Consider the idea of a ‘Cabin in the woods’ and it’s likely that you’ll summon up an image of a simple, rectangular log-built structure that’s home to a lumberjack. It’s strange to think that until modern times, a house or cabin in the woods was thought of as being one small step up from living in the wild. A log cabin – or a variation on the theme - is now a sought-after holiday destination or even a dream home.
These days, the timbers may not always be recognisably logs but they are very often reclaimed timber, sustainable and ecologically ethical. The upgraded cabin is usually remote, in a part of the region that has little but space or trees around it, and in keeping with the luxury element, it has a spectacular view.
Much of our perception of the ‘log cabin’ is influenced by their appearance in literature and movies over the years – adventure stories like Jack London’s ‘Call of the Wild’ feature our old notion of a single log cabin stuck out in the snowy wilds.
Let’s take a look at some examples of the very best that luxury log cabins have to offer.
Sustainable Log Mansion, British Columbia, Canada
This iconic award-winning Canadian property is sprawled across 67 acres at the southern end of Vancouver Island. Designer Marko Simcic called the structure “sustainably entwined” due to its location in one of Canada’s most endangered natural ecosystems, the Garry Oak savannah. Panoramic views of an extensive shoreline and private beach add to amazing ocean views with an added background of the Olympic Mountain range. This log mansion features amenities like a swimming pool, tennis court, boathouse, library and vineyard.
Mountain Lodge, Idaho, USA
This beautiful Idaho Lodge borders the Adams Gulch Trail System, a wilderness area in the Sawtooth National Forest. Local architect Janet Jarvis designed the 12,624-square-foot residence with dramatic, open-plan living spaces styled for both casual family living and elegant entertaining. The six-and-a-half bedroom home includes media and games rooms, a custom-built cocktail bar, a two-story ‘great room’ and a heated rear terrace with a jaw-dropping view of the stunning surrounding wilderness.
Modern Island Lodge, Sweden
You’d expect stunning ‘Log Cabins’ in Scandinavia and this certainly hits the spot. The contemporary four-bedroom lodge is located on a quiet and private Swedish island located on the seafront. With over 3,500 square feet, the main property is built with 360-degree glass windows to make you feel at one with nature even when you’re indoors. The outdoor terrace is an ideal entertaining space, featuring a kitchen, a pool as well as a jacuzzi. Also included on ‘the estate’ is a second guest house property constructed in the same high-quality glass and timber, perfect for accommodating family and friends during visits.
Contemporary Forest Cabin, New Hampshire, USA
This modern custom-built property on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee was designed to blend in with its surroundings and give the residents the privacy they so desired. With seven en-suite bedrooms and a soundproof media room and sauna, this ticks the Mansion boxes but is also perfect for the outdoors lovers, thanks to its lakeside decks for fishing or lounging, a hot tub, as well as a boathouse and dock. This seemingly has everything covered and more.
Timber House, Rio Negro, Argentina
A beautiful timber house that looks like it should either be in Colorado or by a Swiss lake – this is actually in Argentina. Chalet Pire Co is a private, 4.5-acre estate on the shores of Lago Moreno, a crystalline mountain lake in Argentine Patagonia. The property includes three dwellings, all positioned to capture views of the lake and Mount Tronador in the southern Andes. The main four-bedroom, four-bathroom house was designed in the style of an Alpine chalet rather than a log cabin, with wide timber beams and railed verandas under a pitched roof. But it still has that same back-to-nature principle of a cabin. Inside, gleaming wood floors flow throughout the principal living spaces to create a suitably relaxing ambience.
It’s clear to see that it’s the location that inspires designers and builders to create a dwelling that fits in with its beautiful surroundings, and that’s not just the case in North America – there are examples of beautiful Cabin Mansions in Japan, Australia and New Zealand as well as across Europe and South America. Whether it’s a place to stay on vacation or a place to buy and call your own, the cabin market has grown up and developed into a thing of beauty worldwide. The best examples of these ‘cabin mansions’ are undoubtedly to be found in the wide-open wilds of the USA and Canada and none of them come cheap when it comes to buying or renting but the luxury living within such spectacular locations certainly offers the opportunity of a lifetime.
