Small, versatile, and sustainable with strong indoor/outdoor ties—these were architect Tom Lenchek’s goals for his own vacation home in the Cascade Mountains. The lone bathroom in this 1,400-square-foot cabin is a microcosm of those characteristics. “Having this as the only bath in the house was a decision we struggled with because we often have guests,” says Lenchek. “But breaking out of our regular living patterns was an important concept for the entire house.” He made sure this singular sensation suited a variety of needs with an open shower, soaking tub, double vanity, and sauna for two.

There is sort of a second bath just outside glass double doors, where an enclosed courtyard shields a shower-head and utility sink.

Lenchek left board-formed, cast-in-place concrete walls rough as a textural yet low-maintenance interior finish around the shower. The same material makes up walls surrounding the outdoor bath. Concrete flooring also continues from inside out. Even the radiant floor heating segues outside for those willing to brave al fresco showering in brisker seasons.

A 10-inch-thick hunk of ponderosa pine cut from a standing dead tree forms the 6-foot-long, 2-foot-deep vanity. The same tree was used to make a step for the bathtub, with enough left over to make furniture throughout the house. Pine boards reclaimed from a water flume in a nearby valley clad exterior walls to make another material connection.

Builder: Rhinehart Construction, Winthrop, Wash.; Architect: Balance Associates, Seattle; Concrete fabricator: Brandenburg Construction, Winthrop; Photographer: Steve Keating.

Resources

Faucets: Chicago Faucets; Showerheads: Grohe; Sink: Kohler.