There are a lot of timber frame styles! If you’re seriously considering purchasing a timber frame, it’s good to keep in mind that the more complicated a frame, the higher the cost tends to be. However, whether you’re looking for a simple or complex frame, we are a custom shop, so we can help you come up with a design you’ll love for years!
With that in mind, let’s get started exploring some frame styles!
The Farmhouse 
This is a pretty farm house design that features a sun room on one side!
Sun Room
The Gambrel
Timber Frame Gambrel
This gambrel timber frame features true timber shed dormers, which is cool.
Gambrel with True Timber Dormers
Let’s take a look at the interior of this barn home. Who’s with me?
There are many design details to appreciate. The timbers are white pine, rough sawn and hand hewn. The joinery is traditional with extended pegs. The materials in this home are steel, stone, and timber, which is a classic combination. Also worth noting, are the pretty white cabinets. They are a nice contrast to the wood flooring and heavy timbers.
Hand Hewn White Pine Timbers
Raised Cape
Timber Frame Raised Cape
The raised cape is a great starter timber frame home. It’s a simple, classic, and a low cost timber frame style. It’s also a great house to grow into, because you can always add an addition down the road. Or at least that’s what the owners of this home decided to do!
Salt Box
Timber Frame Saltbox
For a salt box frame, the roof slant is asymmetrical but the pitch is the same.
The first building, in the photo below, is a renovation of a historic saltbox tavern. There is also an extensive timber frame addition in the back. We used hand hewn pine timbers and traditional joinery to construct this frame, because they have a historic look. This timber frame renovation was featured in the December 2003 issue of House Beautiful!
Historic Post and Beam Tavern with Addition
Fancy Barn
Fancy Barn = Modified Hammer Beam Center with Shed Roof Left and right!
This timber frame gets a lot the attention (which we love). The modified hammer beam trusses and curved braces are quite elegant. Do you agree?
Texas Party Barn!
The Buttressed Hammer Beam, The Modified Hammer Beam, & The Steel Tie Rod Hammer Beam
Buttressed Hammer Beam
Modified Hammer Beam
Modified Hammer Beam with Steel Tie Rod
Octagon — Is that a framing style?
It certainly is for us, check out the Stowe Mountain Spruce Camp Base Lodge!
Even the cupola is a true timber frame. How’s that for fabulous? 
Looking up / Spruce Camp Base Lodge Timber Frame
Okay, that’s enough framing styles for now. As always, thank you for stopping by our timber framer’s blog! If you like any of these frame styles, or have timber work questions, we invite you to get in contact, ask an expert, or share your thoughts in the comment section below!
About the Author
Fancy barn would be my 1st choice!
You just can’t keep it simple, can you! It’s okay, I’m used to it.
I’ve always wondered when I see the exposed beam interiors mixed with sheet rock walls in between. It doesn’t seem like there is enough space to weatherproof and insulate the frame yet still leave some exposed beam inside. Can you describe the “layers” required to do this?
You are correct Shannon, there usually isn’t enough room so the layers go on the outside of the frame often using SIP’s (structural insulated panels) Or by building up a 2x wall outside of the frame. When there are a lot of window in a wall, 2x framing is preferable to SIP’s.
I’m interested in a 40x60x10 fancy barn