Merging Modern Design and Nature with Help from Pella
When designing a building in the middle of nature, occasionally it’s best to step back and showcase the beauty of its surroundings.
That was the situation for architect Kyle Page, founder of Brooklyn-based architecture firm Sundial Studios, when building a family weekend cabin in the woods of Sullivan County, New York. Page seized upon the opportunity to develop a relaxing, peaceful escape that involves nature while featuring simple modern design.

The result: A picturesque retreat that has drawn acclaim, including a feature in The New York Times real estate section.
Page shared his thoughts about the process of creating his unique home.
Photo attributed to Bjorg Magnea
“The building location is a beautiful and wild 19 acres and is less than two hours away from our Brooklyn home. The land is private and wooded, with a pond, wetlands, old-stone pasture walls and exposed ledgestone coming down from the north and west sides. We installed an owl box in a tree about a tenth of a mile away from the house, but currently, no owl has moved in. A blue heron occasionally visits, and now and then a bald eagle will fish the pond. The deer think they own the place.”
Photo attributed to Bjorg Magnea
“The patinaed exterior material palette of rusted, weathering steel; blackened, rough-cut cedar; and the exposed concrete foundation plinth, which runs down toward the pond, were chosen to merge the building into its wooded surroundings. Also, the windows were sized and detailed to add to the dialogue between the house and the pond. The windows extend as they move toward the pond, and the south gable wall is just about fully glazed, and includes the custom grilles, which reflect the geometries of the gable form.”
Photo attributed to Bjorg Magnea
“I have worked with Pella before, and have always had good experiences with both the quality of the product and the Pella team. The aluminum-clad wood windows have strong durability. For this project, I selected the Architect Series because it brings a minimal style that fit very well with the design of the cabin. The thin profile and larger areas of glass look terrific!”
“It was a very easy process working with the team at Pella to have the grilles the way I intended. I gave them drawings of the layouts, and was presented with shop drawings for review and approval, prior to their fabrication. It added some additional lead time to the windows—about six weeks. But the end result was worth it. The professionalism of the team left me confident that it would be the way I envisioned.”
Photo attributed to Bjorg Magnea
Begin the journey toward a distinctive home design project by reaching out to a Pella professional today!