Avid hikers and travelers, John Loerchner and his wife Laura Mendes were stumped when they had their daughter, Ava, three years ago. Camping no longer seemed like the best option, but they didn’t want to swap an experience in nature for a hotel or rental. So, the couple decided to build a tiny cabin as a landing pad for weary outdoor enthusiasts. They loved the results so much that they quickly added a second cabin, and then kept building. Today, they rent five different cabins that are scattered across the wilderness of Eastern Ontario.

“We started Cabinscape as a way to meld our interest in sustainable design and our passion to create, build, and inspire connections in nature," says Loerchner.

Loerchner and Mendes designed their cabins to be totally off-grid: solar panels provide electricity, while lake water feeds the shower. Compost toilets eliminate the need for a full septic system, and water from the kitchen sink is gravity-fed from 20-liter jugs of fresh drinking water.

The cabins are designed to have the smallest footprint possible, while still providing creature comforts, and stay connected to the landscape through large windows and decks.

Ranging from 128 to 240 square feet, the cabins are tastefully designed with the Scandinavian concept of hygge in mind. Cozy textiles, plenty of reading space, and ample natural light fill the tiny dwellings with a feeling of warmth even on the coldest winter day.

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Perhaps one of the best features of these tiny cabins is that they can be easily moved to different locations. So whether the deep snow of winter calls for skiing and snowshoeing, or a sparkling Canadian lake beckons in the summer heat, Cabinscape cabins can be at the heart of the action.

Book your off-grid cabin stay at Cabinscape starting at $141 a night.

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Project Credits:

Designer: John Loerchner

Architect: RAW Design / @rawdesignto

Builder: Cabinscape

Interior Design: Laura Mendes (Cabinscape)

Contractor: Paul Bedard