The best cabins are simple dwellings that provide a place to unwind, relax by the fireplace or on a porch, and revel in nature. Today's cabin homes can fulfill your desire to be outside in the fresh air as much as possible and then gather inside for informal meals with family and friends.
Useful information: The Cabin by Dale Mulfinger and Susan E. Davis, (Taunton Press) is a fine introduction to the subject because the authors analyze each design -- from rustic to contemporary -- and tell what makes it interesting and livable. Cabins: The New Style, by James Grayson Truelove (Collins Design) also provides a varied roundup of contemporary work. The first American cabins were usually made of logs.
