Travellers by nature, they longed for a permanent getaway—a home base between road trips. The wife, who spent summers at her grandmother’s northern cabin, and the husband, a Duluth college grad, found a wooded lot in 2021 that spoke to their shared love of the North. 

The half “A” design was inspired by picturesque old A-frame cabins. The design allows for snow to shed to the side of the home while also protecting the entrance from the elements. The modest cabin includes two bedrooms, one bath, and a sleeping loft. A vaulted living space combines kitchen, dining, and lounge areas, opening into a retractable screened porch with another loft above. Large windows bring in light and views of the forest canopy, while the porch focuses attention on a ravine below. Sited on a rocky ledge to reduce clearing, the slab-on-grade cabin features radiant heat, energy-efficient windows, and a wood stove. Durable materials like whitewashed cedar siding and a standing seam roof keep maintenance low. The design blends tradition with personal touches: his wood stove, her picture window seat, and a shared dream: a circular wood-fired hot tub.