a CABIN in the CLOUDS
[Illustration: Elevation]
[Illustration: Floor plan]
The ideal mountain cabin should be almost a part of the rugged landscape
that surrounds it, with rough walls and stout roof that seem to hug the
rocks. The very majesty and sweep of the hills dwarf any attempt by man
to build himself a tall, imposing mountain home—it is better to build
for simplicity and strength.
In this “cabin in the clouds,” resembling some of the mountaineers’ huts
in the Alps, every effort has been made to keep the atmosphere as rustic
and as rugged as possible, at the same time providing all the
conveniences of a comfortable modern home.
The walls, the designer says, should be of stone, 16 inches thick. The
roof should be of redwood shakes or slates, but remember that any
roofing must stand storms and very high winds in the mountains. The
railing of the car shelter is of stone, also, with roof supports of
heavy hewn redwood timbers.
The living room centers around the massive fireplace, which should be of
rough stone. It is flanked on one side by a built-in seat, and a wood
box on the other, with an outside door. Walls should be finished in
rough plaster or wood panelling, with ceiling beams exposed. All floors
are of wood except the terrace, which is flagstones.
On the front a broad window overlooks the terrace and, presumably, a
sweeping view of a valley. A big sliding door of glass opens on the
terrace also.
Opposite the fireplace is space for two built-in bunks in an alcove,
enclosed by a curtain hung from a ceiling track. The bunk room proper,
with a dressing closet and clothes closet, contains two double-deck
bunks.
The kitchen may seem a bit small, but it is larger than many found in
modern city apartments, and much more convenient.
a BEACH HOUSE MODERN
[Illustration: Elevation]
[Illustration: Floor plan]
A broad beach, with lots of fine white sand, would be the ideal location
for this ultra-modern beach house, with its clean, sweeping lines. As in
the case of many of the new houses, there is a generous use of glass. In
the outside walls are shown 22 windows, which should satisfy any fresh
air addict.
Construction of this streamlined beach house calls for a concrete
substructure and first floor with wood frame above. To insure a cool
house, the most satisfying exterior would be dazzling white stucco,
which is an excellent heat reflector. The floors should be of concrete
flagstones or tiles, tinted and waxed.
The sun deck is a welcome feature on any beach house, because there are
days when the ocean breezes are cool, and one may bask here behind the
protection of glass screens.
Inside, the plan calls for a single room with high ceiling, and a series
of sliding curtains which cut off the bunk room and a dining alcove if
desired. There is a separate bunk room for guests. If double-deck bunks
are used, eight persons may occupy the house.
The bathroom has the added convenience of an extra toilet, or the space
may be used for another closet. As in all well-planned beach houses,
there is an extra shower just inside the entry from the beach.
The whole interior may be done in plywood panels, either natural color
or painted in a light-colored eggshell finish.
The broad open spaces beneath the house serve several purposes. They
offer ample storage for beach umbrellas, chairs, ping-pong table and
such, as well as a dressing room for bathers. By careful planning
beforehand, a dumb-waiter could be installed to connect the kitchen with
the beach, thus saving many steps when serving a barbecue meal or a cold
snack on the sand. It will be noted that the fireplace chimney base has
been utilized as a beach barbecue, so that food may be prepared without
going up to the main kitchen.
a SKI LODGE in SNOW COUNTRY
[Illustration: Elevation]
[Illustration: Floor plan]
1^st Floor
2^nd Floor
Here’s a quaint little mountain hut that the Seven Dwarfs might like to
live in. It’s a ski lodge, designed to withstand the roughest weather,
yet its construction is simple and the cost extremely modest. The cabin
consists of a 16-foot octagonal room on the ground floor for living
quarters and a second floor bunk room. Five or six may be accommodated
upstairs, since three beds just fit. A wall bed on the first floor
sleeps two more.
Construction of this unusual cabin is all of wood, with concrete or
flagstone floor. Built for use in cold weather, the walls should be of
double sheathing packed with insulating wool, in addition to the shakes
applied outside. Eight posts form the frame, with 3×4 rafters running to
an octagonal block at the peak. Two 6×8 timbers support the second
floor.
Tiny as it seems, this lodge offers a maximum of room for lovers of snow
sports. The height is 14 feet from floor to peak.
Most unusual of its features is the door in the roof. At first glance
this might seem odd, but the first time the main door is buried under
ten feet of snow, you’ll be glad the roof door was put in.
There’s a fireplace on the ground floor, of course, and all the
conveniences for a week-end stay. However, in such limited space as much
of the furniture as possible should be of the folding type. It will be
noted that no provision was made for bath or toilet. These features
would have to be in a detached structure, which is preferable to
addition of a side room, which would spoil the unique shape of the
house.
