Cabin

A backwoods memoir for anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping to the wild ‘Funny and thoughtful … You feel his desire to be back in the woods, working with his hands. Don’t we all?’ – New York Times THE US NATIONAL BESTSELLER We all dream of having a place to escape to – Patrick Hutchison found his at the end of a gravel road called Wit’s End. Working unhappily as a copywriter in the Pacific Northwest, scouring social media for ‘cabin porn’ in his spare time, Patrick came across an advert for a tiny, dilapidated cabin nestled deep in the forests of the Cascade Mountains. Scraping together his last few dollars, he bought the place for $7,500 and set about making it his own. Cabin is his beautifully written account of restoring a rural home with almost no woodworking experience, aided only by the kindness of friends, a collection of vicious power tools and countless cases of beer. A modern-day Walden , Cabin is a book for all those who celebrate the pleasures of working with their hands, who appreciate spending time in nature, or who long for a simpler life – even if it’s only on the weekends.

A backwoods memoir for anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping to the wild ‘Funny and thoughtful … You feel his desire to be back in the woods, working with his hands. Don’t we all?’ – New York Times THE US NATIONAL BESTSELLER We all dream of having a place to escape to – Patrick Hutchison found his at the end of a gravel road called Wit’s End. Working unhappily as a copywriter in the Pacific Northwest, scouring social media for ‘cabin porn’ in his spare time, Patrick came across an advert for a tiny, dilapidated cabin nestled deep in the forests of the Cascade Mountains. Scraping together his last few dollars, he bought the place for $7,500 and set about making it his own. Cabin is his beautifully written account of restoring a rural home with almost no woodworking experience, aided only by the kindness of friends, a collection of vicious power tools and countless cases of beer. A modern-day Walden , Cabin is a book for all those who celebrate the pleasures of working with their hands, who appreciate spending time in nature, or who long for a simpler life – even if it’s only on the weekends.

The story of the author's cabin build in the wilderness, packed with practical advice for aspiring builders and insights into of the history of cabin culture around the world. In 2010, journalist and author Will Jones gave up London life to move to rural Canada with his young family. His dream was to build a remote cabin in the woods that would be a silent retreat from the world. This is the story of how he created the ultimate hideaway, inspired by cabin-building practices around the world. Throughout history, people around the world have built cabins as homes, naturewatching huts and even follies. In recent times, many have been drawn to cabinbuilding by a yearning to connect with nature and spend time in the wilderness. From the homes of indigenous peoples and the settlers of the New World to contemporary Nordic summer homes and artists' retreats, the emotive lure of cabin-building shows no sign of abating. In this book, Will Jones explores the history and romance of cabin building and delves into the architectural styles, vernacular idiosyncrasies and tools and techniques of historical and modern builders. Weaving the personal story of his cabin build with illustrated practical know-how on everything from deciding on site and orientation, to foundations and interior design, Jones's essential book is full of inspirational ideas. The urge to escape the city and live in nature has never been stronger. Part story, part history and part practical guide, this is the ultimate read for anyone dreaming of building a cabin of their own.

The story of the author's cabin build in the wilderness, packed with practical advice for aspiring builders and insights into of the history of cabin culture around the world. In 2010, journalist and author Will Jones gave up London life to move to rural Canada with his young family. His dream was to build a remote cabin in the woods that would be a silent retreat from the world. This is the story of how he created the ultimate hideaway, inspired by cabin-building practices around the world. Throughout history, people around the world have built cabins as homes, naturewatching huts and even follies. In recent times, many have been drawn to cabinbuilding by a yearning to connect with nature and spend time in the wilderness. From the homes of indigenous peoples and the settlers of the New World to contemporary Nordic summer homes and artists' retreats, the emotive lure of cabin-building shows no sign of abating. In this book, Will Jones explores the history and romance of cabin building and delves into the architectural styles, vernacular idiosyncrasies and tools and techniques of historical and modern builders. Weaving the personal story of his cabin build with illustrated practical know-how on everything from deciding on site and orientation, to foundations and interior design, Jones's essential book is full of inspirational ideas. The urge to escape the city and live in nature has never been stronger. Part story, part history and part practical guide, this is the ultimate read for anyone dreaming of building a cabin of their own.

THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER A memoir of the author's journey from an office job to restoring a cabin in the Pacific Northwest, based on his wildly popular Outside Magazine piece. Wit's End isn't just a state of mind. It's the name of a gravel road, the address of a run-down off-the-grid cabin, 120 shabby square feet of fixer-upper Patrick Hutchison purchased on a whim in the mossy woods of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state. To say Hutchison didn't know what he was getting into is no more an exaggeration than to say he's a man with nearly zero carpentry skills. Well, used to be. You can learn a lot over six years of renovations. CABIN is the story of those renovations, but it's also a love story; of a place, of possibilities, and of the process of construction, of seeing what could be instead of what is. It is a book for those who know what it's like to bite off more than you can chew, or who desperately wish to.

THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER A memoir of the author's journey from an office job to restoring a cabin in the Pacific Northwest, based on his wildly popular Outside Magazine piece. Wit's End isn't just a state of mind. It's the name of a gravel road, the address of a run-down off-the-grid cabin, 120 shabby square feet of fixer-upper Patrick Hutchison purchased on a whim in the mossy woods of the Cascade Mountains in Washington state. To say Hutchison didn't know what he was getting into is no more an exaggeration than to say he's a man with nearly zero carpentry skills. Well, used to be. You can learn a lot over six years of renovations. CABIN is the story of those renovations, but it's also a love story; of a place, of possibilities, and of the process of construction, of seeing what could be instead of what is. It is a book for those who know what it's like to bite off more than you can chew, or who desperately wish to.