Little House In The Woods

THE LITTLE CABIN in the forest was two years in the building. A project that began, as Nancy and Terry Heckler's did, with carving 230 steps into a hillside isn't on the fast track. The steep staircase descends through the woods, winding down to a screened lookout perched high above a sugar-sand beach.

Once the woodland setting was navigated, the Hecklers concentrated on building a deep-in-the-woods retreat on their property not far from the Hood Canal Bridge. In its simplicity and handcrafted feel, the 1,200-square-foot cabin is reminiscent of family getaway places from the 1930s. But simplicity doesn't mean austerity. Cushy antique brocade chairs from Paris class up the sun porch, the art-deco hanging lamps are also Parisian, the cabinetry is custom, and every comfort is cleverly provided for. Surrounded by moss-covered firs and big-leaf maples, the little house invites napping, reading or simply a quiet sinking into the pervasive sense of a Northwest home.

Terry Heckler is a Seattle advertising and design executive, and an accomplished painter. The gardens Nancy created at their nearby Oyster Point home have been published around the globe. These two visual creatives loved the notion of a comfortable cabin with a sense of history about it. They mellowed the newness of the place by using mostly reclaimed wood. Generous wood-framed windows offer stunning views into the woods and scoop in light. The sturdy screen and doors on the double fireplace were fashioned by Port Townsend blacksmith Steve Lopes to look as if they'd graced the mantel wall for decades.

This retreat was Nancy's vision all along. She brought great attention to detail, working with builder Newton Construction of Kingston, who did most of the finish carpentry and even built some of the furniture. The Hecklers had earlier teamed up with Seattle architect Jeffry Wilson to remodel their vintage home, and had an equally rewarding experience this time. Wilson's expertise shows in the proportions of the cabin, which manages to feel snug despite a mostly open floor plan. With built-in bunks, the space expands to sleep nine for family get-togethers. Yet the scale seems comfortably right for a solo stay.

Nancy experimented with the color scheme to get it just right. The exterior is a deep barn red that harmonizes with the green and brown of the forest without getting lost in the trees. Indoors, the paneled walls are painted a cream so rich you can imagine it foaming up to the top of a milking pail. The SlateScape kitchen countertop is a soft, warm green with the patina of old soapstone. The kitchen cabinets are a slightly pinker red than the exterior. "I have seven or eight quarts of different red paints sitting around that were too pink or too blue," says Nancy of her experiments. She credits Spectrum Painting in Port Orchard with great patience in researching paint colors and finishes right along with her.

The Hecklers sited the cabin to meticulously preserve the woodland setting, removing only a couple of alders. The forest meets you as you brush your way through ferns and step over great mounds of mossy tree root to reach the door. Walk inside for an experience of nature as intimate and immediate as if you'd backpacked into the wilderness, yet you're sheltered, enjoying a Northwest woodland in style.

Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer and contributing editor for Horticulture magazine. Her e-mail address is valeaston@comcast.net. Benjamin Benschneider is a Pacific Northwest magazine staff photographer.