Houzz Tour: 10 Acres, 3 Generations and Many Animals in North Carolina
Check out a throwback-style cabin that celebrates simplicity, reclaimed materials and family
Mitchell Parker
May 14, 2013
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
William Britten and his wife, Sarah, came up with a brilliant plan to lure their family — a son, a daughter, the spouses, six grandkids — into one place: Buy a farm and invite everyone to live there. The scheme worked, and now their children and grandkids, as well as goats, chickens, ducks and alpacas, share the 10-acre property, which sidles up to the Pisgah National Forest outside Asheville, North Carolina.
The Brittens also built a rustic weekend cabin for themselves, where they could retreat to when not running their photo gallery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The style is a throwback to old-fashioned cabins in the area, with a steep roof and simple all-wood design. “We wanted it to echo the flavor of an Appalachia hillbilly cabin, though more comfortable," William Britten says. "This is a modern version of that."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: William and Sarah Britten
Location: Outside Asheville, North Carolina
Size: 480 square feet, with a 100 square-foot loft; 1 bathroom
Total construction cost: $74,000
Total time: 3 1/2 months
The Brittens also built a rustic weekend cabin for themselves, where they could retreat to when not running their photo gallery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The style is a throwback to old-fashioned cabins in the area, with a steep roof and simple all-wood design. “We wanted it to echo the flavor of an Appalachia hillbilly cabin, though more comfortable," William Britten says. "This is a modern version of that."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: William and Sarah Britten
Location: Outside Asheville, North Carolina
Size: 480 square feet, with a 100 square-foot loft; 1 bathroom
Total construction cost: $74,000
Total time: 3 1/2 months
The property is nestled in a geographical cul-de-sac. “One way in, one way out,” Britten says.
The design for the cabin highlights simplicity and affordability. “We’re spartan minded,” Britten says. “Nothing fancy. No Internet or TV. Keep the design simple.”
Pure water was also very important to the Brittens. They tapped into the fresh local water by digging a well 325 feet down for $3,000.
The design for the cabin highlights simplicity and affordability. “We’re spartan minded,” Britten says. “Nothing fancy. No Internet or TV. Keep the design simple.”
Pure water was also very important to the Brittens. They tapped into the fresh local water by digging a well 325 feet down for $3,000.
After about six months of false starts — and saving dozens of photos for design ideas — the couple decided to be their own general contractors. They had spent time investigating every piece of wood going in and out and were interviewing the subcontractors anyway, so it was a natural transition.
River Birch Builders did the vast majority of the construction, while the Brittens hired an electrician, a plumber, a roofer and a local craftsman to do the rest.
The exterior is board and batten rough-sawn hemlock. The front porch and rafters are locust, a naturally weatherproof hardwood that can last 50 years without treatment.
The steep, galvanized metal roof slopes at a 45-degree angle, a rare design these days; it pays homage to old-fashioned cabin roof styles. It cost $3,000.
River Birch Builders did the vast majority of the construction, while the Brittens hired an electrician, a plumber, a roofer and a local craftsman to do the rest.
The exterior is board and batten rough-sawn hemlock. The front porch and rafters are locust, a naturally weatherproof hardwood that can last 50 years without treatment.
The steep, galvanized metal roof slopes at a 45-degree angle, a rare design these days; it pays homage to old-fashioned cabin roof styles. It cost $3,000.
William and Sarah Britten (seated in back) acquired the property and built the cabin to be near their family, to have their grandkids grow up in a unique way and to move retirement money “from the stock market into something real,” he says. “Something that everyone could use now. Something that would sustain us in a real way.”
Britten’s daughter (holding her son, in an orange shirt) lives in a four-bedroom, 1,700-square-foot old-fashioned farmhouse on the property with her husband. She tends the gardens, chickens, goats and alpacas and home-schools their five children. She also makes goat cheese and sells duck and chicken eggs roadside.
Britten’s son (with the beard), a freelance software programer, lives onsite in an RV with his wife and infant while they build their own house on the property.
Britten’s daughter (holding her son, in an orange shirt) lives in a four-bedroom, 1,700-square-foot old-fashioned farmhouse on the property with her husband. She tends the gardens, chickens, goats and alpacas and home-schools their five children. She also makes goat cheese and sells duck and chicken eggs roadside.
Britten’s son (with the beard), a freelance software programer, lives onsite in an RV with his wife and infant while they build their own house on the property.
Britten is a retired university professor who headed various library departments, including one for rare books. About six years ago he started a second career as a photographer, shooting wildflower and other nature photos in the Smoky Mountains near Gatlinburg, about an hour and a half away, where he and his wife have their main home. They own a gallery, where they sell Britten's photos to tourists.
“Everyone comes into this cabin and their jaw drops,” Britten says. It is one open space, with a separate bathroom. The floors are reclaimed heart pine with three coats of Vermont PolyWhey, a finish made from cow’s milk.
The wall with windows is oak reclaimed from a barn. A local craftsman made the door by hand out of pine for $600. The siding is cypress.
All the windows in the cabin are double-pane low-E; they cost about $3,600 total.
The wall with windows is oak reclaimed from a barn. A local craftsman made the door by hand out of pine for $600. The siding is cypress.
All the windows in the cabin are double-pane low-E; they cost about $3,600 total.
River Birch Builders built the kitchen cabinets onsite out of leftover reclaimed oak wall boards for $1,600. The countertop is black walnut, hand crafted for $1,000 by the same craftsman who made the door above. The ceiling is the floor to the loft above, and is wormy maple.
The Brittens put the colored lights up during Christmas and liked them so much, they never took them down.
The Brittens put the colored lights up during Christmas and liked them so much, they never took them down.
Since the wood displays such beautiful grain, there was no need to hang any art or objects. But Britten photographed and created a poster montage to cover the electric panel on the wall.
The Brittens sought to use everything that came to the site. The ship ladder is made of two leftover hemlock rafters.
The Brittens sought to use everything that came to the site. The ship ladder is made of two leftover hemlock rafters.
The 100-square-foot loft is currently used as a meditation space. Leftover wormy maple floor planks make up the loft railing. The ceiling is knotty pine.
The cabin has hot water, plumbing and electricity. “In that sense, it’s not rustic,” Britten says. The plumbing cost $3,000; the electricity, $3,400.
A ductless mini split heat pump system for $3,400 provides the main heating and air conditioning.
More: Get ideas from more cabin getaways
A ductless mini split heat pump system for $3,400 provides the main heating and air conditioning.
More: Get ideas from more cabin getaways
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It is refreshing to see stories about living well without needing a McMansion. Some of these houses are so giant, that you wouldn't really use all of the space. If you really want to spend time with family, I do not think a 10,000 sq. ft. house will suit that need.
Very nice craftsmanship!