A number of cabins of this type have been built on the Pacific coast in
recent years. One of the first, and probably the original one, was
constructed by Fred B. Stephen, Seattle architect, for his family’s use
on a site in the Cascade mountains, 85 miles from Seattle.
a CLUB HOUSE for TWENTY
[Illustration: Elevation]
[Illustration: Floor plan]
Sun Terrace
Wood
Stove
Bench
Tack Rm.
Living Area
Seat
Wood
2 Beds
Bunk Dormitory—18 bunks
SH
Bath
Bath
SH
Kitchen
Dining Area
Car Shelter—6 Cars
Porch
Here’s a good answer to the problem of a low-cost club house for a
hiking or snow-sports group. Since much of the work on such a cabin
might be done by the members, construction is as simple as possible. The
exterior may be anything from rough tongue-and-grooved boards, the
cheapest, to real logs, the most expensive. Interior walls are sheathed
with plywood, stained or painted, and the roof covered with composition
roofing. The long bunk room, partitioned off for privacy, holds nine
double-deck bunks, and has separate bathrooms adjoining for men and
women. A stove should be included in this room, for extra warmth.
One may drive to the front door, unload passengers or supplies, and
proceed to a stall in the car shelter conveniently. The kitchen is just
inside the front door, making trips through or around the house with
supplies unnecessary.
The living room, spacious enough to seat twenty for meals, contains two
built-in bunks. Off it is a tack room for storing skis and other
equipment, which can also be used as a work shop. A large dining table
might be used for ping-pong and other games. Both the woodbox by the
fireplace and in the bunkroom may be stocked from the outside, a great
convenience in winter when fires burn constantly.
Note that the car shelter has space for six machines.
for BATHING and BASKING
[Illustration: Elevation]
[Illustration: Floor plan]
Just because a summer cabin is small and inexpensive is no reason why it
cannot be smart and distinctive in appearance. The little house shown
here could probably be built for less than $1000, yet it has many
features worthy of a vacation home costing many times that.
Construction is entirely of wood, in a fashion reminiscent of Japanese
houses, with wide doors and a broad, low roof. The easiest and most
pleasing finish, both outside and inside would be plywood. The
waterproof variety is durable and not costly, and it is so easy to apply
that any amateur can turn out a pleasing job. Plywood is adaptable to
any of the regulation wood-finish treatments from oiling or staining to
painting, and will last indefinitely.
The roof would be attractive if covered with a brightly colored
composition roofing, or with stained shingles or shakes.
The house consists of one large room, with alcoves for dining and
sleeping. The Pullman-type kitchen, which means that everything is
compact and within easy reach, connects both with the dining area and
the barbecue patio at the rear of the house—a convenience if meals are
to be served outside.
The same thoughtfulness has gone into planning of the bath. It has one
door into the bunk-alcove and another opening on the pier, so that
swimmers may go to the shower without tracking up the rest of the house.
A curtain shuts off the bunk alcove at night, and pulls back to make
this part of the main room by day. Two double bunks provide beds for
four persons.
Large folding doors at each end of the house open on the pier and the
patio, giving an unusual sense of roominess.
The fireplace arrangement is also quite unusual, having a single chimney
which serves three purposes. It carries flues from the fireplace, the
kitchen stove and the barbecue grill in the patio. The woodbox is just
inside the door for convenient filling.
for SUMMER or WINTER FUN
[Illustration: Elevation]
[Illustration: Floor plan]
One of the principal drawbacks to a real log cabin is the amount of work
involved, as well as the expense. On the other hand, the cabin shown
here is an example of what can be done with “imitation logs” that give
the effect of real ones, while the task of building with them is no more
difficult than with any finished lumber. In another part of this book
will be found illustrations of the various ways this log siding may be
applied to obtain rustic effects.
If this cabin is to be left unpainted, it would be wise to apply a coat
of silver stain. This gives the illusion of weathering and does away
with the “raw” look of a new house. The roof, of shakes, should be
treated the same way.
To avoid cluttering up the living room, the designer has provided a
separate room for bunks. This one holds two double-deckers and a large
clothes closet. A short hall connects with the bathroom. A really novel
feature is the pair of small windows which light the “upper” and “lower”
of each set of bunks.
The kitchen is well lighted with three windows and a door, and has ample
space for roomy cupboards and a work table. The stove can be placed so
that the flue connects with the fireplace chimney.
The living room is large enough to hold a fairly large fireplace. It has
windows on three sides, in addition to a pair of French doors opening on
a rustic terrace.
One of the advantages of this kind of cabin over a real log one, is the
ease with which the interior can be finished. Perhaps the most suitable
finish would be natural-color oiled plywood panels. Knotty pine or
redwood paneling would also be attractive.