Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Serene Cabin in the Colorado Foothills
This new structure combines rustic touches with an industrial vibe
Landscaper Allene Ross had an “aha” moment three years ago, when she happened upon a 3-acre tract of land for sale nestled within Coal Creek Canyon, about 35 miles northwest of Denver. She wanted a quiet place where she could unwind when she wasn’t traveling in Laos, where she owns property and spends a good part of the year.
After purchasing the property, she reached out to architect and designer Cody Gieck (who is also her son-in-law) and the team at G Squared Design to design and build a cozy cabin that would blend in with the foothills and have a weathered look. Oh, and of course a cozy spot for her pet pig, Scrap.
After purchasing the property, she reached out to architect and designer Cody Gieck (who is also her son-in-law) and the team at G Squared Design to design and build a cozy cabin that would blend in with the foothills and have a weathered look. Oh, and of course a cozy spot for her pet pig, Scrap.
Inside, the industrial and rugged vibe continues. The entire space, including the loft, remains open, except for the bathroom. “I didn’t want to put up any walls, but my son-in-law said I needed a door in the bathroom,” Ross says.
From the main living space, you can appreciate the breeziness of the cabin. You can also appreciate the quality craftsmanship and the distinctiveness of the stairs and the railings, which climb up and wrap around the loft. The stairs are made of beetle-kill lumber from trees felled by the mountain pine beetle. The railings are 1-inch black pipes normally used for gas lines.
From the main living space, you can appreciate the breeziness of the cabin. You can also appreciate the quality craftsmanship and the distinctiveness of the stairs and the railings, which climb up and wrap around the loft. The stairs are made of beetle-kill lumber from trees felled by the mountain pine beetle. The railings are 1-inch black pipes normally used for gas lines.
Ross wanted a completely black kitchen, but when she couldn’t find a black range she liked, she settled for one in stainless steel. The cabinets are black walnut. Ross picked up the Chippendale table at a Denver auction.
The back wall of the kitchen is covered in reclaimed wood collected by Ross from landscaping jobs and other work sites. The wood detailing continues on the wall of the bathroom and the wall of the loft.
Refrigerator: Frigidaire; range: Viking; hardware: Ikea
The back wall of the kitchen is covered in reclaimed wood collected by Ross from landscaping jobs and other work sites. The wood detailing continues on the wall of the bathroom and the wall of the loft.
Refrigerator: Frigidaire; range: Viking; hardware: Ikea
Ross decided not to have upper cabinets in the kitchen. But she needed a place to store her dishes, so she made the black cabinet with the red beadboard, shown here on the right.
Contributing to the industrial vibe of the cabin is the steel sliding door that separates the bathroom from the main living space. A Lopi wood-burning stove adds a rugged look and provides necessary heat during cold Colorado nights.
In the bathroom, Ross’ son-in-law gave her the vanities that used to be in the kitchen of a ranch he owns. To the right, the barn door (from the property’s well house) hides the stacked washer and dryer. A round mirror and a painted floral design on the wall provide some whimsy.
The shower floor is made of Mexican beach pebbles; different shades of neutral porcelain tiles line the shower walls. Ross made a towel rack out of another gas pipe and hung it just outside the shower door.
Ross found the vintage tub on Craigslist. Drawn to Eastern philosophy, she hung a shadow print of Buddha against a bright red background above a mantelpiece lined with scented candles. Towels are accessible on a nearby shelf.
Ross decorated the loft bedroom with a global vibe. The bed skirt is from Bangladesh, and the striped throw is from Indonesia. The two bureaus convey a Southeast Asian feeling, and the pictures and baskets look as if they could have been picked up at a market in the South Pacific.
Ross wanted the three windows above her bed to represent a faux headboard. She made the table lamp with the steel enclosure out of the same lights that mechanics use on job sites.
Ross wanted the three windows above her bed to represent a faux headboard. She made the table lamp with the steel enclosure out of the same lights that mechanics use on job sites.
A soaring ceiling, constructed with the undersides of Douglas fir decking, makes the home feel larger than it is. Windows were meticulously placed to filter daylight into the premises and to capture views of the outside from various angles while either waking up from bed or relaxing on the sofa with a cup of coffee.
The blue-hued flooring is made from beetle-kill wood. The 16-foot-long pieces were installed with only one visible seam.
Ross decorated the living area with a mix of old and new furnishings and accessories in a variety of textures, including leather, stone, metal and cloth. The cabinet below the flat-screen TV holds glasses and spirits.
No stranger to a tool belt, Ross made all 18 pendant lights hanging throughout the cabin.
The blue-hued flooring is made from beetle-kill wood. The 16-foot-long pieces were installed with only one visible seam.
Ross decorated the living area with a mix of old and new furnishings and accessories in a variety of textures, including leather, stone, metal and cloth. The cabinet below the flat-screen TV holds glasses and spirits.
No stranger to a tool belt, Ross made all 18 pendant lights hanging throughout the cabin.
Elements like the brown leather furniture, a metal drum table and a metal clock with Roman numerals add interest. The wooden library table that serves as a corner desk is a sentimental reminder of her father, who owned the piece many years ago while living in Chicago. Scrap’s animal-print bed sits in a corner near Ross’ desk.
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Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Allene Ross, a landscaper, and Scrap, her pig
Location: Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado
Size: 800 square feet (74.3 square meters); a loft bed and one bathroom
Designer: Cody Gieck and G Squared Design
Gieck achieved the weathered look by incorporating split-pine posts and cedar siding subjected to sho-sugi-ban, a Japanese process that preserves wood by charring it with fire. Ross welcomed a bit of industrial chic by topping the structure with a steel roof, which is also a practical safeguard against the occasional forest fire.
Ross wanted the front yard to possess a mature and timeless appearance. She used different colors and sizes of flagstones and boulders to create the patio and walkway. She also filled the area with natural vegetation, such as sumacs, western sandcherries and vinca. “These plants are native and do well at 8,000 feet above sea level,” Ross says.