LUXE Forest Retreat

Here you will experience a full sensory immersion in nature while simultaneously enjoying all the comforts of a custom built luxury home. The SY House derives its name from the Japanese expression Shinrin-yoku, which directly translates to forest bathing... A practice of therapeutic relaxation where one spends time in a forest or natural atmosphere, focusing on sensory engagement to connect with nature. The essence of this house is nature.

Features that make this house a super rare find:

The black siding on the exterior of the house is called Sho Sugi Ban… It is a Japanese cedar sourced from Forrests right outside Kyoto that has been charred and then hand brushed to achieve the burnt look. It is an excellently durable siding that can last 80 years- that’s why seaside houses in Japan regularly use it.

The floors: The floors are made from an 80ft maple tree that was standing right behind the house- you can see the giant stump from the door by the driveway. The owner and 4 local people handmade the floors. The tree was dying and had to be taken down so it was used for the floors. The whole process was upwards of 75 labor hours.

The Beams on the ceiling in the kitchen: The owner handmade those from a dying ash tree that stood where the building currently is.

The counters: the owner handmade them from a local VT black walnut.

The bed frame: Handmade by the owner from local VT Oak.

The Bathroom: over 100 hours to complete. Made from a substance called tadelakt which originates from Morocco. Basically a lime plaster that must be layered over and over. All done by the owner and a friend.

The Sauna: fully handmade and custom design. All the rafters were individually curved to achieve the curved pagoda style roof. All the cedar that comprises the sauna was sourced from Japan.

The coffee table was handmade by the owner from oak beams that once held up a local barn that was built in 1820.