10 Vacation Homes That Bring Nature Inside

These rentals reimagine conventional notions of inside and out and celebrate the beauty of the natural world in unexpected ways.

Jul 26, 2022 - 19:51
10 Vacation Homes That Bring Nature Inside

These rentals reimagine conventional notions of inside and out and celebrate the beauty of the natural world in unexpected ways.

Button added a fresh coat of white paint to the exterior, along with a new entry patio with palms and cacti.

There are few better ways to improve your wellbeing than engaging with the beauty of the natural world, especially in the comfort of your own home. These vacation rentals across America engage with the surrounding landscape in surprising ways—from trees that cut through living spaces and sprawling green roofs, to perfectly framed views and even a psychedelic 70’s home that draws inspiration from organic forms.  

Located in some of the country’s most spectacular wilderness locations—the forests in Washington state, the towering redwoods of Aptos, California, New York's Hudson Valley, and Joshua Tree National Park—these homes, cabins, and treehouses celebrate the power of biophilic design and architecture to connect us to the great outdoors.

A Treehouse That Offers a Romantic Escape From New York City

This rentable cabin is located on a wooded 14-acre property a stone’s throw from Woodstock and a two-hour drive from the Big Apple. Built from wood locally sourced in the Catskills, the sprawling 743-square-foot treehouse has a unique geometric form with big windows, skylights, and decking that creates a seamless transition to the great outdoors.

Located just a two-hour drive from New York City, this rentable cabin is perched amongst the treetops of a 14-acre property near Woodstock. Designed by Antony Gibbon Designs and built by William Johnson Construction using timber locally sourced in the Catskills, the 743-square-foot treehouse is conceived as an extension of the surrounding woods. It overlooks a natural swimming pond and features enormous glazed walls and windows that invite the leafy views inside.

Photo by Martin Dimitrov

Mature oak trees shade the lounge area near the swimming pool.

Green roofs planted with no-maintenance grass are the crowning touch on this Hamptons getaway in Amagansett on Long Island. The home—which is clad in cedar and reclaimed cypress timber that blends into the natural surroundings—was designed by Scott Glass, cofounder of New York firm Guerin Glass Architects, and is available to rent for $75,000 for two weeks in summer months. The ground floor features sliding glass doors that open out to a spectacular sunken patio and a perfectly maintained lawn surrounding a swimming pool and lounge area shaded by mature oak trees. 

Photo by Josh McHugh for Sotheby’s International Realty

The built-in sofa anchors the living room and faces the existing fireplace. The Leather Oval Chair with a red steel base sits off to the side, and the coffee table was fashioned by attaching vintage steel legs to another tile sample board.

Iconic Californian homewares brand Heath Ceramics embodies thoughtful craftsmanship thanks to the extraordinary vision of founder Edith Heath—and it's this approach that the company drew on when transforming a cozy 1973 cabin in the Bear Creek neighborhood of Lake Tahoe’s Alpine Meadows Valley into a year-round getaway. Designed by local architect Charles O. Matcham Jr., the interiors have been given a sleek makeover with a focus on handcrafted details, while existing details—such as the fireplace crafted from local rocks—bring tactile touches of the rugged wilderness inside.

Photo courtesy of Heath Ceramics

See the full story on Dwell.com: 10 Vacation Homes That Bring Nature Inside
Related stories:

Read More at Dwell