Bill and Sharon Evans

208 Gunnery Court East
Grand Harbor

Year built: 2004

Bill and Sharon’s lot in Grand Harbor faces the 18th tee with the replica of the crumbled brick fort as their rear view. Sharon wanted an authentic looking, old Southern farmhouse to match the rustic view, but with modern amenities.

When planning was complete and Bill and Sharon were ready to start their home, there were no roads, power or water yet installed for their lot. No problem - Jim bought a generator and our subcontractors arrived to work and received all of the home building materials from the rear of the lot. They worked in these conditions for most of the building process. It was not until just a couple of weeks prior to move-in that electricity became available.

What makes it look like a farmhouse? First of all, several widths of hardy plank were used for the exterior elevation; wider for the main part of the house and narrower planks on each side. This was to make it appear as if two additions had been extended to the main body of the house, similar to how old farmhouses "grew".

Again, to build authentically, Sharon did not want railings on the farmhouse front porch. In order to accomplish this, the house had to be built low to the ground in order to not require railings to meet building code requirements.

While Sharon was impressed with the exterior details of the house style, Bill appreciated suggestions from the framing crew to improve the interior space. Several changes were made at the framing stage to expand a TV room and turn an alcove area into an additional office. The only additional cost was a few extra 2 x 4s. Their plan also called for a ceiling in the foyer. Lee suggested that the ceiling be eliminated and worked with the framers, maximizing both volume and light into the entryway and expanding the view into the living room. The architects agreed it was a great idea. It improved their plan and actually cost less than if they have built the original ceiling plan.

Our framing crew is part of the Jim Beard team. They know their business. They make suggestions for the owners to consider. They see changes that can be made "on the fly" and with little or no extra cost to improve the look and livability of a home.