local comp

Not our architectural style at all, although we do appreciate the few nervous nods towards FLW with large, cantilevered overhangs that surround this pagoda-like house. What is also interesting is that it's a 1-1.5 at nearly 300K, although it does have sleeping shelves for larger groups.

precedent from Houston

Love-love-love this house, ever since it was pubbed by Dwell in 2009.

white dust storm

Everything in New Mexico is more beautiful... White Sands udust storm as seen from space.

dark sky requirements

according to this article, Cloudcroft has a dark skies law.

Ordnance

USA Today: Cloudcroft #4 Best Southwestern Small Town

Article here.

white planks:interior walls

These white plank walls and ceilings seem heaven-made for a Modern cabin.

BUILD LLC on "the sensible, modern cabin"

I adore BUILD, an architectural firm out of Seattle that tells it like it is (and, of course, does excellent work). I read every post before (and during) the construction of our house. And now they've shared their thoughts on designing cabins.

Some key points:

• Modern cabin design is a slippery slope
• Need a balance between traditional and high-end design
• A cabin shouldn't be as formal and refined as a house
• Architectural elitism doesn't belong in the woods [boo. hiss.]

Although I boo.hiss. one of their thoughts, I get it: You don't need flawless design and execution (hell: our 'real' house doesn't have flawless execution). And their examples (photos of my faves below) certainly tap into high-end, even abstract, design.