Cabins A Guide to Building Your Own Nature Retreat

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Authors David and Jeannie Stiles give readers all the information they need to build their own cabins -- whether it be as a wilderness retreat or a backyard studio. The authors describe each step in the process from buying land to obtaining services, from finding qualified construction help to deciding on and developing plans for a structure that suits their lifestyle and budget.

Cabins is packed with detailed illustrations, plans and common-sense advice. Chapters include classic construction methods: how to build a log cabin, pole-built and stick-built cabin, post-and-beam, stone, cordwood and kit cabins. Construction methods are clearly illustrated in photographs and drawings and the advantages of each are explained in detail.

Foundations, windows, doors, insulation, roofing, installing utilities, water and sanitary systems and heating are all discussed. Many designs are presented as inspiration and to help readers select the cabin that is perfect for them: homesteader log cabin, writing cabin, guest cabin, Japanese moon-gazing cabin, lakeside retreat, pyramid and A-frame, and hillside Mediterranean cabin.

The authors include personal reminiscences from successful builders and cabin owners, and discuss furnishings and accessories that can help readers get the most enjoyment out of their newly built wilderness retreat.

About The Author: David Stiles is a designer/builder and together, with his wife Jeanie, has authored fifteen books, including Sheds: The Do-It-Yourself Guide Revised Edition (Firefly 1998), The Treehouse Book (which won the ALA Notable Children's Book Award), and Playhouses You Can Build (Firefly 1999). A graduate of the Pratt Institute and the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy, David is the winner of two awards from the New York Planning Commission for his designs for The Playground for All Children.

David and Jeanie's articles have appeared in several magazines and newspapers including House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens, Country Living, Home Mechanix, Rebecca's Gardens, and The New York Times. They have appeared on numerous television programs, including Lifetime Television Our Home and the Discovery Channel's Home Matters shows.

They divide their time between New York City and East Hampton, N.Y. where they live in a barn which they renovated themselves.

Published/Edition: Firefly Books. 3/3/2001. ISBN/1552093735