It seems like this should be the norm in boat houses, and perhaps it will catch on. On the Hood Canal in Washington state, this concrete block walled and gable roofed boat house has been transformed in to a cozy cabin for the warmer months of the year. During the winter months it protects boats from the weather. Continue reading →

We probably all share images of a typical mountain cabin…knotty pine wood covering every permanent surface, plaid upholstery, and walls filled with stuffed heads and antlers. This family’s second home is not your average cabin. It offers all the comfort and warmth of a traditional cabin, with modern amenities and sensibilities. Continue reading →

How about escaping with me today to a wooden retreat in Wisconsin? This white washed wooden cabin is one of Jessica Jubelirer’s most stunning renovation projects. Situated next to a lake and surrounded by mature gardens and trees, the view of this cabin is breathtaking while totally tranquilizing at the same time. Continue reading →

Picture yourself hiking through the forest of Kirishima-Yaku National Park, on the southern coast of Japan’s Yakushima Island. This subtropical island boasts mountains 2000 meters in height, ancient cedars, and its own unique sub-species of monkeys and deer. As a respite for hikers, the accomplished Japanese architect, Shigeru Ban, has designed a small cabin framed in timber with a steeply sloped corrugated metal roof to shed the abundant rain that is received here. You’ll be surprised to find this retreat along your trek, but even more surprised to learn what comprises the walls. Continue reading →

What began as a wish for a shed to house a water pump and farm equipment ultimately evolved in to a self-sufficient, no frills, just nature weekend retreat for a couple and their horse. Situated close to a dam, the idyllic uncomplicated home celebrates simplicity in form and materials. Continue reading →

As I write about this island cottage that is just a short boat ride from Stockholm, there are eight inches of snow on the ground outside my home. Designer Carouschka Streijffert’s summer cabin makes me feel a bit warmer with its unencumbered light and I can almost feel the balmy breezes off the water. Continue reading →

It is always refreshing to find a cottage in the woods that uses modern materials in sophisticated current ways. This two bedroom cottage in the redwoods of Mendocino County, California, was designed for two readers who wanted the home to feel like an outdoor porch. Architect Cathy Schwabe succeeded in creating that as well as giving the home a tree house vibe. Continue reading →

Located in Sjaelland, Denmark this 110 sqm summer home presents an unusual complex of five interconnected gabled cabins. A five-fingered plan organizes the program: the cabins overlap one another to create a central living area that opens out to a series of wooden outdoor decks. The living room, kitchen and dining area occupy three of the cabins, while the fourth contains a master bedroom and the last one is reserved for two smaller bedrooms. Continue reading →

There’s a sense of purity and clarity and ease in the form of this house on the shores of Lake Graz in Austria. It’s as if the owners insisted on leaving all their cares behind, along with material frivolity as well. The nine meter in length rectangular home nestles at the base of a hill and reaches for the lake. Crisp and even wooden deck boards prevent the home from diving in yet redeem themselves through their open air dining room. And they cleverly store a canoe underneath on the lake side. Continue reading →

Near the center of the Dutch city of Groningen, the Tuinwijck allotment, or community, gardens allow small buildings for garden storage or for summer living. Architect Haiko Meijer of Onix designed this seasonal home for his family. Continue reading →