The Ohio Valley Hut is a 600-square-foot off-grid cabin designed by Midland Architects and Liz Craig Dutton. This award-winning structure sits atop a hill on a working cattle farm, featuring cedar shingle siding and Scandinavian-inspired design following the Danish ‘hygge’ mindset. The open concept interior includes cathedral ceilings, a wall of picture windows overlooking forest and lake views, a queen sleeping area with skylight, and a compact kitchen and bathroom tucked in the back. The cabin won the 2019 AIA Ohio Honor Award for Architecture and is available as a vacation rental.
Cedar-Clad Cabin on Hilltop Setting
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Cathedral Ceilings with Exposed Wood
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Queen Bed with Overhead Skylight
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Sleeping Area with Reading Lights
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Compact Kitchen in Back Room
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Two-Burner Cooktop with Minimal Cabinetry
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Picture Windows with Forest Views
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Built-In Desk Workspace
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Open Shelving Display
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Minimalist Bathroom with Large Mirror
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Walk-In Shower with Private Feel
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Hilltop Cabin Overlooking Lake
Images via @ohiovalleyhut
Design Details
- Name: Ohio Valley Hut
- Location: Ohio
- Size: 600 sq ft
- Type: Off-grid cabin
- Designers: Midland Architects and Liz Craig Dutton
- Style: Scandinavian-inspired / hygge
- Exterior: Cedar shingle siding
- Setting: Hilltop on working cattle farm overlooking lake
- Layout: Open concept main room with separate kitchen and bathroom
- Ceiling: Cathedral with exposed wood
- Windows: Large picture windows on main wall
- Sleeping: Queen bed with overhead skylight
- Kitchen: Two-burner cooktop with minimal cabinetry
- Bathroom: Full bathroom with walk-in shower
- Utilities: Off-grid
- Extras: Projector and screen, outdoor firepit
- Awards: 2019 AIA Ohio Honor Award for Architecture
- Availability: Vacation rental via Airbnb
Lessons from This Design
- Hilltop Placement Maximizes Views: Positioning a cabin at the top of a hill creates panoramic sightlines that make a 600-square-foot space feel expansive and connected to the landscape
- Cathedral Ceilings Create Volume Without Square Footage: Soaring exposed-wood ceilings add dramatic vertical space that compensates for a compact floor plan while enhancing the Scandinavian aesthetic
- Picture Windows Replace Traditional Art: A full wall of windows turns the surrounding forest into living artwork, reducing the need for interior decoration while bringing nature inside
- Skylights Over Sleeping Areas Add Character: Placing a skylight directly above the bed creates a stargazing feature that transforms a simple sleeping space into an experience
- Compact Kitchens Suit Retreat-Style Living: A two-burner cooktop and minimal cabinetry work well for a vacation cabin where elaborate cooking is not the priority, freeing up space for living areas
Learn More
- Book a Stay at the Ohio Valley Hut on Airbnb
- Ohio Valley Hut on Instagram
- Midland Architects on Instagram
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Alex
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Lovely home. However, there are a lot of open and wasted spaces (including wasted resources and money) in the main living area/bedroom with the tall ceilings. A smaller shower would be reasonable. Instead I would have spent money on kitchen cupboards, gas 3-4 burner stove, and privacy for the bedroom. Otherwise, an extremely nice home.
“However, there are a lot of open and wasted spaces (including wasted resources and money) in the main living area/bedroom with the tall ceilings.”
Sure, if you completely ignore the functional purpose of a roof line in snow load climates and how it can effect aspects like maintenance requirements, dealing with snow, leaves and other debre from the forest, what’s angle required to have a skylight, how it effects solar gain, effects on lighting, having options like ceiling fans and ceiling decor, etc. and only focused on how it effects heating and cooling the interior or just ignored what the owner actually wanted, being that the designer is also the owner and described it as “built with love”, which was finished just before their first child was born and is intended for both the immediate and extended family to enjoy…
Though, it was purposely built with economy in mind. Like they saved quite a bit with the flooring, pier and beam foundation, etc. and only splurged on certain details, with the whole being intended to be an example of a sustainable build that would function well off-grid…
So probably safe to assume the owner would disagree, especially as they won the 2019 AIA Ohio Honor Award for Architecture for it, but you of course do not have to copy the design exactly if you wish to build something like it with your own preferences in mind… There are just always trade offs and things like what’s waste is often more a matter of opinion, which not everyone will agree…
Yes, I do know about snow. I live in Iowa. You must live in a climate with tons of snow.
It can, or it just turns to ice and accumulates, but it’s also other considerations like maintenance and cleaning. Having just about everything slide off on its own, reducing the wear and tear on the roof, reduce the damage it can sustain from hail, effecting the solar gain of the home, etc. can all save quite a lot over the life of the home. Along with helping to prevent needing to use a ladder to periodically clean the roof as often, reduce the chances of the skylight developing leaks, reduce how often the roof shingles have to be replaced, etc.
It helps to think of the home like an ecosystem as every design choice can effect up to multiple aspects of the home and how it performs and functions, which is one of the reasons every choice has its trade offs…
I would say that, as a vacation rental, this is nearly perfect! The only thing I would add would be a curtain that could be pulled across by the bed to add some privacy.
As a place to live full-time, I might make other changes. Of course, without seeing a floor plan, it would be difficult to say what is possible but my first impression for me personally is that the fireplace is in an awkward position. I can see why it was placed there, though. Overall it isn’t too obstructive of the view and sitting in front of it would give you a view of the fireplace and nature at the same time. I just think it interferes with arranging furniture in different configurations. It might be a good idea to have one of those Murphy beds that have a sofa attached instead of a regular bed. Lots of people like the kitchen to be more open but I like that the kitchen is a bit isolated. It would be nice if there was a way to make it just a little larger but, again, it is difficult to see if that is feasible without seeing a floor plan. LOVE the tall ceilings! And understandable how that would positively affect snow load and debris buildup by having it just slide right off. LOVE all those fabulous windows!!!!! You can see forever and really feel like you can breathe deeply. LOVE the size of the shower!
This cabin is aesthetically so pleasing. The materials and colors are great, the view is wonderful and it is spacious feeling even though a small footprint. Kudos to the designers!!!