This modern cabin will be located at Drover’s Road Preserve in Fairview. Because the home site is located on a nature preserve, our design is intended to not disturb the land as much as possible. For the house, the concept is inspired by Scandinavian style and uses clean, minimalist lines and soft tones.

Our clients are about to be empty nesters, with both children going off to college. Their next step in life is downsizing their place, but ensuring their children still have accommodations while home on breaks. The house is designed with this in mind, so the bulk of the square footage is on the main level, and the smaller lower level can be used when kids are visiting.

The home site is beautifully wooded. Driving up to the site, you cross over a creek and follow a winding drive around natural boulder formations and a line of popular trees. Our design seeks to preserve as much of the beautiful scenery as possible so the home feels nestled into this natural amenity.

An important design aspect for the owners was having a great space for entertaining that is versatile for both indoor and outdoor movement. The main level holds the owner’s suite, living, kitchen and dining spaces and is capped at the end by a generous screened porch. The porch has a large operable window wall so the space can be opened up to the interior. The lower level holds two bedrooms for the kids or guests, as well as a smaller living space and access to the lower terrace.

Taking cues from Scandinavian design, we designed the house with simple lines and natural light wood tones to blend into the wood surrounding. Three distinct forms on the rear elevation delineates three different primary living zones inside – the bedroom, the living room and the porch. Large windows in the rear capture forest and mountain views and clerestory windows at the front capture natural light.