“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

― Henry James

The first day of Summer isn’t quite here yet, but as of late, we’ve been day-dreaming about sun drenched afternoons, relaxing by the pool with a good book, reconnecting with friends and family, and last but certainly not least, packing our bags and making a carefree escape to a summer house destination.

Whether it’s a home with pristine beachfront views, or stunning a lakeside retreat, we’ve rounded up 8 architecturally pleasing abodes that satisfy our lust to wander.  These picturesque homes will get your design pulses racing.

In 1991, David Milarch, an arborist from Michigan had a near-death experience that inspired a personal quest. When Milarch came back to life, he launched an ambitious project to clone and replant the world’s largest trees.  He co-founded the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive (AATA) to continue working towards his vision of replanting the earth with the genetics of the world’s remaining ancient redwood forests.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Located in Seaview, Fire Island, this 4 bedroom seasonal home was designed to celebrate the cherished indoor/outdoor experience of Fire Island. Designed by Paul Coughlin of Brooklyn-based PAUL architecture studio, this project utilizes UNAGI and TAKEI shou sugi ban charred Accoya exterior siding and LONGPORT black walnut flooring and ceiling cladding.

NIGIRI shou sugi ban charred Accoya in Wayzata, MN

According to TRADA (The Timber Research and Development Association), in recent years, timber in construction has undergone something of a renaissance, led by the desire to use more environmentally-friendly materials. While timber is at risk to biological decay, a combination of appropriate design and material selection will mitigate this risk.

Opened in October 2017, Kebony was used for more than 100,000 square feet of decking at the Wharf, as well as cladding on certain store fronts and rooftop decks. reSAWN TIMBER co. visited the Wharf 6 months after installation to see how the decking weathered.

reSAWN TIMBER co. recently returned to their Longport, NJ residence project to get a more complete understanding of how their SURETO shou sugi ban exterior siding and HAWAITO shou sugi ban exterior siding weathers in a real-world application. This material was specified by Philadelphia Design Co., known for high-end residential design.  Materials were specified with a 5″ wide face and shiplap milling with a 1/8″ reveal.  Installation is being done by Seashore Exteriors, a 4th generation company specializing in residential and commercial exteriors in the south NJ area.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Located in one of Philadelphia's trendiest neighborhoods, this Shackamaxon Townhouse was designed to accommodate a newly retired couple who collects all kinds of art, including paintings, sculptures, pottery and more. Designed by Shila Scarlet Griffith of SG23 Design, this project utilizes KUJAKU shou sugi ban charred cypress for a unique accent wall that spans two floors.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

reSAWN TIMBER co. recently returned to their Toronto, CN project, Cos, to get a more complete understanding of how their MONOGATARI shou sugi ban exterior siding weathers in a real-world application. The upscale European retailer, under the H&M brand, selected G Architects and Office AO Architecture to collaborate on the company's flagship Canadian location...

Earlier this November, reSAWN TIMBER co. was one of 325 exhibitors to present a wide variety of products to the hospitality industry at Boutique Design New York (BDNY). The two day event brought over 5,000 hospitality designers, architects, and purchasers to the Jacob Javits Center in NYC in search of sustainable and cutting edge materials. reSAWN featured shou sugi ban charred wood, interior and exterior cladding, newly harvested and reclaimed flooring, and custom furniture pieces.