October 25, 2023 Brandon C Hall
Many of us dream of combining our indoor luxury with nature. Now, you can have the best of both worlds through a harmonious blend of natural wood with a contemporary look. Discover Modern Cabin designs perfect for small mountain homes. Explore a range of styles and ideas to create a Contemporary yet cozy Mountain retreat.
What is the most efficient Cabin design?
Evolving from the once basic and easy log home, our ideas of what these wooden beauties can be have expanded. Log homes were initially built with the expectation of being energy-efficient dwellings because the logs themselves acted as heating storage. Nowadays, individuals still want to achieve energy-efficient concepts while living in a modern home, thus, the idea of Modern Cabin designs was produced.
Characteristics of an efficient Cabin design:
- Open Floor Plans – allow for natural airflow, reducing the use of energy
- Large Windows – allow for natural lighting, reducing the use of energy
- Roof Overhangs – beneficial for harsh weather
To truly make your house as efficient as possible, it comes down to a lot of personal preference in what materials you choose to use. Deciding to build your home with energy-efficient materials is a great idea! We recommend you speak to your local contractor or builder to figure out the best materials to use.
How much does it cost to build a small Modern Cabin?
It’s always challenging to determine what precisely a specific house can cost someone to build. The cost to build a home largely depends on the size, complexity, materials, and location of the project. When it comes to building a small Modern Cabin, the size of the project is immediately to your benefit when it comes to cost. Essentially, the less square footage a home has, the less it will cost you to build. Another big factor in the overall cost of cabins is the materials you decide to use. We recommend you research the materials of your choice and ask questions if needed!
Is Cabin an architectural style?
The topic of whether the title of “Cabin” is classified as an architectural style is quite a debate in the architectural world. Many say that Cabins aren’t their own style and rather are defined by being a small house or a Cottage. Others say that these cozy dwellings are their own style and simply refer to Cabin Architectural Style as simply being “Cabin Style.”
As the ideas of cabins continue to grow, they’re getting more recognition as different cabin styles. The introduction of Modern Cabins is an excellent example of this, as the design of a Modern Cabin would be categorized as a style of Cabin. Luckily, most house plan websites, blogs, builders, etc., have the title “Cabin” in their styles sections, so you don’t have to dig for your perfect Cabin! Check out all of our Cabin style plans here.
What differentiates a Cabin from a house?
Cabins differ from your typical house in several ways:
- Materials
- Size
- Construction
- Location
Materials
When constructing a regular home, materials like wood, brick, and concrete are used, while cabins tend to focus on highlighting their use of wood. Some Cabin designs like to feature other materials like stones or masonry, but they are usually just wooden dwellings.
Size
With the exception of Modern Cabins, the classic ideas of Cabins tended to be smaller in square feet than a regular-sized home. Cabins tend to be smaller for the benefit of heating and air usage, but small Cabins also embrace the cozy and warm feeling these homes are loved for. However, in today’s architectural world, not all cabins are small anymore, and some are now the size of a typical home, featuring 3-4 bedrooms, a large living space, and multiple floors.
Construction
Materials and construction go hand in hand. Depending on the materials you choose to build your cabin out of would depend on the construction of the home. For example, if you wanted to build a Timber Frame Cabin, the placement of the timber is placed vertically and horizontally to create the frame of the home, compared to a Stick-Built cabin where the walls are built using structural lumber framing.
Location
The location of the cabins has a great play on their character. A cabin is usually placed in a beautiful landscape via the forest, mountains, or lakes. The seclusion of these homes makes them so desirable, as they value peace and feeling as if you’re one with nature.
How big should a Cabin be?
There’s no specific size a Cabin should or shouldn’t be. A regular-sized Cabin will usually be less than 1,500 square feet; however, the concept of Modern Cabin designs has broadened how large a Cabin should be, with some sitting between 1,500 – 2,000 square feet. To give you a better understanding, a typical-sized house is about 2,000 square feet. What’s most important when it comes to the size of your home is what square footage would work the best for you and your family, as you’re always the priority in your home!
Is a Cabin cheaper than a house?
Determining whether a Cabin is cheaper than building a house tends to be a double-edged sword. A Cabin can be cheaper because they’re smaller in square footage, but depending on the material you choose for your home, a small Cabin can still be a little pricey. The same goes for a typical house. While they’re bigger in square footage, they may cost more, but they have more opportunities to use cheaper materials. It’s best to consult with your local builder or contractor to determine what works better in your price range.
The future of Cabin Living is bright and filled with endless possibilities. We hope this blog has provided you with a glimpse into this exciting world of Modern Cabins, sparking your own ideas and dreams for your perfect escape in the wilderness.
Brandon Hall
Our "go to guy" and company expert, Brandon is the visionary and dreamer of all we do here at America's Best House Plans. He manages quality assurance, audits existing processes for maximum effectiveness, and develops strategies to increase productivity and efficiency. With over 15 years experience in the home design industry, Brandon has a hand in every aspect of the day-to-day operations of our company, in addition to ensuring an unparalleled level of service to our customers.
