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This house is handmade in the original New England Cape Cod architectural style. Real Cape Cods feature a chimney in the center of the house which allowed for fireplaces in each room. They were built with low roof overhangs and the classic gabled windows on each side This birdhouse features two nesting boxes.It also has several safety and comfort features that many decorative birdhouses don't feature such as:  
 
  • 3/4" solid pine construction recommended for insulation from both heat and cold.
  • Thick bird openings and no perches outside of bird holes, which protects small songbirds from larger predators.
  • Ventilation along eaves and roofing perlins to keep birds from suffocating heat.
  • Removable roof for easy clean-out in between bird families.
A true craftsman and artisan, Ben hand carved the cabin's foundation and chimney from Southern yellow pine, transforming it to the look of natural stone with intricate hand-painting. This birdhouse is not stained. The siding is crafted of cedar, with the clapboards etched with the irregular look of the cedar shakes that Cape Cods are famous for. It is not finished, and will weather over the years to a beautiful silver-gray, just as the houses on the Cape do. The roof is asphalt shingle. The dimensions are 20" x 22" x 20" high.

 

 

While Ben is an excellent craftsman, Mom and Dad got in on this one. The pier in front of the house featues handmade fishing rods and tackle box. To the right are a pair of lobster pots and lobster buoys.

At the end of the pier you'll notice a double post. On the New England shore, if a pier post began to settle and was no longer erect or stable, a new one would be put in next to it, but the old one would remain. It's a common sight in port towns. This pier post features a heavy rope used for large boats that was hand-knotted from heavy cotton string. These were familiar sights to Ben's Dad, born on the Connecticut shore. All of these details were hand-made by members of our family to add to the beauty of Ben's excellent craftsmanship. (A little parental bragging here).

 This Birdhouse also features the excellent details like a bay window at the right side of the house, and a screened-in porch at the back. From the old-style 4-pane windows and doors to the broad door jambs,to the stone steps in front, you will undoubtedly enjoy this birdhouse as much as the birds do!

The shingle roof on this birdhouse features the gabled windows on both sides of the house. Real Cape Cods are only 1 1/2 stories high, and those gabled windows made the traditional knee-wall attic useable as living space.

As in all of Ben's birdhouses, the roof lifts off for easy clean-out in between bird families.