Betsy’s Cabin by Betsy Brown Inc. and Paul Bates Architects

Modest and authentic, Betsy’s Cabin emerges as a considered and richly textured wooden cabin that has been conceived through a modern lens. With Paul Bates Architects, Betsy Brown Inc. redefines the tucked away cottage into a private retreat, optimising views out over the mountains.

It was from the very beginning that Betsy Brown knew what she wanted the home to be like, and who she wanted to embark on that journey with. “As soon as I bought the house, I immediately called Paul Bates, an incredibly talented architect who also happens to be a close friend,” says Betsy. “I knew Paul would be inspired by the humble nature of the project and able to navigate its unusual nature while avoiding cliches.” Together, the two combined their architecture and interior design prowess to transform the existing home into a unique sanctuary that connects to both the surroundings and the owner. Betsy’s Cabin became a labour of love as a result of the intimacy of the project to the owner and the love for the site.

There is an elegance to how the form sits recessively in the landscape, cloaked in black-toned metal sheeting.

Originally built in the 1960s, the cabin is located on the Green River in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. There is an elegance to how the form sits recessively in the landscape, cloaked in black-toned metal sheeting. “The style of the home is somewhere between ranch and cracker architecture with a touch of Mid-Century,” describes Paul Bates, director and founder of Paul Bates Architects. In responding to the surrounding context and established landscape and forest, the aim of the new works was to restore as much of the original as possible while carving out a unique haven for Betsy. As it is her second home, the ability to lock and leave was key, as was a low degree of maintenance.

Responding to context, an effort was made to ensure there was a layer of connectivity to both the existing architecture and the natural elements. “The house feels humble, ageless and rooted to the drama of its setting,” says Betsy, “and we wanted the atmosphere to be warm and authentic, with objects that have been collected over time.” Natural textures are aplenty and there is a palette that could easily have been drawn from the nearby woods. Along with sourcing maple timber from a nearby wood mill, Betsy also wanted to ensure the spaces felt liveable. “I wanted the house with its initial imperfections and look forward to the happy damage that would come in the future,” she adds.

“The house feels humble, ageless and rooted to the drama of its setting,” says Betsy, “and we wanted the atmosphere to be warm and authentic, with objects that have been collected over time.”

In honouring the simplicity of such an impressive site, Betsy’s Cabin is reawakened as a contemporary cabin retreat, grounded both in its origins and setting. Each gesture and insertion align with the surrounds and context, ensuring the result feels familiar and inviting.

Architecture by Paul Bates Architects. Interior design by Betsy Brown Inc.. Build by Green River Builders.