A modern wooden house with a sloped roof and a deck in a wooded area during daytime.

The Snowcreek Guest House

Location: Penland area, Mitchell County, NC

Size: 576 sf heated

Program: 1 bed / 1 bath / loft

Construction: Shed roof, high-performance envelope

Certifications: NC Green Built Gold / Energy Star Certified New Construction

Tucked beside the owners' glass and clay studios near Penland School of Craft, this 576-square-foot guesthouse was designed to welcome visiting artists, friends, and family without feeling like an afterthought. A shed roof and tall ceilings make the single-bedroom, loft-equipped interior feel far more generous than its footprint suggests, and the porch matches the house square-for-square, extending the living space outdoors into the surrounding landscape.

A custom open shelving unit fills the wall between the main living space and the loft above, purpose-built to display the owners' ceramic and glass work, with clerestory windows positioned to catch light on the collection. The loft ladder and outdoor shower are among the details that make this small building genuinely fun to be in. Local hemlock siding grounds the exterior in its place. At just 576 square feet, it earned both NC Green Built Gold and Energy Star certification; proof that high performance and small scale are a natural fit.

A modern house with a slanted roof, surrounded by trees in winter, with a wooden deck and steps leading to a door.
A modern two-story wooden house with a sloped roof, large windows, and a wraparound deck in a wooded area with trees.
A modern two-story house with dark wood siding, multiple windows, and a sloped roof, situated in a wooded area with leafless trees.
Living room with large windows, blue sofa, wooden coffee table, and a wall-mounted wooden ladder with shelves holding decorative vases, books, and baskets. Partial view of a bedroom through an open door.
Interior of a living room featuring a wooden ladder, a large window with colored glass vases on the sill, a blue couch, a wooden coffee table, and a wall-mounted shelf with decorative items and books.
A cozy kitchen and living space with light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a small orange armchair. A black door with a window leads outdoors, and there is a bathroom visible through an open door.
Modern kitchen and dining area with wooden cabinets, black open shelving, stainless steel appliances, a small white table with three chairs, and colorful artwork on white walls. Windows and a glass door let in natural light.
Modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and open shelving with colorful cups. Small dining table with two chairs, laundry area with stacked washer and dryer, and a window showing trees outside.
Living room with large window showing mountain view, blue sofa with blanket, wooden ladder to the left, and a balcony with a green chair outside.
Covered outdoor porch with wooden walls, ceiling fan, and picnic table overlooking a wooded area.
A wooden deck with two Adirondack chairs and a railing, attached to a building with large windows and a wooden exterior, surrounded by trees.

The Sully Lane House →