offer the perfect amount of flexibility to incorporate a solution, whether an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), integrated space in the home, or part of the boathouse.
Entertaining Spaces
Everyone loves a party—particularly on the water! Among the top fabulous must-haves for waterfront houses, dedicated spaces for entertaining rank the highest. Porches for every moment, expansive upper decks for views, covered lower decks,or detached timber frame pavilions, replete with outdoor kitchens and built-in fireplaces, add volumes of value in the form of outdoor living.
Prime Floorplans for Waterfront Homes
We can modify any of 100+ timber frame floorplans for your forever home by the water. But you don’t want to miss the top five Woodhouse waterfront plans, designed especially to capture the sparkling views, natural light and fun in the sun that go with waterfront living. While you’re at it, grab some ideas at these dreamy lakeside locales that are made for custom timber frame homes!
Take the Plunge!
Living by the water and boating to your heart’s content no longer needs to be a “someday” dream. Contact Woodhouse or your Woodhouse Regional Project Manager and start the conversation today.