I've said it before I know... I would like to incorporate more of my design work and recipes into my blog. Who is out there ... Who is reading this blog anyway? I'd LOVE to know if you follow me, and even more I'd love to know more about what you enjoy reading about. Would you mind to make a comment - even if it's just to let me know you read this post - So I know you are out there?
OK ... enough about that! Let's talk about this FUN project I took on with a dear dear friend of mine last fall. Our friendship dates back almost 10 years, to the days when I babysat her daughters while I was in Springfield for school. Her girls are growing and one left last Fall to start her Freshman year away. So "Mama Bear" called me and asked me to assist her in fixing up her husband's families' river house just outside of town. I was ALL over that. Not only do I love a good project, I LOVE spending time with "Mama Bear" too! She has wonderful taste, just needs a second opinion at times to remind her how great she is!
So we set out --- the first pictures are of our first visit that took place last September. We wrapped up the project this spring. Keep in mind, this is a cabin that has been used 5 times at best a year for the last 10 years or so. Happy to report that since the "redo" the families have made much more of an effort to enjoy all this cabin and quaint little river community has to offer.
Our tour begins downstairs.
Kitchen, Living Area and Dining Area -
Pretty basic, pretty vanilla - lacking any type of organization or direction for that matter. This project was my favorite kind ... making a "house" a "home." Somewhere where the visitors dread packing up and heading back to the real world on Sunday evening. Somewhere where this family will bring their third generation and create all kinds of memories.
Entry
Downstairs Screen Porch
And then Upstairs ...
Living area -with gas fireplace
Sliding doors leading to a second floor balcony with lovely river view
"Master Bedroom"
"Guest Room"
"Bunk Room"
This pillow is original and both Mama Bear and I loved it - well, I did, MB took some persuasion. So I suggested we use this as our color pallet. I always look for a guiding light - whether it be fabric, a painting
And for the after ...
"Mama Bear" has a real love affair with a flea market find. She's a scouter, and she's got a real eye. So my job was to send her out on the hunt, and I would place her treasures.
Welcome to the new and improved second floor living area ...
That cordoroy couch is ALL KINDS OF GOOD. MB found him at sofa mart for less than $800 bucks. I snagged one for my hearth room in a cozy moss green soon after she scored this one in chocolate brown. And I LOVE it, it's deep and long and super durable. Highly Recommend for an affordable couch.
We slip covered the oversized chair and ottoman in a fun stripe that stuck with our themes and added lots of fun new accessories.
The leaf came out of the dining table from downstairs and we mixed up the chairs to make it more of a game table.
MB had a masonry person add stacked river rock to the fireplace and reclaimed barn wood around the windows on either side ... what a difference that made! So warm so inviting. Such an improvement from the white walls that used to be.
Four simple Adirondack chairs were added to enjoy the views
A "deer" themed grouping made a new home as you reach the top of the stairs. I loved the way we left space so MB can continue to collect and continue to add to her ready made gallery wall.
We used the same barn wood in the master for a makeshift headboard wall and brought in two swing arm lamps for light.
The guest room got a custom reddish barn wood
headboard and new bedding.
The bunkroom was outfitted with new terracotta spreads and
a bamboo mirror MB had painted.
And now downstairs. I wanted to make the most of the beautiful river setting view out those three large windows so we flipped the seating area with the dining area. This is a large family, that will only be growing in the future so we also needed to plan a large area for dining. The more the merrier for this group.
MB had a leather expert come out and treat the old leather couch, we added a few woven armchairs to complete the sitting area. A durable rug, and that the original ottoman - a collection of antique trays finished off this room.
That brings us to the kitchen ...
Oh, the kitchen, in all it's honey oak glory!
It's no secret, I love a painted cabinet. I also really love an open shelf or too - Opened that kitchen right up I think. The cabinets were painted two shades of green - we added some jugs on top and hung a new light in the window. Pretty simple - Very effective.
MB found this piece with all it's scalloped goodness and we painted it to match the kitchen cabinet. This woman loves the ironstone and I think it displays so well against that wonderful green.
We showed a little love to the downstairs bath by adding some art, and hanging some new plates. We also painted the cabinetry holding the sink darker shade than the walls. This is another one of my favorite tricks. When dealing with "dated" or just plain ugly wood finishes, sometimes all it takes is a coat of paint and some new pulls - even if you aren't ready to paint trim, doors, etc. These smaller cabinets are easily done and make a huge difference.
And a few more shots of the dining area.
The table is perfect and the benches make it easy to squeeze even more love around the table.
Our final project was this photo wall.
MB had lots of family shots, taken at the river, mostly over the 4th stretched on canvases and they made the most colorful and wonderful gallery wall. Again with room to add.
I am forever grateful to this sweet family for allowing me
to help them make this cabin every thing it can be.
