A Pinetop cabin exudes rustic-chic style.

As the book’s glossy pages would indicate, the owners envisioned an intimate log cabin where family and friends could escape the summer heat and enjoy the same mountain milieu the wife frequented during her childhood.“I grew up going to Pinetop with my family for cooler weather in the summers and skiing in the winters,” she reminisces. “We also have neighbors in our White Mountain Summer Homes community who are repeating history—they grew up going there and wanted their kids to have the same summer experiences.”

But building this picture-perfect log cabin would require some compromise. “The community where the original dwelling was located has strict design guidelines, so the palette of materials we had to work with was somewhat limited,” says Lee’s daughter, Jessica Hutchison-Rough, who has since taken ownership of the architecture firm upon his retirement. “A chinked-log home would also present insulation issues, so we used a mix of materials to give it that authentic appearance while ensuring it performs better than a traditional log cabin.”

“Every piece in the home was selected for the natural characteristics of the wood.”

—Kevin Fisk, builder

The team incorporated wood detailing throughout—in fact, Hutchison-Rough says except for stone, nearly every surface features the material.  “The most unique and special aspect of the home was the use of locally grown and harvested materials,” Fisk explains. “Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir from local mills were used for most of the exterior and interior surfaces. Its natural diversity in color, knot structure and natural irregularities was selectively placed throughout the project for maximum visual impact. The biggest challenge regarding the woodworking was to make each piece appear irregular, as if it had been crafted using only hand tools such as timber axes and hand planes.” 

Late interior designer Billi Springer sourced major furnishings throughout the home’s construction. Since then, the couple has added their own touches, including tchotchkes and artwork acquired during their travels. “Everything in the house, from the entry chandelier to the kitchen range hood, is handcrafted,” says the husband. “It makes it more personal and adds to the cabin’s history.”

The floors are made of reclaimed wood from a 100-year-old train station in Tennessee. “They have a lot of wear, but they tell a story,” the wife says. “There are divots and black marks that look almost like burns. But they’re so imperfect that we don’t feel bad walking in with snow on our feet or when our dogs walk on them. They don’t show scratches because they have already had a lifetime of those.”

The outdoor spaces are the pièce de résistance for the couple. “What makes homes in this community unique are the decks,” the wife notes. “In the summers, whether we are at the clubhouse or home, it’s all about the outdoor porch hangouts—so that was very important to us.”

On summer eves, the couple enjoys settling into the rocking chairs on their front porch and conversing with passersby or, on the expansive back deck abutting the golf course watching the final foursomes finish up the day. If the party doesn’t come to them, they are not shy about bringing the party to the neighbors. “Pinetop has a super small-town feel,” says the wife. “Everybody calls it ‘adult summer camp.’ Each Friday afternoon, we get in our golf carts and drive the neighborhood to see who’s on their porches. Sometimes we’ll even stop in for dinner.”

“We call it our ‘booze cruise,’” the husband laughs. Even their dogs enjoy popping into neighbors’ doggie doors for an occasional visit.
The duo may have closed the book on improvements to their idyllic cabin retreat, but that’s not where the story ends. “The friendships we’ve made up here are so special and unique,” the husband says. “We pack a lot of fun into the summer months, say goodbye after the season and look forward to when the summer months come again—sort of like when you bid farewell to friends from camp as a kid. Everyone is so open and friendly, and there is so much tradition. It’s like a big blanket when you come up here—just instantly comfortable and relaxing.”

Sources
Architect: Lee Hutchison, Urban Design Associates, Scottsdale, urbandesignassociates.com. Builder: Kevin Fisk, Four Seasons Builders LLC, Pinetop, (928) 205-0244.
KITCHEN—Range hood and entry and great room chandeliers: Kevin Sullivan, Steel & Stone, Scottsdale, (602) 418-1413. Kitchen cabinetry: Goodall Custom Cabinetry, Glendale, goodallllc.com.