Overview
The rich Arts & Crafts heritage created by William Morris, Gustav Stickley, and Charles and Henry Greene is transforming cabin design.
Much like the original Arts & Crafts movement in the late 1800s that was a reaction against elaborate and mass-produced machine-made goods, today's log building world is turning away from the kit-manufactured cabin and toward handcrafted designs in the Arts & Crafts spirit to create homes that are inspired by nature and built to last.
In her fifth book, author Robbin Obomsawin takes you on a tour of 25 home plans that relate to the natural environment, incorporate porches and windows, and are simple in design but showcase the natural materials from which they are made. These are cabins with open floor plans that encourage family life, a relationship with the ideals of simplicity, utility, and handcraftsmanship and illustrate Gustav Stickley's dream that "a home should give a sense of peace and comfort."
The Arts & Crafts Cabin is not just a décor but also a way of life where simplicity in itself can be sensational. Whether you are building a first home, desire a one-of-a-kind weekend retreat, or wish to transform an average home into one of rustic elegance or storybook charm, these pages are filled with helpful designs to punctuate any home's interior and exterior.
Synopsis
Robbin Obomsawin is the construction manager and general contractor for Beaver Creek Log Homes. She combines over twenty years of log-joinery experience with her knowledge of conventional construction methods, and has served as vice president of the International Log Builders' Association for Handcrafters. She is the author of Arts & Crafts Log Homes, Small Log Homes, Best Log Home Plans, The Not So Log Cabin, and Log Cabin Classics. She resides in Upstate New York.
Roger Wade is an architectural/interior photographer specializing in log and timber-frame homes. Together with his wife and stylist, Debra Grahl, Roger travels extensively throughout the country photographing homes for architects, builders, interior designers, and timber-frame and log home companies. Roger has been a significant contributor to many shelter magazines and coffee table books and is currently a contributing photographer with Architectural Digest, Log Home Living, Log Home Design Ideas, Log Homes Illustrated, and Timber Frame Illustrated. Born and raised on Long Island, Roger now resides in Swan Valley, Montana.
Featured design professional:
Marty Wheeler, principle of family-owned Alpenglow Mountain Home Designs and Alpenglow Log & Timber Homes, has over 25 years experience in the design and construction of residential and commercial structures. As the lead designer of Alpenglow's talented design and drafting team, Marty inspires clients and staff to achieve the most effective and conscientious use of property. His trademark architectural style blends the early 1900s Arts & Crafts movement with traditional mountain architecture, effectively capturing the Craftsman, Cottage, and Bungalow styles while utilizing appropriate materials for mountain and rural settings, including log and heavy timber exposed structural components and a variety of natural wood and stone textures. He resides in California.
Cover design by Steven Rachwal
Ottawa Citizen
"Robbin Obomsawin is the mistress of small, startling homes that blend the beauty of timbers with conventional architecture."