We don’t need Game of Thrones to warn us that winter is coming. People are already dragging out their SAD lamps and wrapping themselves in bulky sweaters as fall temperatures take a dive. It’s one of our favorite times of the year, and we definitely have crackling fireplaces and blanket forts on the brain. When we spotted a winter-proof, mobile log cabin on Dornob, which we’ve featured past the break, it instantly satisfied our need for rustic coziness with a contemporary edge. You don’t need to own a flannel wardrobe to appreciate these woodsy retreats. See the cozy and contemporary log cabins we’d love to spend the chilly winter months in after the break.
Mobile log cabin
This mobile log cabin designed by Laird Herbert is everything we love: tiny, portable, and with vintage appeal. The cozy trailer emphasizes warmth with in-wall insulation, triple-paned windows, and a sloped roof that hides a loft sleeping space perfect for snuggling. The wooden exterior is a blend of cedar siding and metal, and stone tiles and vintage appliances add charming finishing touches to the interior.
Image credit: Thomas Mayer
Hidden log cabin
From the back, this camouflaged log cabin in the Netherlands appears to be a stack of log rounds. The front reveals a modern music studio and office, designed by Piet Hein Eek. The windows allow the owner to conceal the cabin completely, crafted from a wood facade (like the rest of the cabin). Did we mention it also has wheels?
Split log cabin
The Flak House was constructed to resemble a broken branch, and its split design is attractive, without sacrificing modern sleekness. The untraditional cabin is also completely mobile. Olgga Architects wanted to merge low-tech and high-tech design, which they achieved in part by stripping down the structure to its most basic elements (sorry, no bathroom or kitchen on site).
Cantilevered log cabin
The Utriai Residence in western Lithuania is set in the lush, picturesque Minija valley, and modernizes the traditional log cabin with wood slats and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The cantilevered design is striking, but doesn’t overpower the home’s spacious simplicity.
Minimalist log cabin
Clean and compact, this modern, prefab cabin is a minimalist’s dream, featuring natural wooden floors, walls, and ceilings. It’s filled with attractive, streamlined fixtures. Most of the lumber is on the inside of the cabin, but the exterior’s metal, glass, and wood frame is still a complementary fit for a forest locale (or anywhere, since the home is mobile).
Curvy log cabin
This Florida cabin dubbed the Casey Key Guest House is surrounded by dense foliage on a barrier island along the Sarasota Bay. The curvy, laminated pine design is elevated amongst an oak hammock (islands of trees that grow near wetlands) due to its flood-prone surroundings. Owners store their kayaks and boating equipment on the ground floor of the loft space, keeping the home connected to its natural environment.
Herded log cabins
Located in Washington’s Methow Valley, the Rolling Huts are perfect for modern campers. The six huts are herded along a mountain range and balance a contemporary cabineers’ need for rustic charm and convenience. A wood-burning fireplace, platform beds, and homey kitchenette make things comfortable, while the snowy surroundings and outdoor bathroom facilities remind you that you’re really roughing it.
Japanese log cabin
The Wakakusa House in Minami-Alps City, Japan — designed by architects Masaaki Okuno — has a raw, unfinished exterior that will adapt to the environment over time. The rectangular frame’s plank construction was carried inside the home, covering the floors and walls with a unique texture.
Pitched log cabin
Nestled on Easter Island, this sustainable cabin makes use of rain harvesters, solar batch water heaters, and other environmentally friendly touches to help protect the ecoregion. Every aspect of the low-impact design was carefully considered, right down to ditching the wall insulation (the area’s climate doesn’t make it a necessity) and the glass panels that provide ample light. The window placement provides maximum cross-ventilation, while the exposed, scissor, zinc and steel roof adds elegance and functionality.
Camouflaged log cabin
This modern, log cabin house reflects the palette of its forest surroundings, helped by layers of panels mounted on the facade. The first layer made from untreated cedar sits beneath a reflective wood veneer colored the shade of tree trunks. With time, the cedar will become weathered and gray, aging and darkening the wood tones on top of it for an interesting camouflage effect.