This woodland cabin retreat was designed for indoor-outdoor living by Whitten Architects, nestled on Loon Lake in Freedom, New Hampshire. The owners of this retreat have generations of family history in this small town positioned between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. This cabin was devised as a family gathering spot for the owners and their three adult children.

They imagined a home that expressed deep and enduring ties to this place, while reflecting a breadth of ideas learned abroad, such as the concept of Wabi-sabi, the traditional Japanese aesthetic that centers on the acceptance of the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete in nature.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Whitten Architects BUILDER K.P. Hood Construction INTERIOR DESIGNER Heidi Lachapelle Interiors LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Soren Deniord Design Studio ENGINEERING Albert Putnam Associates

This serene lakeside property features a terrain of tall pines and hemlocks. An existing dilapidated cabin originally occupied the site. The new house footprint, being smaller, sits inside the existing cabin footprint to maximize views down the lake and receive winter sunlight while minimizing site impact.

Above: The entry bench is constructed from a solid block of Maine ash with splits and checks. 

What We Love: This woodland cabin retreat was designed as a wonderful family escape, to enjoy the beauty of nature with an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Living spaces were designed to be comfortable and casual with simple access to the outdoors. A large patio facilitates family gathering around a fireplace with peaceful views of the lake. We are especially loving the screened porch that provides shelter from the elements while enjoying the changing of the seasons.

Tell Us: Would this be your idea of the ultimate family getaway home? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Take a look at a couple of other wonderful home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of New Hampshire: Delightful barn style home in New Hampshire with a cottage-inspired feel and A beautiful midcentury deck house in New Hampshire invites nature inside.

While the floor plan is modest in interior size, the T‑shape plan implies two courtyards — extending the domestic zone of the home into the landscape. Granite boulders, emerging between the hardscape, express the splice of the architectural intervention with nature. The entry courtyard is to the north and the south courtyard gestures toward the fire pit and lake.

Above: The living area opens with glass sliding doors and a corner window to the lake. Windows high along the north wall offer light and ventilation while offering privacy. The solid oak daybed is by BAUTIER. Providing warmth and texture underfoot is an indoor/outdoor rug sourced from Dash & Albert. Offering an abundance of warmth to this space is a dual-sided, Scandinavian-inspired fireplace.

The interior wood cabinetry finishes mirror the dark and light treatment of the exterior cladding. The interior floor is polished concrete and the walls are unpainted veneer plaster, a nod to New Hampshire’s tradition of veneer plaster that is still used today. By leaving the plaster unpainted, the hand-troweled texture is revealed. The plaster treatment continues at the corner fireplace.

The house is clad, like a cut log, with bark and sapwood. The “bark” is Western red cedar stained black giving it a Shou Sugi Ban appearance, inspired by the ancient Japanese technique that preserves wood by charring it with fire. The “sapwood” siding undercover, along the entrance axis, is Douglas fir with a natural oil finish.

Designing with Wabi-sabi in mind, the hope was that the house  will age gracefully and develop a patina over time. The modern Adirondack chairs are from Loll Designs.

The curated selection of furnishings was limited to what was essential. The concept of “beauty in imperfection” can be seen throughout the spaces. The fabric selection is soft, natural linens with pops of rust and deep forest green to welcome the outside landscape in.

Above: In the kitchen, the countertop is granite that has been locally sourced. The Windsor Chairs are by Hay and encircle an oak extension table that is by Ethnicraft. The original plan called for a center island. Instead, the owners desired flexibility in their space, opting for a table that could also be used as prep space. An oak cabinet behind the sofa has casters that can be moved around as desired, even for outdoor use!

Above: The main bedroom features deep, built-in drawers for storage in lieu of a closet (to save space). The bed and side table are by Ethnicraft. In the corner is a cozy Ligne Roset Cinna chair upholstered in a velvet fabric, spotted at Brimfield Antique Flea Markets in Massachusetts.

Above: The main bathroom is the only bathroom with an indoor shower. The plumbing fixtures and hardware all have an oil-rubbed bronze finish. On the wall above the vanity is the Oak + Leather Towel Loop from Schoolhouse.

Above: An outdoor Sierra Chair by Croft House Design Studio sits outside the bedroom, sheltered by the covered patio. An outdoor shower provides a wonderful indoor-outdoor living experience.

Detached Screened Porch

A screened porch, situated on piers, is nestled in the woods with minimal impact on the site. The porch appears like a lantern in the woods from the house and offers another point of view of the site.

Above: The screened porch features a concrete wall that serves as a backdrop for the wood stove along with privacy from the road.

Above: The detached screened porch provides a wonderful respite surrounded by woods and a glimpse of the lake through the trees.

PHOTOGRAPHER Trent Bell Photography