Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,000,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Houzz Tour: Bright, Polished Vermont Cabin
Using local woods, plentiful windows and a keen eye for design, an architect builds a sleek cabin in the mountains of Vermont
Houzz Contributor. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I found myself utterly unprepared for the real world and at a loss as to what I should do next. Luckily, one day I stumbled through the doors of Architectural Digest and was taken under the wing of legendary editor Paige Rense. She had the vision to look past my uninspiring sociology degree and my general lack of experience—an unlikely journalism career was born. After AD, with my magazine karma still intact, I was hired by yet another publishing legend, the food critic and writer Ruth Reichl. I currently ply my trade as a freelance writer and editor and live in stylish Mid-Century-Modern comfort with my dog, Mike.
twitter.com/WriteEditDream
Houzz Contributor. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I found myself utterly... More »
I don’t know much about playing poker, but I’ve been told that a pair of aces is the best starting hand in Texas Hold 'Em. Architect Joan Heaton was holding the equivalent of this lucky pair — a keen eye for clean, modern design and a husband who’s a builder — when she began construction on this 800-square-foot cabin in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Heaton’s footprint for the cabin was set since she followed the foundation of a house that was already on the site. “For me, this was an opportunity to try and build a very small and affordable home,” she says. “I wanted it to be open but able to sleep up to six people.”
The floor plan is indeed wide open, but subtle design and architectural choices provide a cozy feel to the bedroom, and windows on every side contribute to the sense of a much larger house. “I was inspired somewhat by fancy hotels where everything you need is in one space,” Heaton says. From the look of this place, her guests will be lining up for reservations.
Heaton’s footprint for the cabin was set since she followed the foundation of a house that was already on the site. “For me, this was an opportunity to try and build a very small and affordable home,” she says. “I wanted it to be open but able to sleep up to six people.”
The floor plan is indeed wide open, but subtle design and architectural choices provide a cozy feel to the bedroom, and windows on every side contribute to the sense of a much larger house. “I was inspired somewhat by fancy hotels where everything you need is in one space,” Heaton says. From the look of this place, her guests will be lining up for reservations.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| Clean, simple furnishings define the main living space. The Scandinavian-style sofa is manufactured by Softline and was chosen for its stylish practicality: It converts into two twin beds or a king-size one. "Not only do I like the form of the furniture, but it's slipcovered so I can change the fabric if I choose," says Heaton. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The southeastern exposure provides a welcoming glow as you approach the cabin. |
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| To give the bedroom a cozier feel, the ceiling was dropped and drywall was used instead of wood. Drapes provide privacy. |
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Heaton tried to integrate as many local woods into the design as possible. The ceilings throughout are pine, the doors are hemlock, and the window and door casings are ash. "The warm tones of the polished concrete floors complement all the other finishes," she says.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
To preserve the view but still allow for ventilation, the kitchen sink is centered between two different-size windows. The one on the right opens, while the left portion is fixed. The cabinets are cherry, and the countertop is slate.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
"I particularly like the window in the shower. You don't feel exposed, but you get to look at the view," Heaton says. A larger window floods the space with light. Its placement was dictated by Heaton's desire to have plenty of counter space and a big mirror. A wall-hung vanity contributes to the room's open feel.
Browse more cabin designs
Browse more cabin designs
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A variety of different-size windows (from the economically priced Integrity window line by Marvin) capture light and the view. "I wanted the windows to work from the exterior but relate to the interior space as well," says Heaton. A channel rustic profile was used for the rough-sawn cedar siding.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A deck that wraps around the cabin almost doubles the living space. More: Joyful, Earth-Conscious Home in Vermont If You Love Rustic Splendor Rustic Chic |
Ideabook published on March 13, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
Perfect use of space and integration of outside environment.
Where did you find the venting system for the stove? And the tract lighting? How cool is that?!