Since rebuilding our family cabin, we have gained an unexpectedly delightful benefit: fall at the lake. Our previous cabin was built long ago and had no insulation to protect against the harsh Lake Superior winds. With its only heat source a large primitive stone fireplace, it was unsuitable for year-round use, and we primarily visited in the summer. Now that our new cabin affords us the opportunity to get away at any time of year, we arrive at the lake for a weekend in early October excited to relax in our cozy retreat, sit on the beach in sweatpants, hike in the woods, and admire the change in season.
Summer gets all the attention when it comes to cabin time. Everyone loves boating, swimming, dinners on the deck, and evenings on the screened porch. But cabins are not just for summer sun. As we at SALA design cabins, we think about how they will be lived in long past Labor Day.
There is a different feeling of solitude after a busy summer season, with less traffic, few neighbors, and the chance to enjoy the brilliant colors at your own retreat away from the leaf-peeping crowds!
Even after the leaves are gone, surprises await. One of the most underrated parts of fall in my opinion is enjoying the quiet starkness of the November landscape.
We often strive to blend our cabin projects into the forest rather than allowing them to overpower the landscape, and we always save surrounding trees wherever possible. Come late autumn, the view of the water is intensified with no leaves to obscure it. At our family cabin, this helps us to appreciate the magnificent November waves that stir up on the big lake.
When the temps dip, your insulation investment really shines. Beyond the saved costs for fuel, a high-performance building envelope brings coziness and comfort that you’ll be grateful for in the coldest months.
Plus, now’s the moment to use those woodstoves, fireplaces, and saunas to turn up the hygge factor! What better way to enjoy the season?
