Built for Gatherings, Grilling & Gratitude: A Farmer’s Outdoor Dream
There’s something sacred about people who live close to the land. That’s why we were honored to design and build a custom timber frame deck and pergola for two American farmers who’ve dedicated their lives to it.
Every farmer I’ve ever met loves being outdoors. Maybe it’s the sunrise over an open field or the quiet satisfaction of working with the land—but there’s something sacred about fresh air when your life’s work is tied to it. If anyone has earned a place to rest, reconnect, and gather under open skies—it’s the American farmer.
A Farm, A Family
Kennan and Marnee Nelson are the real kind. They don’t just own land, they work it, they live it. For them, farming isn’t a weekend activity or lifestyle brand—it’s an identity, a calling, a legacy passed down through generations. And when they needed an outdoor space worthy of the life they’ve built, they turned to Western Timber Frame™.
What started as a casual visit to the Salt Lake City Home & Garden Show led to the creation of a handcrafted, fully custom deck and pergola—designed and built specifically for their family farm. Today, that structure is more than an upgrade. It’s a reward for years of hard work. It’s a place where firelight flickers after sunset. Where meals are grilled and shared. Where guests feel welcome. And where two people who give so much finally have a place that gives back.
From Home Show Curiosity to Full Backyard Dream
When they stopped by the Salt Lake City Home & Garden Show, they were just looking for a simple 10’ x 10’ shade cover—something to help on hot days. But when they saw Western Timber Frame’s timber structures up close, it sparked something bigger.
Marnee shared:
“We went to the home show and we were just looking for a 10’ x 10’ structure. Western Timber Frame was there and they had a beautiful display. We met a one of their Design guys there and he said he would come out and observe our job. He did that. We decided for all the people we liked to have over that we should go up from a 10’ x 10’ to almost a full structure — covering almost the length of the back of the house.”
And it became exactly that. We didn’t just build them a pergola.
We designed and handcrafted a masterpiece—a timber frame deck and pergola system that now spans the length of their home. Built from solid timber, built by hand, built to gather generations.
What We Built: A Complete Outdoor Living Retreat
Designed to Endure, Built to Belong
This outdoor living space was born from a conversation—a thoughtful design process rooted in the Nelsons’ land, lifestyle, and vision for the future.
Every timber was carefully selected, cut, and finished for this exact space. Every joint was engineered for strength, every layout tailored for flow and function.
It’s a structural foundation custom-built to support the life that happens on it.
This is craftsmanship you can feel—not just in the scale or grain of the wood, but in the way everything fits together with intention and presence.
custom timber frame deck and pergola for American farmers
The Timber Frame Deck
Laid out to complement the home and landscape, this handcrafted deck sets the tone for everything above it. Solid. Seamless. Simply put, it’s elevated in both structure and spirit, creating more than shade — it creates a place to belong.
The Timber Frame Pergola
With bold, architectural timbers and traditional joinery, the pergola adds rhythm and shelter—framing each sunrise, each gathering, each moment of stillness beneath it.
The space embraces:
- A full outdoor kitchen with four built-in grills for cooking and connection
- A cozy fire pit lounge, carved into the deck for conversation and comfort
- A serene hot tub corner, private and peaceful under the timber beams
- Integrated TimberVolt® power and lighting, thoughtfully wired for ease and ambiance
- Flourishes of color and charm—Marnee’s personal touch woven through every detail
Kennan said:
“It’s more than just a deck. It’s where we gather now. We live out here, relax, and our kids love it.”
A Closer Look at the Nelsons’ Farm Retreat
This is what handcrafted living looks like:
This Is What We Do
At Western Timber Frame, we don’t just build outdoor spaces.
We create gathering grounds, design family heirlooms, and craft places that reflect the people who live in them.
Each project is handcrafted—rooted in purpose and shaped with the same care our clients bring to their lives and work.
Above all, whether you’re feeding the country or just your family, we’re here to make a space that’s more than beautiful — it’s yours.
Projects like Kennan and Marnee’s remind us that outdoor spaces can be more than beautiful—they can be places of healing, reflection, and restoration. Here’s another story of how a timber frame sanctuary helped a family through grief and healing.
