Silver Point Timber Frame: A Little Something Different

by Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes

Something different. That’s what new homeowners Priscilla Epps and fiancé James Head wanted when they chose Honest Abe Log Homes to create their custom wood home overlooking Center Hill Lake.

“I wanted a home style that would match the Middle Tennessee scenery,” said Priscilla. “Cabin style is not my typical style as I grew up in Golden, Mississippi, with more traditional homes. James and I had lived in downtown Nashville for several years, and we were ready to have a home that felt a bit cozier than our modern condominiums in Nashville.”

Over the years the pair had fallen in love with Center Hill Lake and Silver Point Marina in particular.
“Prior to the cabin, we found ourselves spending more and more time on the lake and at our houseboat,” Priscilla recalled. “We decided that we wanted a more permanent residence in Silver Point – a much slower pace than our typical lifestyle in Nashville.”

James, a native of Celina, Tennessee, near Honest Abe’s National Headquarters, had previously built an Honest Abe structure to house his business office, and the couple had toured other Honest Abe homes. After touring the Cambridge model at Crossville and meeting sales consultant Dallas Powers, they were certain Honest Abe was the right choice.

“We loved using a company nearby,” Priscilla said, adding, “and I loved how unique we could make our home with Honest Abe!”

Priscilla and her mother, Linda, worked together on developing a floor plan that encompassed must-haves like a dog bath in the garage, a wrap-around porch, a recreation/exercise room, a man-cave and a full-sized, walkout basement.

“Honest Abe has so many options that you can make your cabin very unique, and we definitely did!” Priscilla said.

Melissa Copas, an Honest Abe designer for more than 20 years, drafted the final plan for the two-story house. The 1,530 square foot main floor has an open great room, kitchen and dining room. A breezeway connected the three-car garage to the main home through the laundry room, which has a half bath. The master bedroom suite has double walk-in closets and a full bath with a shower, separate tubs, a private toilet closet and dual sinks. Two private bedrooms with a shared bath and an open loft comprise the 900 square foot second story.

“We wanted a modern flare and something different than the plain, typical cabin,” Priscilla said. “We chose the log siding as we did not want to have too much wood visible from the inside. We loved the timber frame interior as it is rustic and cozy but not over the top.”

Priscilla and James used Honest Abe’s dry-in service to construct the home.

“The construction by Honest Abe was very quick,” Priscilla said. “It was great to come by every afternoon and see the progress. They were helpful in answering all questions and accommodating all our needs. They really seemed to take pride in the build and treated it like their own.”

Once the home was erected, Priscilla hired contractor Richard Norton to oversee finalization of the cabin.

“Richard did an excellent job blending the Honest Abe home with my chosen finishes,” Priscilla said. 

To create the modern visual impact the couple wanted, they made some bold choices, both inside and out.

“Staining the cabin white was my idea, and James loved it too,” Priscilla said. “Along with the white exterior stain, we decided to paint the interior tongue and groove ceiling white. My contractor and painter cringed at the idea, but we were adamant, and others love it! It covers the wood grain, which most builders hate, but it offers great contrast between the stark white cathedral ceiling and the deep brownish-gray stained wood beams in the living room.”

Both Priscilla and James said that despite the challenges inherent in building any type of custom home, it was well worth the effort.
“Now we have a home that is just what we envisioned – a perfect blend of our styles,” Priscilla said. “I just don’t feel that we could have a more unique house by building it any other way. The blend of cozy, rustic and modern makes our home a joy to come home to every day. Also, the fact that there is no other one in the world like it makes it all the better.”