Skyhawk cabin, a newly refurbished 1960s four-bedroom chalet at the foot of Mount Ascutney in Brownsville, Vt., is intended to attract outdoor enthusiasts with a fire pit, a hot tub and unimpeded views of the countryside. “Every decision we made was with an eye to taking durable, even humble, materials and making them beautiful,” says Catherine Fowlkes, who runs the Washington, D.C.-based design firm Fowlkes Studio with her husband, VW Fowlkes. The windows are wide, the floors are rubber and many of the ceilings are made of salvaged wood planks. A bike trail runs through the property and connects to a larger network of trails. Mount Ascutney offers hiking in summer and a few modest runs for beginner downhill skiers, though Ludlow’s Okemo Mountain Resort is only 30 minutes away. For a post-excursion pastrami or tofu banh mi, the Brownsville Butcher and Pantry is just down the road. From $330 a night, skyhawkvt.com.