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To rent the cabin for a short stay, intrepid guests can contact Dus Architects at info@houseofdus.com Photo: Ossip van Duivenbode

Erecting a modern cabin where a tool shed once stood became a family exercise for architect Jim Cutler and his daughter, Hannah, who worked with him on the design and build.

Zach Batteer and Carlyle Scott designed Field Cabin, a 288-square foot accommodation at Serana, their communal retreat in Paige, Texas. Wrapped in Yakisugi-treated pine, the cabin took 40 days and almost $46K to build.

L'Abri reinterprets the legendary A-frame to create a secluded shelter just north of Ottawa, Canada.

The cabin is clad in untreated, locally sourced pine that will develop a silvery-gray patina over time.

"The home noses out of the forest just a little bit, like it’s peeking out of the trees,” says architect Ray Calabro.

The building takes advantage of passive heating and cooling, thanks to Blee and Halligan's strategic design to capture the most sunlight in the winter and provide the most shade in the summer. The above-ground glass facade faces east and draws in the daylight, but when the sun proves too strong, whoever is staying in the structure can close the internal shutters to beat the heat.

With one side of the house closed off, views are directed through the glazed south and west facades to the grassy clearing beyond. "We planted tens of thousands of blue bells and lots of rhododendrons," Oostenbruggen says of the green space. "The setting developed over time."

Lookofsky painted the exterior of the house a bright red tone that pays tribute to the other red, more traditional, houses in the area.

“The exterior paths and balconies were designed on-site,” Chrismar says. “We wanted a direct connection to the landscape.”

The Hideout lives on the same five-acre property as another guesthouse Castillero owns, The Woodlands.

Before: A painstaking effort was made to bring all of the windows up to code in the stairwell, by swapping in tempered glass panels.

The original brick pavers were painted.

The original yellow pine walls and metal handrail were refinished.

The vanity has a walnut base with an Arabescato Marble counter. A mirror is inset to be flush with the Umi Torimu tile, in Oat Glossy from DDS Tile.

Night views

At under 100 square feet, the 8' x 12' Site Shack includes just the essentials: a wood-burning stove, a desk, and storage.

Inside, a Cubic Mini wood stove warms the cozy 8' x 12' space.

Built as a live/work space for a sculptor, Indigo by Dutch practice Woonpioniers is an eco-friendly, prefabricated cabin with bent wooden walls.