The owners of this Wade Weissmann-designed structure call it “The Cabin.” But banish any frontier images from your mind. This Fox Chapel addition speaks in a luxurious vocabulary of natural materials, fine craftsmanship, noble proportions, and great taste.
Looking Inside a Wade Weissmann-Designed Addition in Fox Chapel Donned “The Cabin”
When ardent fans of the show Yellowstone wanted an addition for their existing house—with a cozy lodge vibe that channels the TV drama—they reached out to Wade Weissmann Architecture. The result, a large structure which the homeowners affectionately call “The Cabin,” serves as an office, wine cellar, and tasting area— as well as a gathering space for their family.
Interestingly, the woodsy interior is different from the more contemporary main house, although the exteriors are unified. And while it resembles a rough-hewn cabin in the woods, it was built with traditional frame walls and insulation. The effect is largely cosmetic—but incredibly effective. Both mood and modern systems are in full force. To achieve just the right vibe, Weissmann had a very specific vision.
Wood reclaimed from a 19th century barn was used as often as possible in this addition designed by Wade Weissmann Architecture.
“The best way we could deliver a finished product with that charming character was to use reclaimed materials,” he said. Walls feature stacked logs with simulated chinking between them. “A majority of the wood inside is oak, reclaimed from a barn that was going to be replaced by a metal structure. The rounded log walls were formed from the existing historic floor beams,” says Sean Rasmussen, Principal Architect at Triglyph Design, formerly a Senior Design Associate and Project Manager at Weissmann.
Taking Care of Cozy Details
An enormous stone hearth flanked by a pair of cozy nooks anchors the space, which has the feeling, when approached from the main house, of a secret lair. “There’s a hidden door and you walk into a wine cellar, and then you proceed into the tasting room. Then you’re greeted with the view of the fireplace,” says Weissmann. The rocks are Pennsylvania river boulders, found locally. “It was important to source natural and old materials with patina to give the interior an authentic look,” affirms Rasmussen.
While the overall feel skews masculine, the bar and tasting area provided an opportunity for balance. “The interior designer Cassidy Miller Weitz and I really liked the juxtaposition,” Weissmann explains, where the area has more of what he describes as “a European aesthetic, with painted woodwork, a bit of color, and upholstery on the walls to warm up the big, rustic scale of everything else.”
Making a Home for the Holidays
For the holidays, the owners called on Anne Dickson, founder of Fox and the Fleur, to decorate. “We do about 40 homes each year,” she says. “And we really take into account the home’s architecture, the era in which it was built, etc.” In this case, the scale was definitely a factor—and certain adjustments had to be made to match it. “If I had put a 24-inch wreath on that mantle, it would have just disappeared.” She fashions an over-scale one from grape vines, pairing it with an asymmetrical evergreen arrangement with a pop of red anemones, in water-filled tubes so the owners can easily replace it once they wilt. (This is a great tip for keeping greenery fresh for the weeks-long holiday period.)
The balance between fresh and lasting flora is an obviously a challenge. Cut arrangements are the most fragile, typically brought in for a special party. Dickson likes to wind in fresh magnolia greens, which dry beautifully, and to use an abundance of pinecones, which have unlimited life and are festive and seasonal.
The bar area provided a different sort of canvas, with smaller nooks and that unique fabric backdrop. “We used some jewel-tone cups for some of the arrangements. It’s also fun to get creative with water pitchers and votives. In reality, anything that holds water can hold flowers,” she adds. “I love when a client gives us the opportunity to explore—and what I love about this is that it becomes a destination within the house,” says Weissmann.
Story by Stephen Treffinger
Styling by Keith Recker and Anne Dickson
Architecture by Wade Weissmann Architecture
Interior Design by Cassidy Miller Weitz
Florals by Fox and the Fleur
Photography by Erin Kelly
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