Timeless Craftsmanship Imbues Natural Elements

The entry to the main house shows off the reinterpreted timber-frame design and meticulous craftsmanship. Unique rows of windows highlight the welcoming, contemporary atmosphere and emphasize the home’s interesting angles. | Photo: Marie-Dominique Verdier

When a couple found a plot of land on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint, Idaho, they were thrilled. The site on the water is only a 30-minute drive to Schweitzer Mountain Resort, making the location perfect for skiing and snow sports in the winter, and fishing, boating and swimming during the warmer months.

The next step was to build a home that would be as ideal as the place itself. The design-build concept of working with a single designer and builder throughout the entire project was especially appealing to the couple. “We had gotten to know Collin Beggs with Design Build Timber Framing through work he did on our property’s guesthouse,” says the homeowner.

“We found we had a great deal in common with Collin’s design philosophy and knew there was something to be said about working with the same guys from start to finish.”

The home’s open floorplan lends itself to entertaining family and guests. The warm toned hardwood floors contrast beautifully with lighter walls and bifurcated beams in the kitchen and dining areas. | Photo: Marie-Dominique Verdier

Beggs concurs, saying, “Over time, the homeowners and I discovered we have similar fundamental values and aspirations.” Beggs is deeply inspired by the land a structure resides upon and is devoted to the ancient art of timber framing. “I reinterpret old craft traditions in an organic, intuitive and contemporary way,” he emphasizes. “Everything is based on a prevailing emotional connection.”

The beauty of the site itself was the dominant influence on the home’s look and feel. “Sandpoint is a rural area that sits at 2,060 feet above sea level and is only one hour south of the Canadian border,” Beggs explains. “Lake Pend Oreille is a massive 43-mile-long freshwater lake with 111 miles of shoreline.”

Vaulted ceilings and a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace in the great room imbue a sense of drama. A bespoke chandelier adds textural interest, and the pops of green and mustard seamlessly pick up the colors of the outdoor views. | Photo: Marie-Dominique Verdier

Using organic elements, bifurcated trees, curvy beams in the roof and a wide variety of unusual timber procured from “waste trees” that would otherwise have been destroyed, Beggs employed a traditional method of carpentry inspired by the wood itself. Incorporating natural resources the area provides, the home was designed and built with locally sourced materials. “The care put into the construction is obvious,”the homeowner says. “There isn’t one measurement that’s off in the entire place.”

The result of Beggs’ labor is a 3,940-square-foot main house. A two bedroom, two and a half bath home, the space features a great room with a large stone fireplace. A flex room, with double bunk beds built into the wall for visiting grandchildren, also provides space for yoga and meditation.

A quiet nook is a perfect place for relaxing and contemplation. | Photo: Marie-Dominique Verdier

The detached guest house has one bedroom and one bath on the second floor with the main floor serving as a garage. Perfect for entertaining, the kitchen island is made of petrified wood and beckons groups to gather over good food and great company.

At home six months of the year in Sandpoint, the couple couldn’t be happier with the outcome. “Because we worked with a design-build process, we had real- time information and input regarding cost, timelines and attention to every detail,” the homeowner says. Beggs agrees, noting, “The design-build concept gives the client a home that is utterly bespoke.”

A detailed look at the bifurcated and curved support and beams reveals the impeccable attention to detail that makes this home one-of-a-kind. | Photo: Marie-Dominique Verdier

The cooperative aspect of the process helped Beggs create a legacy space that speaks to the dedication to his craft and reaffirms his belief in a time-honored art. “Trees have personalities that evoke relationships with home and environment. This project plumbed the depths of my soul,” he admits.

The primary bath is masterfully designed with unexpected lighting and the juxtaposition of tile and wood offering visual interest. | Photo: Marie-Dominique Verdier

The bedroom is light and airy inviting soothing comfort with a quiet color palette. | Photo: Marie-Dominique Verdier

ARCHITECT & DESIGNER- Design Build Timber Framing, Collin Beggs
LIGHTING – Creative Designs in Lighting, Jen Gong
INTERIOR DESIGNER – Wiseman and Gale Interiors, Gwen Connor
TILE & STONE – Rogue Tile and Stone, Leif Olson, (208) 946-7482