Step into this small Vermont cabin with a peaceful wooded backdrop

Vermont cabin with metal roof, screened porch, and vertical wood siding

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Cabin on the Farm is a unique 1,000-square-foot home designed for a small family by Vermont Integrated Architecture and Smith & McClain in Central Vermont. The primary goal was to employ versatile storage solutions to maximize livability. They achieved this by designing multifunctional spaces and using otherwise unrealized potential, such as under-stair storage.

Nestled on 106 acres, the project aimed to revitalize the diverse ecosystems present there and to establish a thriving permaculture homestead. The family engaged Whole Systems Design early in the project to support site and land-use planning and thoughtfully site buildings and farm components. A utility barn and cabin were among the first projects on the site, with a main house to follow.

DESIGN DETAILS

ARCHITECT Vermont Integrated Architecture
BUILDER Smith & McClain
PHOTOGRAPHER Ryan Bent Photography

Cabin porch with black-framed glass door, potted ferns, and stacked firewood

Key Features:

Standing seam roof, custom wood stove, butcher block and soapstone countertops, wood interior finishes, Sierra Pacific windows and doors, tile, custom built-ins

Covered front porch with green bench, wood steps, and stone path

Long-term, the cabin will serve as a secluded retreat from the workings of the farm; for now, it is a temporary place for the family to live while the main house is designed and built.

Cabin Living Room with Wood Stove and Vaulted Ceiling

Wood-paneled living room with wood stove, dining table, and mountain views

Though modest in size, the cabin features an abundance of wood – unfinished rough-sawn board and batten siding, wide board pine flooring, and pine shiplap adorning most walls and ceilings – with windows and a wraparound porch that make the living space feel more expansive.

Vaulted living room ceiling with black stovepipe and corner windows

With an insulated concrete-form basement and a standing seam galvanized steel roof, the cabin is net zero-energy ready (solar panel-ready) and exceeds Efficiency Vermont’s Certified Home designation.

Living area with wood stove, pale brick wall, and vaulted ceiling

The house is fully electric for heating, cooling, and ventilation, with a centrally located woodstove for supplemental heating and cooking.

Small Cabin Kitchen with Butcher Block Island

Wood-paneled kitchen with butcher block island, open shelving, and loft above

What We Love About This Home

The loft above the kitchen is the cabin’s most distinctive feature, with folding wood panels that open it to the living space below. Pine shiplap covers most walls and ceilings, and the vaulted living area, with its wood stove and corner windows, makes it feel larger than 1,000 square feet. This rustic cabin has so many fabulous features, from its highly functional design to being fully electric, triple-glazed, and net zero-energy ready.

Tell Us: Would this be your idea of the ultimate family cabin in the woods? Let us know why or why not in the Comments below!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other fascinating home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign im the state of Vermont: Step into a Vermont farmhouse in the snowy mountains of Mad River Valley and Tour this warm and cozy barn house in the snowy mountains of Vermont.

Woman in the kitchen looking up at a child in the loft

Kitchen island beneath a loft with diamond-accent wood panels

Kitchen island with cushioned stools, black pendant light, and open shelves

Farmhouse sink under window with black faucet and dark countertops

Space-Saving Storage Stairs to the Loft

Plywood storage stairs with built-in drawers beside a blue door

Storage drove the design of this small family cabin, so nearly every built-in plays double duty. The plywood stairs leading up to the loft have sage green drawers integrated into the risers, turning what would normally be wasted space into everyday storage. Up in the loft, a built-in bench with drawers adds functional seating without needing a separate piece of furniture.

Loft Sitting Nook with Built-In Storage

Loft sitting area with built-in bench, sage drawers, and sloped wood ceiling

Loft bench with sage green drawers, feather pillow, and wooden storage boxes

Cabin Bedroom with Exposed Beams and Forest Views

Wood-paneled bedroom with exposed beams, white curtains, and forest views

Cabin Bathroom with Brass Shower Fixtures

Bathtub shower with white subway tile, exposed brass fixtures, and floral curtain

Vermont Cabin Exterior with Meadow Views

Deck rocking chairs overlooking a meadow, pond, and distant mountains

Wood cabin deck and screened porch surrounded by trees and boulders

Rear cabin facade with black windows, deck, and screened porch

Cabin on a wooded hillside with stone patio and green Adirondack chairs

Set into an east-facing hillside of trees, the cabin benefits from shade and wind protection from the trees while taking advantage of a lovely view over the gently sloping farm fields and ponds.

Vermont cabin tucked into the tree line above a meadow