Mountain House by Studio Razavi

Winter would be way more bearable if I could spend it here. Mountain House in Manigod, France by Studio Razavi Architecture. In this highly preserved Alpine valley, stringent architectural guidelines allow for very little freedom of architectural expression. Everything from building height/width ratio to roof slope, via building material and window sizes are strictly controlled to enforce what is locally perceived as patrimony protection but de facto creating camp architecture, endlessly mimicking traditional mountain homes.

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A rustic ranch in Montana

Fall makes me think of cozying up by a fire, dark earthy colours, wood cabins and luxurious velvets. Fall is taking its time to really set in here in Ottawa which is fine by me given my hatred for cold weather, but I thought it was a good time to feature this home, and get all our dear readers who are heading into winter to start thinking about cozying things up at home. Another lovely project by Peace Design.

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A rustic and refined log cabin

Tammy Connor's impeccably curated traditional style transformed this charming log cabin with the most beautiful weathered wood into an absolute gem. Tammy's approach of taking such a rough, rustic structure and making it look so refined yet comfortable is quite something. I adore everything about this. 

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A cabin with river views

The best little weekend getaway is right here in Olympic Peninsula, Washington with views of the Sol Duc River. The design of this cabin by Tom Kundig is absolutely brilliant. This 350-square-foot cabin is a small perch for its occupant. It is located in one of the few temperate rainforests in the world, and "rainforest" here means wet and rather cold, as opposed to wet and hot. Putting the cabin on stilts protects it from the clammy dampness and occasional flooding. The owner is an avid steelhead fisherman. The design allows him and his wife to arrive at this remote location, open the place up, and get to fishing as quickly as possible. The shutters are operated manually via custom steel rods. The large panels slide on hardware that was originally designed for sliding barn doors, attached to the steel roof beam structure.

Hex Cottage at Wilderness Reserve

I could not resist sharing just one more property available at Wilderness Reserve....because look how cute this cottage is!!! What a perfect setting for a little romantic honeymoon getaway. A dreamy thatched former forester's cottage for two, electricity-free, candlelit and set in woods overlooking its own meadow. In Hex Cottage, built in the Regency 'cottage orné' (or decorated cottage) style, an Esse wood-burning range in the kitchen provides all the hot water and heating, though there are open fires in the sitting room and bedroom. In the kitchen, think original bread ovens, brick floors and butler sinks. Swing open the door to discover your own herb garden, store for the all-important logs and wilderness beyond. In the bedroom, candles and a fairy-tale canopy above the king-size Hypnos bed set the scene.