Designing a custom log or timber frame home starts with inspiration, and one of the best tools to clarify your personal style is a vision board (also known as a mood board). Whether it’s a curated Pinterest page or a notebook filled with notes, sketches, and magazine clippings, a vision board helps us understand your aesthetic and design priorities before we begin your home design.
Your board doesn’t have to be elaborate—it just needs to reflect your taste. Explore our Gallery, Floorplans, Instagram, Pinterest, Houzz, or Facebook to gather ideas. The more visual detail you can provide, the better we can translate your vision into your future home.
And if you’re feeling unsure about how to bring everything together, we’re here to help. Our in-house interior designer, Kourtnie Clark Whitmore, offers complimentary consultations to all our clients—adding expert guidance on everything from color palettes and furnishings to lighting and layout. Whether you’re refining your mood board or selecting finishes later in the process, Kourtnie will help you shape a home that’s cohesive, welcoming, and uniquely yours.
Designing Your Great Room
The Great Room is often the heart of a custom home—a space for gathering, celebrating holidays, and making lifelong memories. You may already know how many people you’d like to entertain or whether you’d like a fireplace, but here are a few elements to consider as you build your vision:
Fireplace
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Location – Centered between windows, in a corner, or used to separate two spaces?
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Type – Wood-burning, gas, electric, or no fireplace at all?
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Size & Shape – Full height to the ceiling? Traditional mantle height? Wide and low?
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Materials – Stone, brick, reclaimed wood? With or without a mantle or hearth?
Furniture & Layout
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Will the space be formal, casual, or multifunctional?
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How many people do you regularly need seating for?
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What’s the focal point—fireplace, windows, artwork, TV, or a special piece of furniture?
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Do you have a unique furniture item you’d like the room designed around?
Windows
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Is there a view you want to highlight—or perhaps avoid?
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Are you drawn to specific shapes: arched, trapezoid, circular?
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Do the windows need to function (open, block light, include built-in blinds), or are they primarily for aesthetics
Ceiling Beams & Truss Work
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Do you prefer large, structural timber trusses or lighter ceiling beams?
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Would you like to see a few accent beams or a more intricate pattern?
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Are you drawn to metal accents, wall ties, or purlins?
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Should the beams contrast against tongue-and-groove ceilings or blend in with a natural finish?
Pro Tip: Start Saving Photos
Visual examples are incredibly helpful. Start a folder—digital or physical—dedicated to images that speak to you. Whether it’s floorplans, fireplace styles, flooring materials, or great room layouts, it’s all relevant. The more insight you can give us, the more seamlessly we can bring your vision to life.
