Small Forest Cabin At The Edge Of A Beautiful Lake

This cabin is a very special little retreat designed by studio MW Works. It occupies a piece of land on a waterfront property in Washington and it’s surrounded by a dense forest, with a clear view of the lake on one side. Although it has a small footprint it doesn’t feel that tiny, especially on the inside. The cabin stands on an existing foundation of only 6m x 6m (20ft x 20ft). It has a rectangular floor plan and two floors, each dedicated to either day or night activities. The entrance is marked by a small canopy and a porch on the ground floor, with the forest on one side and the lake on the other.

The cabin is located in a waterfront village and has a beautiful view over the lakeView in gallery
The cabin is located in a waterfront village and has a beautiful view over the lake
The cabin opens to the N and W to take in the views and remains mostly opaque on the other sidesView in gallery
The cabin opens to the N and W to take in the views and remains mostly opaque on the other sides

On the exterior, the cabin features walls clad in weathered cedar and blackened cement panels which allow it to more easily and organically blend in with the forest and the landscape around it. At the same time, this gives it a sleek and compact look. In comparison, the interior is very bright and airy which is an intentional design choice meant to make the cabin seem bigger than more spacious than it actually is.

Dense vegetation and trees surround the cabin on all sides, creating a green shield around itView in gallery
Dense vegetation and trees surround the cabin on all sides, creating a green shield around it

Of course, because of the small footprint, the focus remained on the essentials throughout the entire project and any extra features were ignored in favor of a clean and efficient design. The kitchen, living and dining areas and the mudroom form the ground floor plan and two bedrooms and a shared bathroom can be found upstairs. This creates a clear distinction between the day and night zones and creates a very practical distribution throughout the cabin.

On the outside there's a firewood storage nook built into one of the wallsView in gallery
On the outside there’s a firewood storage nook built into one of the walls
MoreINSPIRATION
a small porch marks the entrance and provides a gorgeous view of the surroundingsView in gallery
a small porch marks the entrance and provides a gorgeous view of the surroundings
The interior of the cabin is welcoming and feels very spacious in spite of the small footprintView in gallery
The interior of the cabin is welcoming and feels very spacious in spite of the small footprint
Large windows expose the living areas to the beautiful panoramaView in gallery
Large windows expose the living areas to the beautiful panorama
All the common spaces are placed on the ground floor and form an open planView in gallery
All the common spaces are placed on the ground floor and form an open plan
The upper level has skylights which provide views of the sky and let in natural lightView in gallery
The upper level has skylights which provide views of the sky and let in natural light
Some of the interior walls are covered in MDF and plywood panelsView in gallery
Some of the interior walls are covered in MDF and plywood panels
Overall, the cabin is a small, efficient and very enjoyable holiday homeView in gallery
Overall, the cabin is a small, efficient and very enjoyable holiday home