Hilltop House

A beautifully detailed classic timber frame lake house designed and built by Bensonwood. The relatively small two-story broad faced gable in Hillsborough New Hampshire takes advantage of its natural surroundings with excellent views from all sides and a second-story skylight for added passive heat gains in the winter. Large curtain walls in the main living area, walkout basement patio and a multi-story timber balcony porch look out onto the lake and surrounding gardens. A sealed brick masonry wood stove partially separates the kitchen from the living area and provides a central focal point for the main floor. The high efficiency fireplace with a see-through firebox visible in both rooms circulates the heat around the chamber extracting more of its energy while the masonry retains the heat after the fire dies down. The system provides plenty of heat making for a very energy-efficient home.