Outbuildings
Landscape Design
Tour a Relocated Log Cabin in Virginia Horse Country
An architect and contractor rebuild a historical structure and make it a relaxing retreat and gathering spot
“These homeowners are a vibrant couple who love old things,” says their architect, Tim Clites. “They are passionate about collecting whimsical objects, particularly items from all periods of American history.” One of their latest additions is a historical log cabin. The building is old, but it’s new to their property in Virginia horse country.
The couple are also film — especially documentary film — enthusiasts. When they bought the cabin, they envisioned an informal retreat away from their house for screening movies, holding meetings, entertaining friends and curling up with a good book. The cabin also serves as a spot to showcase favorite items from their collections.
The couple are also film — especially documentary film — enthusiasts. When they bought the cabin, they envisioned an informal retreat away from their house for screening movies, holding meetings, entertaining friends and curling up with a good book. The cabin also serves as a spot to showcase favorite items from their collections.
The late designer John Barr created the landscape. “The gardens around the main house are very organized and formal,” Clites says. “For contrast, the homeowners wanted the gardens around the cabin to fit with the relaxed and casual atmosphere of the cabin. John had such a wonderful knack for that.” Large broken full-range flagstones make up the entry walk. They’re dry-laid in the stone dust for a more informal look.
The story the architect and builder told in their approach to the cabin’s design and construction was that it had evolved over time. “For the exterior lighting, we tried to pick things that were styled like old lanterns,” Clites says. These fixtures are gas. “A standing-seam metal roof is not something that would have originally been found on a log cabin, but they are very common on historic homes in Middleburg,” Clites says.
Simple stone steps lead to the front door. The team also kept the doorknob and lock simple. “Richard had a big box full of random door hardware for old houses that we used,” Clites says.
The story the architect and builder told in their approach to the cabin’s design and construction was that it had evolved over time. “For the exterior lighting, we tried to pick things that were styled like old lanterns,” Clites says. These fixtures are gas. “A standing-seam metal roof is not something that would have originally been found on a log cabin, but they are very common on historic homes in Middleburg,” Clites says.
Simple stone steps lead to the front door. The team also kept the doorknob and lock simple. “Richard had a big box full of random door hardware for old houses that we used,” Clites says.
The original log cabin is one large open room, with a new fireplace at one end and a bar and the opening to the addition at the other. One of the homeowners is very involved in DocWeek, a local documentary film festival, and the selection committee meets here to screen films and choose which ones will be shown at the festival. There’s a hidden screen tucked behind a beam over the fireplace. The homeowners store the projector in the bar across the room.
The fireplace mantel is a beam of longleaf yellow pine. It was shaped with an adze cutting tool to fit the stone. “We wanted to expose the rafters in the main room, so we stained 1-by-6-inch tongue-and-groove pine and installed [it] over the rafters,” Williams says. There is closed-cell spray foam insulation and some wiring between the tongue and groove and the roof.
This room also provides space for the homeowners to display some favorite things from their collections. While there are many American pieces, the items also reflect their travels. They found the wooden mannequin in a salvage store in Hanoi, Vietnam, when they were living in Asia. “They have great taste and it makes for really interesting interiors,” Clites says.
One thing not shown in the photos is from America’s disco era. When the owners host parties here, they move all the furniture out of the way and a mirrored disco stored high up in the rafters drops down.
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The fireplace mantel is a beam of longleaf yellow pine. It was shaped with an adze cutting tool to fit the stone. “We wanted to expose the rafters in the main room, so we stained 1-by-6-inch tongue-and-groove pine and installed [it] over the rafters,” Williams says. There is closed-cell spray foam insulation and some wiring between the tongue and groove and the roof.
This room also provides space for the homeowners to display some favorite things from their collections. While there are many American pieces, the items also reflect their travels. They found the wooden mannequin in a salvage store in Hanoi, Vietnam, when they were living in Asia. “They have great taste and it makes for really interesting interiors,” Clites says.
One thing not shown in the photos is from America’s disco era. When the owners host parties here, they move all the furniture out of the way and a mirrored disco stored high up in the rafters drops down.
Browse sofas in the Houzz Shop
In the new design, Clites and Williams enlarged existing openings and added new ones. “We kept the feeling authentic with authentic details,” Clites says. “These are true divided-light windows with narrow panels, and the French doors are slender.” The windows and doors were expertly crafted by Coyle Lumber & Millwork in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
Three sets of custom French doors lead to a back porch. “The French doors are narrower than standard,” Clites says. “We also used traditional hardware such as the simple slide bolt levers seen at the tops and bottoms of the doors.”
The flooring is original to the cabin.
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Three sets of custom French doors lead to a back porch. “The French doors are narrower than standard,” Clites says. “We also used traditional hardware such as the simple slide bolt levers seen at the tops and bottoms of the doors.”
The flooring is original to the cabin.
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A Cor-Ten steel box at the other side of the room serves as a bar. It contains a small fridge, an ice maker, a small dishwasher, storage for bottles and a spot to stash the projector. When screening movies, the homeowners simply move the projector to the top of the bar. The doorway on the right leads to the addition.
The addition includes this den and a bathroom. Shiplap paneling and built-in bookshelves on both sides of the room cozy it up. The color palette comes from nature, with deep green on the walls and ceiling and eggplant on the shelves.
Williams sourced the flooring from the attic of a circa 1800 house in nearby Brambleton that was demolished to make room for a new housing development. The floorboards are beautiful wide planks of pine.
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Williams sourced the flooring from the attic of a circa 1800 house in nearby Brambleton that was demolished to make room for a new housing development. The floorboards are beautiful wide planks of pine.
