Local Authors Launch Bark House Style with Pair of Parties

Story by Kathleen McFadden

Chris McCurry and Nan Chase have completed their book Bark House Style: Sustainable Designs from Nature and are holding two launch parties to celebrate.
Afternoon tea parties from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. will be held on Saturday, September 13, at Eseeola Lodge in Linville and on Sunday, September 21, at The Inn at Ragged Gardens in Blowing Rock.

Chris McCurry is the co-founder and vice president of Highland Craftsmen Inc., the original poplar bark shingle manufacturer located in Spruce Pine. She is a pioneer in today’s indoor-outdoor Bark House® design and creator of the Bark House® style. Highland Craftsmen Inc. began in 1990 to implement bark styles in homes, reduce the visual and environmental impact of residential and commercial construction and produce a historically authentic mountain cladding in the Appalachian Mountains. Today the company’s products are used in more than 30 states and internationally.

Nan Chase is a longtime freelance writer and author of the recently published Asheville: A History. Chase’s work has appeared in numerous newspapers and magazines, and she is currently working on a new book called Edible Landscape.
Chase learned about poplar bark when writing promotional copy for Highland Craftsmen Inc. and subsequently teamed up with McCurry to produce a book on the history, beauty and diverse applications of bark siding.

The result is a stunningly visual volume that includes a number of historical photographs as well as current photos of homes and structures incorporating bark siding. Local photographer Todd Bush provided the principal photography.

The book explores the resurrected practice of designing homes with bark shingles, a popular style that originated in North Carolina in the 1800s. In the 21st century, bark has become a popular green building material and the material of choice for many architects, builders and homeowners across the country. In remodeling jobs, bark can act as a visually pleasing architectural tool to bridge the gaps between the old and new. Bark House Style shows the diverse stylistic applications of bark siding, including Adirondack, Cowboy, Old Linville and Modern.

Bark House Style is being released this month by Gibbs Smith (www.gibbs-smith.com), a publisher that specializes in beautifully illustrated lifestyle books covering topics such as interior design, architecture, cooking and many more. The book retails for $30.

The public is invited to attend the book’s launch parties at no charge. To RSVP for one of the tea parties, call Highland Craftsmen Inc. at 828-765-9010.