When you think of a pool side property — still water, open skies, shifting light — the materials must feel as though they belong to the landscape. That was precisely the thinking behind our recent collaboration with Dorset Timber Framing on this beautiful waterside home.
From structure to surface, timber was always going to define the project, and with Dorset Timber Framing leading the structural oak frame, the tone was set from the very beginning.
Why Dorset Timber Framing Was Central to the Design
Dorset Timber Framing specialises in traditionally crafted oak frames that celebrate structural honesty. In this waterside property, the exposed green oak frame forms the architectural rhythm of the entire property — vaulted ceilings, generous spans and beautifully jointed connections that are both engineered and elegant.
There is something quietly powerful about a home built by Dorset Timber Framing. The structure is not hidden behind plasterboard; it is expressed. The grain, the scale of the beams, the craftsmanship in each joint — these become defining design features rather than background elements.
For a setting as natural as this, that authenticity matters.
Complementing Dorset Timber Framing with Solid Heritage Oak Flooring
Wide board solid British oak was selected to echo the scale and integrity of the oak frame. The generous widths create a sense of calm and expansiveness, while the subtle tonal variation mirrors the surrounding landscape — weathered bark, reeds, and the shifting reflection of water.
In a waterside property, durability is just as important as beauty. Solid oak performs exceptionally well in environments where boots, dogs, damp air and daily life are part of the charm. Over time, both the oak frame by Dorset Timber Framing and the solid Heritage Oak flooring will mature together, deepening in tone and character.
Blurring Structure and Landscape
One of the most striking aspects of this Dorset Timber Framing project is the interplay between inside and out. Expansive glazing draws the landscape inward, while the oak frame provides warmth and grounding against contemporary architectural lines.
The solid oak flooring anchors the interior, creating visual continuity from beam to board. The result is a home that feels cohesive — as though it has risen naturally from its setting.
Timber, when used this thoughtfully, becomes more than material. It becomes atmosphere.
Building for Generations
Working alongside Dorset Timber Framing on this lakeside property was a meeting of shared values: British timber, traditional craftsmanship and long-term thinking.
An oak-framed home built by Dorset Timber Framing, paired with solid wide board oak flooring, is not trend-driven. It is generational. It is rooted in place. It is built to last.
For us at Coppice & Crown, collaborations like this represent the future of sustainable building — local materials, skilled hands and homes designed to stand proudly for decades to come.
