Timeless Style

So many fads have come and gone in the renovation industry — travertine tile, jetted jacuzzi tubs, fuzzy wallpaper (that goes a long way back) — that it is a constant challenge to design something for our clients that will stand the test of time. There are, of course, timeless styles and finishes, but these are often wholly incorporated into the style of the house - like Colonial, for instance, or Mid-Century Farmhouse.

Avoiding faddish finishes and materials is more of a challenge when the home itself is already eclectic, not belonging entirely to any specific architectural style. We recently had the opportunity to complete just such a challenge with a newly designed footbridge by Tindall Architectural Workshop (TAW). The mountain home had a seriously dated (and seriously deteriorated), heavy timber and stone access footbridge that looked so tired. The house itself is mid-century modern, and the lines are clean and sleek throughout…..except for the old footbridge.

“Avoiding faddish finishes and materials is more of a challenge when the home itself is already eclectic.”

TAW designed a multi-media composition bridge that mixed wood with metal with the clean and sleek lines that coordinate perfectly with the house. For longevity, Ipe tropical wood was used for the deck boards; for openness, stainless steel cable railing was used for safety. The bridge cover is vaulted with clear coated alder pine and exposed steel beams to give the roof a forward, welcoming look accentuated by the angled support columns. Dimmable LED strip lights were installed under the railing banisters for accent lighting at night. The result is a stunning entrance that coordinates perfectly with the house itself - a footbridge now as timeless as the architecture of the house, and as durable, too.