Dreaming of cabin life: smart ideas for small spaces, plus the hottest spots to buy or build a getaway

Sunset, August, 2006 by Susan Stiles Dowell, Peter O. Whiteley, Joyanna Laughlin

1 Getting back to nature

Long before he went to architecture school. Andy Neumann was a champion surfer. So it's no wonder he refers to his 800-square-foot, solar-powered retreat as "the surf shack." The strongly geometric cube-shaped cabin, located 2 miles up a canyon in California's Central Coast, packs a lot of design ideas--from storage walls to a hearth-desk--into a compact space overlooking a creek in rolling, oak-studded ranchland.

"I had the luxury of camping here for three years and taking my time to get a bead on my design," says Andy, who shares the retreat with his wife, Yvonne. "I knew I wanted to experience the outdoors while being sheltered in an uncomplicated way." The kitchen/living/dining area and enclosed bathroom occupy the cube; a bedroom is attached to one side like a saddlebag. The shedlike main roof is actually two triangular planes forming a trough that echoes the canyon slope and channels runoff to a salvaged anchor chain. Sliding window walls on four sides and at a corner of the living area open the house to the landscape.

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The remote site is in a high fire-risk zone, so Andy used non-combustive building materials (including 10-inch-thick plaster-and-metal lath walls that are the color of the earth) and eliminated roof overhangs, a common transfer point for wildfires. Electric power is generated by solar panels on top of the south-facing detached, one-car garage. Large-capacity military-surplus batteries are used to store the energy, eliminating the need for a generator. The cabin's mechanical systems are in the garage, which keeps the main living quarters tranquil. Propane powers a very quiet refrigerator and stove, and heats the water for the radiant heating in the poured-concrete floors.

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The layout of the cabin exemplifies Andy's pared-down aesthetic. "My brother-in-law built me a large maple 'box' that I pushed into the corner," he says. The outside wall of the box contains cubicles for kitchen storage and books. Inside is a bathroom and walk-in closet; on top is a study/loft with two beds.

The cabin is both a launchpad for surfing and a place to relax in the rugged landscape. As for the sleek geometry, Andy says, "It honors the spirit of freedom that drew me here in the first place."--SUSAN STILES DOWELL

DESIGN: Neumann Mendro Andrulaitis Architects, Carpinteria, CA (www.NMAArchitects.com or 805/684-8885)

Nature and nurture

The cabin's design incorporates contemporary and vintage features, along with an earthy color palette that ranges from dusty tan to bright red.

A wraparound mantel accentuates the sculptural geometry of the fireplace. It neatly divides display space from a convenient wood storage area. The top of the firebox functions as a secondary mantel.

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The sculptural sideboard was recycled from a project by furniture designer and friend Paul Tuttle. One of Andy Neumann's prized possessions, it combines a variety of storage and display compartments as well as a bar.

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Old and new meet in the bathroom, where this salvaged claw-foot tub makes a handsome contrast to contemporary wall-mounted fixtures and a square soap niche. The antique wall cabinet complements the tub.

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A collection of cactus and agave in containers creates a colorful, movable garden against a concrete retaining wall. The plants are low-maintenance, so the Neumanns don't need to worry about them between weekend visits.

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2 Off the grid and energy efficient

From the veranda of their cabin, all Patti and Neal Mitchell hear is the wind whistling through the pine trees--and, if they're lucky, one of the turkey-size grouses that live in the area. "Sometimes we'll also hear the screams of mountain lions or see the footprints of a bear we call Oscar," Neal says.

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Their metal-clad cabin sits near Grouse Ridge in the Sierra Nevada, about 6,500 feet above sea level and about 30 miles from Nevada City, California. Its exterior design is simple and functional, since it must deal with heavy snow loads, provide fire resistance, and also be able to lock securely. Architect David Wright based its shape and metal surfaces on U.S. Forest Service maintenance buildings that dot the area.

The 980-square-foot structure is "off the grid," thanks to an array of photovoltaic panels that store the electricity in a series of heavy-duty batteries. A propane tank powers the stove, refrigerator, and a pump, while a wood-stove heats the interior.

The cabin is sturdy and exceptionally energy efficient, because it uses Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) in the walls and roof. (The precut panels helped speed the construction of the cabin, which had a limited window of time in midsummer for the contractor to build it.) The SIPs make the house so well insulated that in five years, the Mitchells have used only 1 1/2 cords of wood for heat. The precut panels for the walls and roof cost $24,875 from Better Building Systems (www.betterbuilding.com or 530/477-8017).