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A Sweet Cabin in the Woods Overlooks a Forest Stream

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This cosy hideout in the deep woods of Santa Rosa takes advantage of a quiet view of a forest stream deep in the woods.

All kinds of water views bring a sense of peace and rest, but few houses utilize the sights and sounds of a babbling creek to impart that feeling.

This bright hot fire contrasts wondrously with the dark cold forest creek.

This Amy A. Alper house in Northern California’s famed Redwood forests is a renovation of an existing cabin – but with a twist.

The original cabin is still inside!

It’s in a part of northern California where generations of forest dwellers have long loved to sink sweet cottages deep into the woods.

The architect designed a new double-height living room addition to wrap the weathered shingles and period windows which still open to connect the kitchen and living room.

The ancient beams of the original cottage echo the soft dark surrounding forest which is quietly rotting back into the earth – and simultaneously giving birth to fresh green new growth.

In the same way, within the cabin, new materials contrast with the old.

Only the original reclaimed beams remain to mediate the “fresh new growth” of the forest bathroom.

Like so many older homes, the original cottage, a 1920’s shingle-style weekend cabin, somehow failed to allow for views of the creek.

Now it is finally sited correctly – without removing the original!