Oftentimes, it’s the architect who encourages the client to embrace new ideas. But, when a New Hampshire couple approached Maine-based Whitten Architects about building a contemporary cabin on a quiet lake, they were the ones who brought the design concept to table. “We gave them a book for designers and philosophers about the wabi-sabi aesthetic, and they ran with it,” the wife says.

Tom Lane, who designed the two-bedroom getaway, knew a bit about the Japanese aesthetic that focuses on appreciating the beauty of imperfection and impermanence. He was excited about the brief. “They have a sophisticated design vocabulary and a poetic interest in design,” Lane says. “That’s music to our ears.”

The couple, who founded a non-profit contemplative retreat center called High Meadow Farm in Freedom, New Hampshire, were also inspired by adobe buildings—particularly artist Georgia O’Keefe’s adobe home and studio in Santa Fe. “I longed to echo those solid and earthy structures, but with a New England lake house flavor,” the wife says. “I envisioned the materiality of New England, and the Zen quality of adobe.”

Rather than mimic the traditional New England vernacular, which was imported from a milder climate, Lane found inspiration for the 1,500-square-foot dwelling in Scandinavian design. “The environment here is harsh, and the outside of the building has to deal with that,” he says. “Scandinavians do that well.”

That concept paired well with another of the couple’s requests: that the design emphasize shadow as well as sunlight. The T-shaped floor plan boasts long, covered indoor/outdoor transitions that offer protection from snow and shade from sun.

In the living room, a series of windows and sliders look southeast to Loon Lake and let in loads of sunlight, while punched openings on the opposite side balance that with shadows and late afternoon light.

The glass corner by the fireplace welcome the landscape into the room, and sliders invite occupants to step outdoors. “The terrace is an extension of the living area,” says landscape architect Soren deNiord.

Concrete paving and outdoor furniture further meld the interior with the landscape. Poured-in-place concrete pads lead to the front entry and comprise the back courtyard, echoing the poured-in-place concrete floors throughout the home.

The owners relay a tale about how the installation of the floors resulted in an unintended but much appreciated wabi-sabi effect: “They poured the concrete in the fall, then covered it with foam sheets for the winter,” the husband says. “When they took them up in spring, the seams between the sheets created a large brickwork pattern on the concrete.”

The cool, earthy feel extends up the raw veneer plaster walls that harken back to the wife’s adobe dreams. She notes that the builder was initially hesitant about not painting it, for fear it would stain. “Once he saw how the light reflected on it, he understood,” she says. “Painted walls would have felt cold.”

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They needn’t have worried, because the Douglas fir windows, ash cabinets stained a chameleon-like brownish black, and pale oak furniture ensure warmth. The use of each of the three species feels balanced. “Nothing should stand out more than anything else,” interior designer Heidi Lachapelle says.

That said, there is a (quiet) standout moment in the kitchen, albeit a practical one: a woven ash screen backs the open shelves. Dowels threaded through the slats hold them open just enough to let in light and allow someone standing at the sink to catch a glimpse of someone coming through the front entry. “It relates to the blonde brick at the fireplace,” the wife says, noting the similarity of rhythm and color.

True to wabi-sabi principles, the textures, patinas, and imperfections exist harmoniously. Getting there, however, wasn’t easy. “The process was arduous, but the outcome is beautiful,” the wife says. “It was a real education for all of us.”

More from Whitten Architects:

This Scandinavian-Inspired Retreat in Maine Updates the Owner’s Childhood Cabin at a New Location

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Whitten Architects / @whittenarchitects

Builder: K.P. Hood Construction

Cabinetmaker: J A Joy Custom Woodworking

Interior Designer: Heidi Lachapelle Interiors / @heidilachapelleinteriors

Landscape Architecture: Soren deNiord Design Studio / @sorendeniorddesign

Lighting Designer: Reflex Lighting / @reflexlighting

Structural Engineer: Albert Putnam Associates