One of the overlooked causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment. The walls, chairs, buildings, and streets that surround us have a profound effect on the way we think, feel, and act.

Some places just feel good. The minute you walk through the door, you want to settle in and stay a while. You can’t help but curl up by the fireplace with a blanket and a good book. You want to throw a party, lounge on the deck, or have a conversation with a good friend in a cozy corner.

I was looking over the cabin plans we are working on the other day, and I was struck by one particularly captivating example of this. Opening off the second floor study, and bedrooms in one of the cabin kits is an interior balcony that overlooks the living-dining area. I imagine that you might feel drawn to this lofty perch to watch what is going on in the “public” areas below. Depending on your mood you might savor the options of staying to survey the action below, retreating to the study with a good book, or descending to participate in whatever is going on. (more…)

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