Our architect and construction crew work together under one roof, making your home building experience as stress-free as possible from the initial concept meeting to the first time you open the door to your completed home. Because our design and build divisions operate as a team, striking a harmonious balance between aesthetic form and practical function is second nature.

Houses & Barns by John Libby works with only the finest materials and partners with the best subcontractors and vendors in the region. We respect the fine work they do for our clients and consider them part of our team.

The Maine coast, interior mountains and woodlands offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the East. In addition to incorporating your ideas into the design, we carefully consider the unique attributes of the property on which we will build. The end result is a finished product that complements the natural landscape and offers you the best vantage points from which to enjoy the native beauty surrounding you.

We build beautiful and energy efficient timber framed structures strong enough to endure the test of time. Many of our houses and barns look historic because they are produced with specialized tools and techniques of generations past. Every project begins with timber custom cut in our workshop. We use traditional hand chiseling to complete the joinery, achieving a fit akin to what one would find in a piece of fine furniture. Our experienced timber frame crew then transports and raises the frame on your site, readying it for finishing by our talented and skilled construction team.

Though the terms "timber framing" and "post and beam" are often used interchangeably, there are fundamental differences between the two. In post and beam construction, nails, metal plates and timber on timber are used to hold the frame together. Traditional timber framing works with the natural characteristics of the wood, connecting timbers with wooden-pegged joints. With traditional timber frame joinery, you will not see connections pulling apart, nails and screws popping, or shrinkage.

You direct the process from start to finish. We discuss your dreams and ideas and ensure that everything important to you is incorporated into the overall design scheme.

There will be many decisions to make - paint colors, flooring, hardware, cabinets, lighting, roofing, and the list goes on. We'll give you plenty of time to make all the important decisions, and you'll never feel rushed.

Finally, we will always be readily available to answer your questions, even long after you've settled in.