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In the layered-over-time narrative, the addition would have been part of a later era, and the funky Sputnik chandelier represents present day. “When I first saw it, I asked my clients if they were really going to put it in the log cabin and they said, ‘Oh, absolutely!’” Clites says. It embodies their personalities and love of unexpected touches.
“This wasn’t really designed as a guesthouse per se, but the sofa folds out into a bed when they need extra space for a guest in a pinch,” Clites says. Otherwise, the sofa provides a comfy spot to curl up with a good book.
“This wasn’t really designed as a guesthouse per se, but the sofa folds out into a bed when they need extra space for a guest in a pinch,” Clites says. Otherwise, the sofa provides a comfy spot to curl up with a good book.
Because the bathroom would also have been a later addition in the layered-over-time story, Clites was able to take a few liberties with the finishes. One modern detail is the recessed LED lighting over the shower.
The mirror’s reflection reveals some logs that were once on the exterior of the cabin. The repurposed antique sideboard vanity, hammered copper vessel sink and lantern-style sconces complement the original logs.
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The mirror’s reflection reveals some logs that were once on the exterior of the cabin. The repurposed antique sideboard vanity, hammered copper vessel sink and lantern-style sconces complement the original logs.
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The back porch would have been an addition to the cabin at some point in the story the design pros were creating. “In the spirit of the layered-over-time idea, what’s magical about the porch is in the character and details,” Clites says. “This makes it seem as though it had been part of the cabin for a long time.”
“I had a bunch of dry 8-by-8 white oak beams in storage,” Williams says. “We sawed those up for the porch decking.” The porch top plate (the structural beam on the left) is original to the cabin. The rafters are from the same demolished home in Brambleton that the den flooring came from.
Traditional details include the lantern-style gas lights and the door hardware. “Another detail is that we used full wood thresholds instead of metal. It’s details like this that create an authentic look,” Clites says.
One more modern touch is the addition of ceiling fans. “We had to have air flow on the porch,” Clites says. “Because ceiling fans are not a historically authentic element, we found some that were as visually unobtrusive as possible.”
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“I had a bunch of dry 8-by-8 white oak beams in storage,” Williams says. “We sawed those up for the porch decking.” The porch top plate (the structural beam on the left) is original to the cabin. The rafters are from the same demolished home in Brambleton that the den flooring came from.
Traditional details include the lantern-style gas lights and the door hardware. “Another detail is that we used full wood thresholds instead of metal. It’s details like this that create an authentic look,” Clites says.
One more modern touch is the addition of ceiling fans. “We had to have air flow on the porch,” Clites says. “Because ceiling fans are not a historically authentic element, we found some that were as visually unobtrusive as possible.”
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
The porch overlooks the gardens and the mountains beyond. “The homeowners refer to the hill the house sits atop as Still Hill. It means it’s peaceful and quiet while also making reference to an old moonshine still,” Clites says. At the bottom of the stone steps is a patio with a gas fire pit. “These steps are solid flagstones that are 6 inches thick in random shapes,” Clites says. “There’s a very natural freeform shape to the steps that has almost a waterfall look to it.” Barr designed the gardens, steps and patio.
“John had such a wonderful way with all kinds of design, from architecture to interiors to the landscape,” Clites says. “Our clients love the look he gave these gardens. Again, the irregularity of the flagstones on this patio keeps things feeling rustic and informal.” The spot is perfect for catching up with friends or having cocktails alfresco after a screening.
Clites also heaps high praise on Williams. “He’s so highly skilled and loves old buildings. He wants to know the way they were built and why,” he says. “Without him, this project never could have preserved the authentic character of the cabin. His knowledge of and passion for historic houses made it all come together.”
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“John had such a wonderful way with all kinds of design, from architecture to interiors to the landscape,” Clites says. “Our clients love the look he gave these gardens. Again, the irregularity of the flagstones on this patio keeps things feeling rustic and informal.” The spot is perfect for catching up with friends or having cocktails alfresco after a screening.
Clites also heaps high praise on Williams. “He’s so highly skilled and loves old buildings. He wants to know the way they were built and why,” he says. “Without him, this project never could have preserved the authentic character of the cabin. His knowledge of and passion for historic houses made it all come together.”
More on Houzz
Read more stories about outbuildings
Browse photos of rustic homes
Work with a landscape designer
Shop for your outdoor spaces
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Cabin at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Middleburg, Virginia
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters)
Architect: Tim Clites of Clites Architects
Contractor: Richard Williams of Deerchase
The cabin sits in a clearing atop a hill, with views of the Bull Run Mountains. “[It’s] an easy walk from the main house, but it’s just far enough to feel like they are getting away,” Clites says.
The couple hired Clites, who had designed the main house, and contractor Richard Williams to make the cabin work for the activities they envisioned. New elements include openings for windows and doors, a chimney, a small addition (seen on the right with wood board-and-batten siding and a pigmented stain) and a back porch.
The late-18th- or early-19th-century cabin originally sat about 70 miles from where it is now. “[It] basically arrived as a bundle of logs,” Clites says. Williams had a bit of a giant Lincoln Logs puzzle on his hands. He and his team laid out the sills and joists on the ground first to see what they had and to get a measurement for the foundation.
Maintaining an authentic historical feel was the goal, but keeping the cabin frozen in time was not. Williams is passionate about old buildings. He paid meticulous attention to detail and sourced reclaimed materials. He also relied on a deep list of contacts, including expert craftspeople, to help give the log cabin authenticity.
One such craftsperson who worked on the project was Lewis Whitesell, an expert mason. He designed and constructed this chimney from fieldstones in a style that would have been used when the cabin was built. Even the firebox is fieldstone rather than firebrick. The half-barrel-shaped cap is a more modern detail that protects the chimney.
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