Guest Post by Jordan Long
In 2012, Nick Olson and Lilah Horwitz quit their jobs and set off to build a glass cabin in the mountains of West Virginia.
Nick is a photographer who specializes in tintypes taken with a camera he made himself. He currently works for a landscape company in Milwaukee designing one-of-a-kind objects and spends his off time travelling the country looking for adventure.
Lilah is a designer. She has made several clothing lines, each one coinciding with the city/place she inhabits. She currently sells her work in New York boutiques and also works for a landscaping company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Looks just like Derek Diedrickson’s design.
Would like to see some interior images.
Watch the video, I was not able to get any interior photos…
here is a link to our blog with many more photos!
http://oldworldgrange.tumblr.com
Yikes, that’s a lot of wndows to wash! Hope they get a disount on cleaner of choice. I’ve always liked window houses though, especially if there’s a special view. Seem like very interesting people too.
Wonderful. Try stenciling and etching cream. You will love the subtle nature of etched glass.
what an awesome view, I also like your simple way of life.
such a warm, heartfelt story – a beautifully made video. i’m wondering: how is the home kept warm during the winter months? is there insulation? thank you for sharing!
Thank you!
We havent spent any deep winters there yet, but it keeps pretty warm with the late afternoon sun and the little wood stove!
Such a beautiful place to live 🙂
It looks so eloquent. I definitely feel the full side of windows speaks to minimalists and artists alike. Wonderful film as well! I too am curious to find out about heating efficiency or whether this is just a warm weather residence?
Great video and cabin! Just a note, though – the link says ‘cup’ instead of ‘cut’.
It has a nice blend of hillbilly and modern design. I like the design. It looks really nice.
Thanks! We were definitely attempting to make an interesting and beatiful design, but also keep in our minds what space it inhabits and in some way work with the local vernacular style
What exactly is “hillbilly” design ?
Those of us from the mountains would like to know ?
I LOVE IT CONGRAT THAT IS MY WISH……
Living heaven on earth god has blessed you well.
Thats really really really really sweet!! What a marvelous creation… wow!
Hope to see more pics or videos!
love the short on this and their other shorts on artists. very lovely. and the house is just right up my alley. an artist’s retreat in every way that i love. pdx rocks i am told. must to visit soon!
Thanks for the kind words about our documentaries. Their cabin is an oasis indeed.
Portland does rock, we’ve shot a few docs up there and LOVE it.
Half-cut Tea is awesome and they have been busy making many more good looking docs. Check them out, thanks Matt & Jordan !!
Handcrafted!!!!
Hummmm …. now I know what to do with that stack of windows I’ve stashed in the barn! (have a barn but no house yet!) Love the combo of pioneer cabin & modern window -views. Just being able to look out the windows at the view would be both peaceful & invigorating. I couldn’t get the video … any hints on how to fit the windows together?
fantastic, please send pictures when you begin to build!!
regarding fitting the windows together, we started off trying to use math and make a plan, but both of those are not our strong suit so we basically were winging it and it worked out almost perfect! tip-trust your instinct, and dont put all the screwing in right away!
Also using a post and beam frame helps a lot, it supports the roof and leaves all the wall space you want available for whatever you desire!
Nice design & workmanship!
The glass wall does not appear to have any “shear resisting” capability? You either need to have “moment resisting connections” in the post & beams on the glass wall, or “shear walls” to resist the lateral force of the wind on the building. That is the most critical part of designing this type of structure in places where there are building codes, large wind, snow, or earthquake conditions.
Best Regards,
Tom Buese, Architect
I was wondering the same thing myself. Where’s the caulking? Where’s the support!!!! In high winds or serious thunderstorm, that side of the house is a catastrophic domino theory in the making. Yes, the rustic interior is beautiful. I love windows and this place is very artsy but looks like an emergency room visit waiting to happen. Sorry to be so negative, but the photos are showing beauty, not structure.
I’m running my own window cleaning company in Sweden, but I love the cabin!
Love all creative ppl who challenge old ideas.
here is a link to a blog with lots of photos of the cabin during the process and once it was more completed!
http://oldworldgrange.tumblr.com
I love this glass cabin! It’s simple, beautiful and serene. Well done!
Nothing but love for these people, the idea and the little vid that I just watched. Time to start hoarding windows!
PS – West Virginia – almost heaven I’ve heard 🙂
I’ve seen things like this done before. I didn’t see a kitchen/bathroom? I’m assuming they’re not living off the grid since I didn’t see solar/wind, or gardens for growing food. Is this more of a weekend cabin then? Not full time? And no kids…
Also- are there any out buildings? Garage, shed, barn?
