As a woodworker for 30 years, Robert Paine had a fondness for Victorian style homes and he and his wife dreamed of building one. About 20 years ago, they started studying plan books, looking for just the right one, and found a two and a half story design that would work with a few modifications. "We took the plan and kept some things and changed others to meet our desires," recalled Robert.

In 1987, the couple purchased 19 acres of wooded land and with the help of his father, Robert started clearing the lot. With a vision of their dream home, logs were stockpiled for sawing the boards that would bring the house to life. "At the time I didn't own a Wood-Mizer, but I knew someone who did and he helped get us started sawing," commented Robert.

For the next seven years, the fatherson team worked the land, completed the foundation and spent a summer working to frame the house, get the roof decked and shingled and closed in with windows. Robert's wife also worked side-by-side; helping with every aspect from framing to finishing. During this time, Robert purchased an LT40 mill which cut 90% of the lumber used for their construction. An especially unique aspect to the home is the 6' x 6' tower that strikes a bold pose, both from the outside and inside of the house. Robert is quick to acknowledge, "There are a lot of materials to frame this house and the Wood-Mizer made it possible."

Weekends, evenings and every other available opportunity, Robert and his wife worked inside through the winter installing wiring, plumbing and radiant heat tubing, as well as the insulation and sheet rock. All the work was done by the couple except the slabs, fireplace and heating system.

With enough done in 1995 to move in, Robert set up the garage as his woodshop and began working on exterior trim. With a great attention to detail, he planned how everything would look. The exterior consists of mostly pine and some bass wood. All the siding, porches and decks were cut from cedar using his mill. The siding is a 2½" reveal, novelty siding with a teardrop bottom.

The Paine's 2,400 square foot home features 46 windows, 5 doors, exterior fluted trim and rosettes, a lot of dentil work, thousands of feet of 3½" crown moulding and base cap. Robert made all of the material on site and did it one section at a time. "I had no drawings or plans, so I would lay it out in my mind and change as I started putting things together."

He tackled the interior in the same way; taking it room by room and making each area unique. There is a mixture of different woods throughout the house using everything from common species to more exotic materials, etc. Each room is stunning and incorporates wood. The joining living room and dining room are dramatic with wood spanning from wall to wall and ceiling to floor. Robert incorporated wood flooring, crown moulding, dental work, a dramatic mantel and various other millworks. "All of this would not have been possible without the Wood-Mizer."

In addition to the house, Robert built a two story, 1,200 square foot garage that complements the house. Their surrounding garden and landscape areas with fences and arbors add the finishing touches."Finishing our house and seeing all the work come together was a great feeling. I walk around and find it hard to believe that we did it…we really finished the house!"