Their Tiny A-Frame Cabin Is Made of Timber Sourced On-Site
An artist and an engineer build a backwoods getaway with local materials, custom built-ins, and lots of windows.
An artist and an engineer build a backwoods getaway with local materials, custom built-ins, and lots of windows.
While living in the Bay Area during the pandemic, Max and Hannah yearned to be closer to family—so they took a cross-country roadtrip in a camper van to Max’s hometown in central Maine. After they arrived, they discovered a 13-acre plot for sale. The lush, wooded acreage is situated on a large pond with a meandering trail. "We were really struck by it," Hannah says. "We just loved the quiet and solitude there."
"We knew we didn’t want to clear a lot of forest, because the trees are so interesting around there," Hannah says. After the cabin was finished, the couple replanted local trees and native plants. "The idea is to fill the space back in with the same species that used to grow there, so in time it will feel like the cabin was just plunked down in the midst of the forest," Hannah says.
Photo by Jeff Roberts
After purchasing the property with a future getaway in mind, they camped on the site in an RV to fully immerse themselves and experience the lay of the land. A few years later, their dreams grew from keeping a vintage Airstream on-site to designing and building a retreat from scratch.
"I’ve always dreamed of designing my house, but I wasn’t sure it would be practical," Max says. He’s an engineer and she’s an artist—and the couple combined their talents to dream up their future forest dwelling.
The roof is made from locally milled hemlock board shingles. The homeowners decided to leave them natural to allow them to weather, and they’ll turn from bright tan to silvery gray over time. Four-foot-long boards in widths of four, six, and eight inches were laid with a deep overhang to give the roof a textured look.
Photo by Jeff Roberts
They approached Portland, Maine–based firm Winkelman Architecture to bring their vacation home to fruition, and what started as an inspiration board of A-frames and tree houses evolved into their very own tiny cabin. The couple collaborated closely with designers Lea Stagno and Alex Lehnen, and the firm handled everything from project management to designing and building the home and installing its kitchen cabinetry.
Oak kitchen cabinetry that was milled from on-site trees is topped with Deer Isle granite. Locally manufactured tile from nearby Camden adds a textured sheen, and Muuto pendant lights hang over the bar.
Photo by Jeff Roberts
See the full story on Dwell.com: Their Tiny A-Frame Cabin Is Made of Timber Sourced On-Site
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