Caleb Niemela, president of Niemela Design, is a third-generation builder. He has been in business long enough to know what he likes to build and builds what he thinks is beautiful.
As he passed through the house he is building on High Street in Peterborough, he pointed the curving beams of the exposed timber frame carved by hand in his workshop in Dublin, the winding stairs, the wide windows looking out at Mount Monadnock.
“We specialize in custom homes, all-wooden homes,” Niemela said. And he believes now more than ever it is critical to build eco-friendly houses, but “it has been important for the last 30 years.” He explained that houses waste a lot of energy in the United States, but a well-built timber frame is “extremely energy-efficient.”
“It will perform and be beautiful at the same time,” Niemela said.
The home at 10 High St., is situated south so solar panels could be installed if the future buyer chooses to do so and electric-car charging ports are set up in the detached garage.
The house is split into two units – a larger two-story space on top and a one-bedroom apartment on the bottom level that is accessible to people with disabilities. Niemela said it was important to build an accessible unit because “Availability is a big deal.”
The lot was the location of the District 1 schoolhouse in Peterborough in the early 1800s. Niemela said the building was crumbling and has been totally replaced, but there will be a plaque out front to commemorate the historic school and the bricks from the original schoolhouse have been installed along the foundation.
Niemela has been been conscious to integrate the house with the rest of the street, careful to make it look natural and cohesive. It sits slightly back from the road on a tiered plot of land that makes the outside space seem bigger. The driveway wraps around to the back, where there is access to the bottom apartment at ground level and plenty of parking.
It’s a short walk into town and right across the street from Peterborough Elementary School. Shaw’s is around the corner, and the location feels especially central standing at the third-floor window, far above Union Street and the rest of town with the blue peak of Mount Monadnock visible in the background.
The stonework out front is granite from Peterborough Marble & Granite. Niemela said they try to use local, high-quality materials.
The house is almost finished. Niemela said they are just waiting on roofing and to finish up the interior, plant sod in the yard and put on the final touches.
Niemela said the detached garage could be converted into an accessible dwelling unit by a future owner.
“We need multi-unit homes,” he said. “It’s really important.”
Niemela feels a special attachment to each home he builds.
“It’s like your baby, your creation,” he said. “These are our favorite homes to build.”
In addition to Niemela Design, Niemela and his wife Karen own Timber Home Properties. She is a Realtor and will be selling the High Street home. They are open to a pre-sale, but currently plan to put the house on the market by summer.
Niemela credits his team – which includes lead carpenter Austin Wright, Graham Lynch, Tyler Cahill, Evan Laurie a nd Luke Everard – with making everything happen.
“Our team is excellent, and we enjoy doing it,” he said.