Vermont Woodsmith

An innovation of artist Nicholas Chappell, Vermont Woodsmith blends art, mathematics, and carpentry to offer a unique array of products and services.

Roundhouse

This roundhouse is technically a yurt. Aside from being aesthetic appealing, cozy, and unique, this home features energy-efficientcy, an open floor plan, and local non-toxic products

This roundhouse is by far the most incredible structure I have built. It was my first opportunity to stretch my skills and dash around some artist flare and step aside from being a skilled laborer. It was a 10 month-long and dirty process to get the home livable with several installments since to make it amazing. Aside from being aesthetically appealing, cozy, and unique, this home features energy-efficientcy, an open floor plan, and local non toxic products. Pictures, honestly, don't do it justice.

Featured Items

Log handrail using trees cleared from the home's footprint and the operational 3-ply skylight with converging ceiling.  Over 2,000 individual tongue and groove white pine pieces were tapered to fit in-between the rafters — Log handrail using trees cleared from the home's footprint and the operational 3-ply skylight with converging ceiling. Over 2,000 individual tongue and groove white pine pieces were tapered to fit in-between the rafters

Desk featured on home page.  Note the shape and character of this wild piece.  The shelving followed this theme too and connects to the kitchen cabinets — Desk featured on home page. Note the shape and character of this wild piece. The shelving followed this theme too and connects to the kitchen cabinets

Tile mosaic.  This shot is of the shower head wall but it continues around the tub.  I shaped the tree parts, the sun, and the rays.  The leaves were purchased and the remaining were shards. — Tile mosaic. This shot is of the shower head wall but it continues around the tub. I shaped the tree parts, the sun, and the rays. The leaves were purchased and the remaining were shards.

Beautiful!  At this stage there isn't trim on the windows and corners, but otherwise she is all there. — Beautiful! At this stage there isn't trim on the windows and corners, but otherwise she is all there.

Kitchen area.  Tile countertops bookended by stainless appliances and bookended again by desk and peninsula sculpted from local pine slabs.  Cabinets are from a kitchen remodel job. — Kitchen area. Tile countertops bookended by stainless appliances and bookended again by desk and peninsula sculpted from local pine slabs. Cabinets are from a kitchen remodel job.

Chill spot.  This Vermont Elm wood stove cranks and can be used for cooking and warming dinner.  Wood is the primary source of heat for this home — Chill spot. This Vermont Elm wood stove cranks and can be used for cooking and warming dinner. Wood is the primary source of heat for this home

View from the future outdoor shower area.  The little canvas  yurt echoes the big one.  It is used as an office and guest room — View from the future outdoor shower area. The little canvas yurt echoes the big one. It is used as an office and guest room

Front door.  The siding is live-edge hemlock from Wolcott, VT.  Like much of my work,  this sun-burst design just happened — Front door. The siding is live-edge hemlock from Wolcott, VT. Like much of my work, this sun-burst design just happened

This is the handrail to the loft.  The entry is to the far right and the bathroom doorway is adjacent.  A bedroom is to the left, under the loft.  Otherwise the floor plan is wide open - no posts, no beams! — This is the handrail to the loft. The entry is to the far right and the bathroom doorway is adjacent. A bedroom is to the left, under the loft. Otherwise the floor plan is wide open - no posts, no beams!

Vermont Woodsmith

An innovation of artist Nicholas Chappell, Vermont Woodsmith blends art, mathematics, and carpentry to offer a unique array of products and services.

The Building Process

Footer forms configured to fit the potential roof

Corner form of entry with rebar, ready to pour concrete

We have a monolithic footer.  Appears as a bling ring from above — We have a monolithic footer. Appears as a bling ring from above

Foundation made with dry-stacked interlocked cinder blocks.  Each hollow has rebar and poured concrete, solidifying a base for the structure — Foundation made with dry-stacked interlocked cinder blocks. Each hollow has rebar and poured concrete, solidifying a base for the structure

Rough plumbing, specifically drains for sinks and toilet out to city sewer, then filled.  Note the entry is empty.  This is a future root cellar — Rough plumbing, specifically drains for sinks and toilet out to city sewer, then filled. Note the entry is empty. This is a future root cellar

Two-ply of rigid foam making R20 under the floor and yellow stago or radon barrier

Road base floor substrate atop foam and the first two wall panels!

It's growing!  Panels are 4 x 10 stud/OSB with tar paper exterior.  There are 24 total, plus the entry which has different geometry — It's growing! Panels are 4 x 10 stud/OSB with tar paper exterior. There are 24 total, plus the entry which has different geometry

All panels are up with central support ring in place to receive rafters

First four rafters, only 50 more to go.  They are bare on the central ring, which spreads the weight evenly — First four rafters, only 50 more to go. They are bare on the central ring, which spreads the weight evenly

Roof is roughed in, all  54 rafter are resting in their place forever. Pitch is 7/12.  Note the lack of OSB and tar paper on the wall panels, this pic is taken from the entry — Roof is roughed in, all 54 rafter are resting in their place forever. Pitch is 7/12. Note the lack of OSB and tar paper on the wall panels, this pic is taken from the entry

Kind of Death Star looking right here, over 2,000 piece of tongue + grove white pine make the ceiling and hold the insulation

T + G is primed as a vapor barrier, and all seams are poly caulked to limit heat loss, ready for blown cellulose insulation in foreground

Metal roof is on!  This is a huge step in any building process.  Penetrations made for wood stove and sewer vent — Metal roof is on! This is a huge step in any building process. Penetrations made for wood stove and sewer vent

Window are in and the entry is shaping up.  Logs cleared from the footprint were used to support the front porch.  Strapping is attached as an air gap between the siding and the house — Window are in and the entry is shaping up. Logs cleared from the footprint were used to support the front porch. Strapping is attached as an air gap between the siding and the house

Live-edge hemlock siding milled in Wolcott, VT is on.  Hemlock weathers very well. — Live-edge hemlock siding milled in Wolcott, VT is on. Hemlock weathers very well.

Interior framing starts.  Larson-truss, two-walled system is utilized, creating 10-12 inches of insulation.  That is R36 - R44.  The interior of the whole home is curved all the way around. — Interior framing starts. Larson-truss, two-walled system is utilized, creating 10-12 inches of insulation. That is R36 - R44. The interior of the whole home is curved all the way around.

More framing.  A bedroom is beyond the stairs seen, a bathroom to the right of them, and a loft is above.  The post exiting the pic are again trees from the original footprint — More framing. A bedroom is beyond the stairs seen, a bathroom to the right of them, and a loft is above. The post exiting the pic are again trees from the original footprint

My first curved stair case

Every staircase needs a handrail, my first log handrail.  Had to find a pair of logs with a similar curve to the stair — Every staircase needs a handrail, my first log handrail. Had to find a pair of logs with a similar curve to the stair

Walls with earth plaster (clay-based) and the complete handrail.  The bath is the doorway on the right — Walls with earth plaster (clay-based) and the complete handrail. The bath is the doorway on the right

Plaster (drying) and windows and ceiling.  Although subtle the window openings are flared 15 degrees on the sides and top between the two layers of framing.  This allows more light and more view ability from various angles — Plaster (drying) and windows and ceiling. Although subtle the window openings are flared 15 degrees on the sides and top between the two layers of framing. This allows more light and more view ability from various angles

Tile mosaic I designed and installed.  This is the wall with the shower head and the hot and cold water mixer — Tile mosaic I designed and installed. This is the wall with the shower head and the hot and cold water mixer

Continuation of the mosaic.  The season transition from right to left — Continuation of the mosaic. The season transition from right to left