From the Editor: Now That's Green!

There are many ways to be eco-friendly, from recycling your aluminum Coke can to buying local to installing solar panels. But looking at the two cabin features in the April 2013 issue, it occurs to me that there is little in cabin country that’s as green as deciding to spare a decrepit old cabin from a bulldozer. You can breathe new life into it.
    Don’t miss “A Rustic Cabin Gets a Dramatic Update,” p. 38. This story is about a 1930s creekside retreat nestled in a forest of old-growth trees in California Wine Country. During the stunning renovation, the tiny cabin was slightly expanded and dramatically improved by essentially wrapping a glass box around it.  The cabin is now open to views of the creek and forest.
    And then there’s the bulldozer-defying tale, “From an 1880s Miner Cabin to a Guest Cabin,” p. 48. Read about the courageous couple – and their architect – who saw potential in a broken-down cabin that’s near downtown Aspen, Colo. The place came complete with asbestos siding, sagging floors and four resident ski bums. The results of the renovation are inspiring, especially the crafty ideas for making the most of small spaces and the decorating style that is warm, comfy Americana.
    Over the past 12 years, Cabin Life has covered many other stories like these. I have a hard time picking favorites, but these two are near and dear to my heart: “New Life for a Little Cottage” and “The Cabin That Keeps On Giving.” To read about these and other recycled cabins, cottages, lakehomes, and camps, click here. Enjoy!