Elsewhere

A Cabin in the Woods with Modernist Sensibilities

This spacious one-bedroom cabin is a gem tucked away among the redwoods on the northern California coast. Designed by artist and architect Ralph Matheson in 1976, it's nestled into the verdant landscape on the outskirts of seaside town Gualala, just north of modernist enclave Sea Ranch. Hidden behind the trees and clad in cedar shake siding, it has been gently weathered by the passage of time. Inside, it's drenched in light, its cedar panels glowing golden.

The owners of this cabin are passionate about mid-century architecture, having lived in two Eichler homes designed by architects Quincy Jones and Claude Oakland. With its clean lines, vaulted ceiling, towering clerestory windows, natural light, and indoor/outdoor connectivity, this dwelling struck them as Eichleresque and encouraged them to leave suburbia for the rugged Mendocino coast.

Enter this cabin dubbed "Elsewhere", and you'll find a soaring space in tongue-and-groove cedar paneling. Light floods into it through the vast south-facing windows that also capture the exquisite beauty of the surrounding forest, creating a constant connection with the outside world. The home is thoughtfully but sparsely furnished, with distinctive framed art hanging on its walls and an eclectic library of books and board games lining its shelves. There's everything here to make a comfortable stay, including a full kitchen.

The terraced landscape that surrounds this cabin for rent in California is made up of rhododendrons under towering redwoods, and there are three decks from which to take it all in. The East-facing deck is the place for morning coffee. South and West decks are best enjoyed in the afternoon and evening, with a barbecue grill, dining set and lounge chairs on the former.

And once you're done eating, look upwards at the sky. The absence of light pollution in Gualala makes for stellar views of the cosmos. Kick back and take it all in.

AROUND

This cabin for rent in California is located just minutes from the center of Gualala, a coastal town 150 miles north of San Francisco. It's on CA Highway 1, a few miles north of Sea Ranch, in Mendocino County. The name Gualala is derived from the Kashaya Pomo Indian Qh awála-li, which translates as "where the water flows down", and that's appropriate enough for a town built into craggy bluffs on the estuary of the Gualala River. In case you need to know, locals pronounce the town wa-LAH-la.

Known for its pristine beaches and ocean views, Gualala also has an artistic bent, with an active local arts center and an art festival each August. It also has a unique microclimate, which is fairly humid, with winds that keep the sea fog offshore. That makes outdoor activities a must. Stroll the half-mile bluff trail, then explore the white sandy beach and dunes at Gualala Point Regional Park. While you're in Gualala, indulge in some epic coastal hikes, sport fishing, golf, horseback riding, and kite flying, and make time to watch the birds, whales and other wildlife. To the south, Salt Point State Park is great for hiking and horse riding, and the nearby Kruse Rhododendron State Reserve bursts in bloom from mid-April to June each year.

Make sure to visit Sea Ranch, which the cabin's owners describe as "a true California modernist utopia'. It's known for its distinctive timber-frame structures with wooden siding or shingles, designed by notable architects like Charles Moore, Joseph Esherick, and Richard Whitaker. Well worth the drive.

LOCATION

Gualala, Mendocino County, California, US. Nearest airport: Charles M Schulz/Sonoma County (64 miles).

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year-round but December is the rainiest month.