Waylon’s Way

Cozy fireplaces of moss rock indoors and Lyons red sandstone in the courtyard outdoors helped to drive the design and aesthetic of the house, which were guided by the owners’ interior designer. Earthy colors and textures complemented the rustic feel of the home tucked away in the pines to give it an update without making it seem too modern.

We kept the character of the original cabin by adding knotty alder doors and trim and heavy beams to the ceiling. Small, drafty windows were replaced with expansive, energy efficient models to capture the mountain views while conserving heat to leave rooms snug. After shoring up and leveling the floors, we added radiant heat below to keep the cabin cozy year round.

While the owners love their updated cabin, it’s still a vacation home, so we set it up to be conveniently lock-and-leave. Leak-detection sensors tie into a valve on the water main and automatically shut off water to the home should Mother Nature try to wreak havoc with frozen, broken water lines. A handy keypad on the stained, all-weather fiberglass front door allows family members to come and go without having to worry about the key.