Timber Frame Home Showcase
A Palatial Home That Still Feels Exceptionally Cozy

Approximately 240 miles north of New York City, Richard and Lisa Coico were able to locate five acres of former farm land in Trumansburg, a small town located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. With slopes that gently roll from the road down to a steep cliff with an 85-foot drop off down to Cayuga Lake, the home is only eight miles north of Cornell University where Lisa serves as the Dean of the College of Human Ecology.

Using highly efficient structural insulated panels (SIPs) helps conserve energy. Tongue and groove boards are applied to the ceilings which are overlaid by the cam-locked wall panels. Every seam was then sprayed with insulating foam making the interior as air-tight as possible. During construction, Woodhouse® installed air exchangers, which bring fresh air into the home and replace stale interior air while capturing most of the heat from the outgoing air.

In-floor radiant heat on the main and lower levels, forced air on the second level, and four fireplaces also help keep the house cozy. The dining room, master bedroom, and lower level entertainment area are equipped with gas-insert fireplaces while the great room has a true wood-burning fireplace.



  • It was a treat to witness the piecing together of these SIPs - like a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle being put together.
  • We interviewed many companies. Unbeknownst to us, the owner of Woodhouse® lives right down the road.
  • Woodhouse® really cares and are proud of what they do.
  • Watching the timber frame go up was like watching a huge puzzle being put together.
  • It was the chemistry between us and the Woodhouse® team that made Woodhouse® the right company.
    • - Richard & Lisa Coico, Woodhouse® Home Owners

    NOTE: Lisa recently accepted a new position at a different university, which will require the Coicos to relocate. As a result, their spectacular timber frame home is currently on the market (see listing). The Coicos are now in the process of planning and designing another Woodhouse® timber frame home to be built in their new location.

    Interested in building a New York Timber Frame home? Learn more about our New York Timber Frame Home building experience.

"This home feels so organic, like a living and breathing thing. It appeals to so many senses—the feel and look of the wood, the subtle smell of the Douglas fir sap, and the occasional sound of the timbers as they settle, almost like they are talking to you."

— Richard & Lisa Coico
Woodhouse® Home Owners
The upper level great room is the Coico's favorite room. It's a 32x32x32 room with six windows with one gigantic window facing the lake. In addition, it has a wood-burning fireplace. However, the library is a close second because it's so cozy, full of cherry wood, and evokes the feeling of being inside a cocoon.