What if I told you that the study of cabins is actually an official subject of study—an “ology”? Cabinology is “the art and science of designing, building, and living in cabins that seamlessly blend functionality, aesthetics, and a deep connection to the natural world. It’s about creating spaces that are not only beautiful and comfortable but also thoughtful and sustainable.” Dale Mulfinger is a Minneapolis, Minn.-based architect with SALA Architects and a certified cabin expert (he was originally accredited with the title of cabinologist by a radio DJ more than 20 years ago). From cabins made entirely of discarded doors to French trapper design style, Dale has become an expert in cabin design and has authored multiple books on the subject. Here’s what he had to say about the study of cabinology:
How does your personal definition of cabinology differ from the official definition?
“I think so much of being in a cabin has to do with people bonding together, whether that’s your spouse, or family, or friends, or whomever you invite to go with you to have that experience. That bonding typically wants to take place somewhere that’s special, at the river, or somewhere that takes you out of your normal life and puts you in a different world. I think that somehow makes the bonding experience easier. This part gets missed in the official cabinology definition.”
What are some common misconceptions about this area of expertise? How has the study of cabinology changed?
“It’s changed a lot in the 30 years that I’ve been involved in it. Big changes have occurred due to land cost. You’re not going to put a 10-cent cabin on a property that you paid $200,000 for. As people have begun paying more for the land, they also began to think of the cabin as a place to retire and that changed some of the expectations of what a cabin will be. So particularly for us here in the north country, where you can experience some pretty bitter cold and snow, more people now want an attached garage. Covid also had an impact because many more people realized that they could earn a living from a distance—they didn’t have to be in the metropolis to do it. So, all of a sudden cabins became more important to them. Time has had an impact on how cabins are appreciated.”
Do you have experience with Canadian cottage culture?
“I’m familiar with Canadian cottages and with your magazine because when I did research for the books, I had to find projects from other parts of the country and from Canada, and in order to do that magazines were phenomenally helpful. We [SALA Architects] have done projects in Canada, it’s a bit challenging because of the laws regarding where you can and cannot practice architecture. We’ve had a harder time in Quebec to get registered.”
When you think of bonding time at the cottage and listening to music—what’s the quintessential cabin album?
“When I get to my cabin, I turn on the local radio station, which is a public radio station and every hour or two there is a different DJ. They have complete freedom to play whatever they want to play. You might get polka music in one hour and then the next you’re going to get some acid rock. I love the localness of that.”
What’s something every cabin must have?
“I think that almost every cabin should have a fireplace or a woodstove. I think that whole notion of gathering around a flickering flame is a pretty universal goal. Also a place to gather around—like a table—which I think is more important than the living room chairs because the table is going to be used in a greater variety of ways. You’re going to do the puzzle or play games or have some good food. Lastly, the screened porch so you can feel as though you’re outdoors but still out of the bugs.”
Do you have any cabin design pet peeves?
Yes. Super high ceilings. A lot of our cabins are at the water’s edge, right? If you want more view of the water, your view should extend horizontally, not vertically. When you extend the windows vertically into that high space, you’re just seeing more sky, which is fine, but I think if you’re in the mountains, the vertical windows make a lot of sense because rarely are you on top of the mountain. Another pet peeve is overbuilding—building bigger than it should be, making bedrooms larger than they should be.”
Lastly, do you have a favourite fictional cabin?
“I find the ‘Rose Cabin’ [from Thoreau’s Walden] fascinating, although my romantic notion of the cabin was challenged a bit when I learned that he [Thoreau] walked back into town so that his mother could do his laundry.”
Photo Courtesy Dale Mulfinger
Photo courtesy Dale Mulfinger
Dale's cabin on Lake Vermillion, Minn.
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