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Pablo designed his family’s home to disrupt as little of the landscape as possible.

A safe space for the kids.

Kanuka Valley House by WireDog Architecture

Openings in a divider wall are filled with vintage umbrellas Nigel picked up at a local secondhand shop.

"A majority of the existing roof was removed to frame the new second floor,

The long-leaf-pine roof decking was salvaged from the original home and used on the ceiling in the new playroom.

After: The front door opens into the living room, so Michelle positioned the sofa so that it creates an entrance corridor. The custom sectional from Croft was one of the designer's hardest purchases since she had never sat on one of the brand's pieces before. "I just really liked it online,

The lines of the ipe wood deck echos those of the new studio’s Cor-Ten steel exterior. The deck not only provides a protected outdoor space, but it also separates the home from clients who drop by via the studio entrance.

The master bedroom has chairs by Hay and a Wittus stove. The ceiling is a custom blue from Benjamin Moore. “It changes in response to what’s happening outside more than any other surface,” says Kathy.

A new wall that was initially planned as drywall was ingeniously swapped for frosted glass, which now brings in further natural light into the ensuite. “It’s one of the important moments in the house,” says Fohring.

The cabin’s exterior, originally pastel yellow, was modernized with fresh paint from Benjamin Moore in Blackforest Green – a rich and earthy hue perfect for the wooded context.

Large-format wall tiles create organic texture in a neutral color, consistent with the the rest of the house.

Custom cabinets in a mix of white oak and lacquered paint join Miele appliances and a honed quartz countertop.

The faucet is by Brizo, and the sink is from Kräus. The backsplash is a handmade white ceramic tile that lends some organic irregularity to the scheme.

The owner was motivated to build his own home to avoid a mortgage and to gain the know-how to undertake his own maintenance and repairs. “I was craving the personal challenge to cultivate a home for myself,” he says. “As it was the beginning of a new adventure, I wanted it to be personal. Also, practically speaking, if I built each piece of the home by hand, I would have a good sense of how to solve problems or improve it, without having to ask anyone else to journey through the forest, down the trail, and up the cliff to make an adjustment.”

To avoid excavating the land, Pang and Boyle designed a structural platform to keep the cabin level.