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Though the retreat is clearly meant to afford the solitude writing so often requires, Kathleen reports that "it's very lively. Deer approach, birds bathe. The sun warms my desk and you can hear the rain."

During the day, the operable skylight is often open and provides natural cooling. At night, homeowners can see the moon and stars through the skylight.

Approximately 50% of the windows in the home had to be replaced during the renovation, and it was important to the couple that the new windows respected the simplicity of the original design. The new windows were one of the most expensive parts of the renovation, but were essential in improving the thermal performance of the home and reducing energy use.

From the compact quarters downstairs, you emerge into a bright, open second floor. It feels more expansive than its square footage thanks to a steel moment frame that eliminates the need for interior structural walls. In the dining room, a Lambert et Fils chandelier hangs above a black-stained, live-edge ash table.

Blue Savoy marble from Coastal Tile lines the floor.

Greg Knapp and Robyn Traynor worked with architect Peter Braithwaite to design a nature retreat for their family on a slice of Canadian wilderness. It has two shed-roofed structures joined by a boardwalk elevated above a preexisting walking path on the couple’s land.

The front of the home shows how the roof was lifted to maximize the views.

The bench Reilly made when she was a student at Rhode Island School of Design sits under industrial-style hooks in the entry.

The original layout was very much of the time: a perfect midcentury modern flow, with a closed-off kitchen and a fire put in the floor. “They were cool but impractical spaces,” says Schaer.