There are several other buildings on the property about a mile and a half from the window house, one with a bathroom and kitchen. Thus far the longest we have spent there is 6 months. There is a small garden we keep about a mile down the road, and no power in the window house, just passive solar heat in the evenings, candles, and a wood stove! and no kids yet maybe someday!
Wow!!! So inspiring!!! I love everything about this. 🙂
Love the cabin. The exact placement is what I’m wondering about. I’m in Louisville Ky, and I know West Virginia is about the same latitude we are here, which means summers in the 90s and winters in the teens sometimes. With those windows and (I guess) southern exposure, winters should be great, but why not set the cabin back into the woods a bit so you’d have shade in the summer, and with those deciduous trees, sun in the winter?
We are at the most southern point of WV. The cabin is set back in the woods with the front wall right at the edge of the field. The southern sunset really warms the place up nice in the winter, but if the summer you have to hope for an afternoon breeze!
GREAT JOB, FOLKS!!!! I, too, built my own cabin (30′ x 30′) in the woods. My ex husband, my son and I worked on the cabin for 7 years, and documented the entire process with the camera. I’m sure we nailed 10,000 nails, but what reward when it was finished! Happy Life in your little corner of the world!!
A large thank you for all the wonderful comments. We are so lucky to have this beautiful documentary made by Half Cut Tea (http://www.halfcuttea.com)!
-Lilah and Nick
Wow! What a gifted and wonderful couple you are. All involved in this video are truly blessed with talent. The house is truly a work of art and I can only imagine the wonderful times you have there. Enjoy your journey through life.
Turning a whole side of a house into windows of different sizes, now that’s beautiful.
Loved this. It is wonderful to see young people who have a vision of what life is all about and goes for it. Beautiful
I love it,absolutely beautiful !
Great build and video…LOADED with heart! Congrats on the completion of your funky oasis.
Ps….I’d love to feature it in a book on micro dwellings I’m working on…..who do I talk to? Kidcedar at gmail.com
Hi Deek,
We did the documentary on Nick and Lilah. I would be happy to get you in contact with them.
Thanks Jordan! Could you contact me over a kidcedar at gmail.com? Appreciate it!
I’m from Williamson, WVa! Are you close by? I don’t recognize the terrain. It is so comfy, cozy looking and would be a very inspiring yet peaceful place to spend time. Love it!!
Can Life get any BETTER?
Love the house and the video.
So are the windows just screwed together or is there some additional framework other than the post and beam? Did you put them in one at a time? Love the idea of repurposing
Still waiting for a response to the actual construction myself. “Stack and nail” is not good building practice when dealing with windows. I hope they have bracing and framing that just doesn’t show up in the photos. Otherwise, this is not remotely safe.
Wow – beautiful home, incredible light and space and view and beautiful little film. Thanks to Nick & Lilah for the home and being themselves and to Jordan & Matt for the film. You’ve all inspired me and made my Saturday!
It’s comforting to see places still being built that leave fingerprints : )
Wow, but who of you cleans the Windows after a rain shower?
You two have captured more than just the creation of a delightful get-a-way, you’ve found that special spirit within each other.
My wife and me restored a 113 year old farmhouse. Only those who love old things can “really” understand how it changes not only our lifestyles, but also the way we approach life. Our greatest treasures are linens nearly 200 years old (yet perfect), imperfect yet perfect old furniture, and an Elgin/National pocket watch created between 1872 – 1876 plus of course our screwy old home. Living with the old somehow makes the present so much more precious. You two are a great example:)
This is so beautiful. It totally invokes a 1960s ethos that would have been at home in Woodstock and the whole handmade houses thing. And they make such a beautiful young couple too! There is hope for humanity when we see stories like this one!
The cabin is truly inspirational and the video too. It is great that you have the opportunity to build something so wonderful without the local planning department sending in the bulldozers. Here in the UK it would be almost impossible to erect something such as this without incurring huge fines.
Oh to live in the USA where all things seem possible and where there is still personal freedom.
Love your story. wonderfully shot video, editing and imagery. Your glass house is an inspiration to all, myself included. Check out our similar story of a little house in a pepper tree. 90% recycled and reclaimed materials. I think you’ll relate. Teahouse Treehouse in Santa Cruz CA. on faircompanies.com. You can also find our video on youtube. Tell us what you think.
Awesome but two things bother me 1. the flag being dirty and tied up like that. the flag has protocols and this is disrespect 2. the flaking paint on the table, windows etc is probably lead-based. even for adults it can be dangerous. I’d suggest painting it over
Hi, nice pictures shared by you. Your glass cabin really looking awesome