7 Unbelievable Rustic Cabin Makeovers
Contemporary, chic, and oh-so cozy—these rustic cabin makeovers are oozing with design inspiration.
Often tucked away in a peaceful pocket of nature, far from crowds and chaos, tiny cabins boast huge potential for renovation. Here are seven exceptional rustic cabin makeovers that caught our eye.
Grandpa’s Utah A-Frame Gets Tastefully Updated
Built over 30 years ago by owner and designer Kara Van Dyke's grandfather, this log cabin on a private 20-acre mountain estate near Utah's Uinta National Forest has been revamped into a warm and welcoming holiday rental named A-Frame Haus.
Before: The exterior of the cabin, which was built over 30 years ago.
Courtesy of Rachel Humpherys
After: A look at A-Frame Haus in Herber City, Utah.
Courtesy of Kate Osborne Photography
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After: With the orientation of the kitchen work areas altered during the remodel, sunlight from the slanting windows can now better illuminate the cooking station.
Courtesy of Kate Osborne Photography
Monochromatic Lake Tahoe A-Frame
Working together with MSM Construction, Diana Vincent of High Camp Home has redesigned this 2,700-square-foot cabin in Lake Tahoe, California, with a monochromatic palette.
Before: Prior to the renovation, the interiors felt dark and dated.
Photo: Kat Alves
After: Now, the contemporary cabin radiates a bright and airy atmosphere.
Photo: Kat Alves
After: The cabin was also featured in our 2017 September/October issue.
Photo: Kat Alves
A Snug Catskill Vacation Rental
A DIY renovation by New York City–based couple Danielle and Ely Franko transformed this 1971 Catskills cabin into a cozy holiday rental, now known as The Hunter Greenhouse.
Before: A look at the exterior of the Hunter Greenhouse prior to the remodel.
Courtesy of The Hunter Greenhouse
After: "We really didn’t have any experience taking on a project of this scale," says Ely. "We’re both generally impulsive people, so we purchased this house—which was a broken shell of a space—with really no plan on how to proceed."
Courtesy of The Hunter Greenhouse
After: The fresh, white interiors help the home feel more spacious and offset the exposed wood beams.
Courtesy of The Hunter Greenhouse
1970s A-Frame in Big Bear, California
Courtney Poulos, owner of L.A. real estate agency ACME Real Estate, bought and refreshed this 1973 A-frame cabin on a shaded cul-de-sac in Big Bear, California, turning it into a modern home that still retains its rustic, midcentury spirit.
Before: A look at the dated interior.
Photo by Alex Zarour
After: As part of the redesign, the exterior of the cabin was painted black.
Photo by Alex Zarour
After: Two matching Article side chairs face the sliding door leading to the deck.
Photo by Alex Zarour
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Your Cabin in the Woods
For dreamers of escaping to a cozy cabin in the great outdoors, Your Cabin in the Woods is a classic work that not only makes this a reality, but also imparts a deeper appreciation of nature and homebuilding. Author Conrad E. Meinecke has been writing about living the simply life in the wilderness for over 70 years with Your Cabin in the Woods and Cabin Craft and Outdoor Living. For the first time, these books are combined into a deluxe two-color vintage package. In prose both practical and inspirational, Meinecke details how to turn your cabin dream into a reality, such as choosing land, using tools, and the basics of construction. He provides hand-drawn floor plans for a variety of cabins, from a simple two-room to a more complex long house; the best way to build fireplaces, both indoors and out; and instructions for basic furniture, lighting, and other touches that make a cabin feel like home. Throughout are Meinecke's thoughts on ways to enjoy your new-found space, from hearty fireplace recipes to the types of wood for a perfect fire and the beauty found in birdsong. Instructional as it may be, the book's enduring appeal owes in large part to its warmly engaging tone and firm belief in the restorative power of nature and the satisfaction of hard work. He writes, "Take full enjoyment in the building. Take time out to rest. Most city folks seem always to rush things through. Why? Lay off until tomorrow. Take an afternoon nap. Stop the clock for the weekend. Get off to an early start in the cool of tomorrow morning. You may be crowded in your work in town, but this should be your rest cure, your recreating."
ShopHawkins New York Icelandic Sheepskin
I love ewe. We love these fluffy, natural Icelandic sheepskins draped over a dining room chair or small bench as much as we do thrown over the couch, or even on the floor for a makeshift rug (and eternally toasty toes).This sheepskin comes from a small farm in Iceland, who have been harvesting wool for decades, where the sheep are raised humanely, have a high quality of life, and graze freely. This particular breed of sheep have been roaming Iceland since 897, when the Vikings first came to the island—that year is stamped on the back of each sheepskin. All the skins are processed in an eco-friendly way, using only geothermal power (produced by the Earth’s internal heat). The extra shaggy snugglers are available in a wintry white or a dramatic black. Prepare for all the warm fuzzies. Made in: IcelandMade of: Natural Icelandic sheepskin Size: Approximately 43.5” L x 27.5” W. Because this is a natural material, size will vary. Sourced from: Hawkins New York Photography by Rocky Luten, James Ransom.
ShopA Rescued Joshua Tree Desert Oasis
After purchasing a 1957 abandoned cabin in Joshua Tree, California, for just $7,000, Kathrin and Brian Smirke conducted an extensive DIY remodel, and turned the decaying structure into an airy, 480-square-foot desert retreat.
Before: The condition of the home when the Smirkes purchased it in 2015.
We Are in Our Element
After: The sliding glass doors were added to help integrate the home to the outdoors. The abundant desert sunshine makes natural lighting a viable option all day long.
We Are in Our Element
After: Wood paneling and a platform bed was a perfect solution for fitting a king-size bed into a small space.
We Are in Our Element
A Quebec Cabin With an Upward Extension
This rundown cabin in Quebec was lovingly restored and extended by YH2 Architecture, and is now a 1,300-square-foot modern home.
Before: By building upward and outward, YH2 Architecture added to a former lumberman’s shed without harming the nearby trees.
Photo: Loukas Yiacouvakis
After: The 1,300-square-foot home is neatly tucked away in Southeastern Quebec.
Photo: Loukas Yiacouvakis
After: A peek inside the beautifully restored, modernized abode.
Photo: Loukas Yiacouvakis
From Ranch House to Weekend Cabin
This low-key 1970s ranch house in Harbert, Michigan, has been thoughtfully restored by architect Greg Howe of Searl Lamaster Howe. Thanks to the strategic redesign, the home is now a spacious weekend cabin with plenty of character.
Before: Howe’s client had a sentimental attachment to the old home. This drew the architect’s focus toward a minimal, open-plan renovation. "It had the worst smell I had ever smelled in a house, due to moisture," notes Howe.
After: "When you’re doing a second home, a lot of the character of the design is defined by what it isn’t," Howe adds, as a way of explaining the minimalistic approach that was taken on this Michigan weekend home. "If you think of it as cold, you have to remember that the setting and access to nature is the point."
Courtesy of Tony Soluri
After: Completed in 2013, the roughly 1,500-square-foot cabin provides an open living area, now framed by white trusses and concrete floors. The dining table was acquired by the owner from a local inn, and is surrounded by the Eames molded plastic Eiffel side chairs from Design Within Reach. The kitchen features a Grohe faucet, a wood bowl from a shop in Harbert, and an IKEA vase.
Courtesy of Tony Soluri
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