Elk are a big part of why OCH is here, in Atlanta, Michigan. A regal timber frame porch addition--a structure worthy of viewing the elk across an expansive open view--is now in the infancy of its construction.

Here in the woods, the sense of urgency to beautify a space seems unnecessary. Although the kitchen is sparse and spare, the furniture wobbly and patinaed with age, they don’t offend the way they would at home. The beauty is in the trees, and in us.

We now experience life in large part through gossamer images shared over social media. Our connections to people and events and beauty are mostly virtual. But put out your hand to brush in passing a 10”x10” timber post on your way from the kitchen to the mudroom and be jolted into the real, the here, the now.

Theirs is a very special home, since it’s the first timber frame construction that Dan was part of, and where he first saw the technique up close.

I envision living in a nearly empty timber frame home someday, and that would be my ideal. To have only the true essentials of life--and those of very spare design--in order to be able to focus the attention up …

Timber framing is an adjacent possible to people building homes today. It’s an option that’s not widely known, and yet it’s so perfect for many more applications than it’s currently used in, particularly modest-sized homes.