One of the biggest questions we hear right now is: “What style of cabin should I build or buy?” It’s a great question, because today’s Smoky Mountain market offers buyers and renters two very different looks.
The Traditional Smoky Mountain Cabin
For many buyers, especially those who have been coming to the Smokies for decades, there is simply nothing quite like a traditional log cabin. They love the tongue-and-groove walls, natural wood floors—sometimes genuine wide-plank pine—the warm wood tones, rustic railings and traditional green or dark metal roof. It feels cozy, familiar and unmistakably Smoky Mountains. And there’s a reason for that emotional connection. For generations, families have been coming to the Smokies, staying in log cabins and making memories. The cabin itself became part of the vacation experience. It doesn’t feel like the suburban home they just left behind, and it certainly doesn’t feel like the city. It feels like they have arrived in the mountains. That feeling still has tremendous value.
Then Along Came Mountain Modern
Drive around the mountains today and you’ll see something very different appearing on the hillsides: contemporary mountain chalets with clean rooflines, dark exteriors, soaring ceilings and dramatic walls of glass. And we sometimes hear an immediate reaction from buyers: “Oh my goodness—I don’t like those boxes! Does anyone actually rent those?” The answer is yes. Mountain modern has attracted a new audience, particularly younger travelers who appreciate contemporary architecture, beautiful interiors and a more sophisticated interpretation of mountain living. There is also something psychologically appealing about a brand-new contemporary cabin. A renter sees those photographs and assumes the mattresses are new, the furnishings are fresh, the kitchen is current and, yes, even that the hot tub is newer and clean! Newness itself has marketing value. But there is an important distinction: mountain modern is easy to do badly. A beautifully proportioned contemporary mountain home can be spectacular. A poorly designed rectangular box with inexpensive finishes can simply look like…a box. And that may account for some of the resistance we hear.
So Which Style Has Staying Power?
Probably both—when they are done well. Good architecture has longevity. Quality materials have longevity. Thoughtful floor plans, great views, excellent maintenance and beautiful interiors have longevity. A poorly maintained traditional log cabin can feel dated. A cheaply built mountain modern cabin can also feel dated surprisingly quickly. One of my favorite approaches is actually a marriage of the two.
Take the warmth and character of a traditional Smoky Mountain cabin and freshen it with cleaner lines, larger expanses of glass, contemporary furnishings, updated lighting and a sophisticated neutral palette. You still have the emotional warmth of the cabin experience, but it feels fresh and relevant to today’s traveler. Likewise, a mountain modern home can incorporate natural stone, warm woods, fireplaces and other materials that connect it to its surroundings rather than making it feel as though a modern city house was simply dropped onto a mountain.
Perhaps the Better Question Is…
Instead of asking, “Should I build traditional or modern?” perhaps we should be asking the following questions:
● “Will this cabin still feel special ten or fifteen years from now?”
● Is it well designed?
● Does it take advantage of its setting?
● Does it give guests something they cannot experience at home?
● Can it be maintained beautifully?
● And when someone walks through the door, does it make them think:
● Is this where I want to spend my Smoky Mountain vacation?”
If the answer to all of these is yes, there is room in these mountains for both the beloved traditional log cabin and its younger cousin—the mountain modern chalet.
