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Direct sunlight pounding down on traditional wood decks can cause previously absorbed water to evaporate quickly, making the boards crack and splinter, which is not only a maintenance headache, but also a worry for bare feet. For the Magalhaeses, who love gathering friends and family in the backyard, choosing a material that would be safe for kids to run around on was top of mind.

Vigo Plumbing provided the matte black plumbing fixtures.

Lagos has raised the cabin above the ground on supporting steel to avoid damaging any of the existing trees on site.

The simple finishes provide a backdrop for the homeowners’ collection of carefully curated furnishings, many of which are vintage (and, yes, cozy). One partner is a graphic designer, and she brought her own strong design sensibilities to the project. “She likes contrast, black and white, and bold color,” says Cuppett.

The breezeway acts as a big communal dining space, while the round table for six in the kitchen is for more casual family meals.

A combination of Alumilex and Marvin windows dot the exterior of a pitched-roof house in North Hatley, Quebec, designed by Lee and Macgillivray Architecture Studio (LAMAS). - North Hatley, Quebec Dwell Magazine : July / August 2017

One of the pitched roofs extends to the ground, concealing an entrance. - North Hatley, Quebec Dwell Magazine : July / August 2017

The 484-square-foot room offers a cool respite from summer sun and a warm place to relax in winter.

The wood shed portion artfully encapsulates all the domestic detritus that would be anathema within the all-glass sleeping portion.

The Light Shed is wrapped in corrugated bituminous fiberglass backed by a UV open cladding membrane.

Guided by a sustainable design ethos, Koto created the Ilo playhouse using low-impact natural materials—from the timber envelope to the recycled rubber flooring.

Sleeping Cabin at sunset.

The ultimate escape for forest bathing, Denmark’s Løvtag is a tree house hotel that features three cabins that embrace Scandinavian minimalism. With tree trunks intersecting the interior, large windows, and a rooftop deck, these treehouses promise to make you feel at one with nature.

Sitting on a plateau over the rolling landscape of rural Quebec, the residence comprises three joined, gable roof structures, each oriented differently. It takes inspiration from the local farmhouses and barns of the area, whose steep rooflines help shed snow in the winter, and whose wood-clad facades traditionally used lumber from local trees.

Large acrylic windows provide expansive views of the outdoors.

The inspiration for Heva was a wooden home in Bordeaux, France.

In Texas, where everything is bigger, Ryan McLaughlin is placing his bets on something small. Specifically, a simple 160-square-foot cabin that he hopes city-dwellers will book to get away, find some focus, and reconnect with nature. The result is a laidback, pitched-roof cabin in which every inch of space is thoughtfully allotted so that guests can spend the maximum amount of time outdoors.

A glimpse of Heva's interior and deck.