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Architect Rob Maddox and Designer Karie Reinartson of Shelter Design Studio enjoy tea in the Tea Lost. The tea caddy features an extra long handle, so that when placed on a special shelf in the kitchen below it can be lifted easily into the loft.

The media loft features soft goods made locally by The Oriole Mill, Sew Co., and Echo View Mill. The iron work for the lofts and the side porch railings was done by Iron Maiden Studios in Asheville.

The striking windows at back of The Nook were found on Craigslist. Mike was determined to disturb the surrounding trees and landscape as little as possible during construction.

The Shelter team enjoy the breakfast nook. The kitchen is fully stocked, including a tasty variety of spices from Spicewalla, an offshoot of Chai Pani, an award-winning Indian street food restaurant in downtown Asheville.

The Nook exterior features shiplap cypress siding, a reclaimed oak deck, and an entranceway of oak blackened in the traditional Japanese method.

Photo by Håkon Matre Aasarød

The entire Wooden Cabin—including the sleeping cubbies, shown here—is clad in locally sourced larch, which over time will turn gray then black. Read the full story here.

Photos by David Gagnebin-de Bons and Benoit Pointet / DGBI

Photo by David Gagnebin-de Bons and Benoit Pointet / DGBI

A polychrome facade made of salvaged, 100-year-old barnwood gives this small, lofted cottage space its unique character. Its copper roof is also reclaimed, a lucky Craigslist find from a local remodel. Though the structure has a footprint of just 11' x 14', it provides a useful space to entertain, catch up on work, or relax.

The site needed a path that would let residents easily ascend from the bank to the house. The architects created one by simply replicating the way they had naturally walked up the site the first time they visited. The result is a meandering trail that directs visitors to the landscape’s different features — whether a majestic Arbutus tree, a private stone beach, or a wildflower clearing.

The interior of Jaanus Orgusaar's NOA cabin in the Virumaa region of Estonia. The wide windows provide a great view of the surroundings.

The interior of Jaanus Orgusaar's NOA cabin in the Virumaa region of Estonia. The unique shape of the dwelling creates a very open interior.

Jaanus Orgusaar's NOA cabin in the Virumaa region of northeast Estonia. The structure rests on three feet, so it doesn't require a foundation.

For the Butterfly cabin, which is part of the Post Ranch Inn, Muennig chose materials that age gracefully when exposed to the elements. He regularly uses Cor-Ten steel, a group of steel alloys that form a stable rust-like appearance when battered by wind and rain.

The simple kitchen is located beneath the mezzanine. The dining tabletop was made from a cross-laminated timber off cut, while the bench, which was designed and built by O’Connell, can be transformed into a double bed.

Concrete blocks lead up to an elevated timber deck with a sliding aluminum entrance door.

Durable, economical, and easy to build, the simple A-frame was once the must-have midcentury vacation home. Today, the classic retreat has been propelled back to popularity, thanks largely to photo-centric platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Read on for 20 charming A-frame homes that caught our eye.

In addition to having a queen bed upstairs, Ryan built a sofa that converts to a twin, based on a design by architect Sean O’Neill. The transformable unit cost $500 in upholstery, $35 in wood, and $4 in hinges.