The owners, a young couple with kids, wanted to create an accessory dwelling unit for their in-laws. Their parents hoped to be near the kids and grandkids in an efficient home that offers both charm and potential. This cabin offered an opportunity to restore a part of the history of the land and put a retired space to use for the parents to live in.
The location is a peaceful piece of land tucked back into the woods alongside a creek. The original owners built the cabin as one of the first houses in the area, providing a camp location for the loggers. We saw the building as an opportunity to both renovate and innovate.
The owners cared about the character of the building and, even though its small, looked for ways to exercise efficiency in their use of space. Together we designed three bedrooms inside this 1,000 square foot cabin.
As part of the renovation and design, we needed to determine which parts of the original cabin we could keep, and which parts needed changing. Much of the work on this project involved designing a floor plan that suits a middle age family. We spent time on space planning, elevation studies, and added in proper insulation throughout.
As a finishing touch we added windows to provide character and help bring the cabin back to a feel that, while reminiscent of its glory days, also supported proper use of natural light.
