Can A Log Cabin Be Updated?

A recent online e-design client requested help freshening up her log cabin up north somewhere  (I know, I know, I really should remember where).  After sending me lots of photos of her home, we spoke on the phone to discuss her issues, challenges, and desires for her home.   After two hours, we had a plan to get things moving in the right direction for her unique home.

  Before

She loves the rustic feel of the home, but wanted to paint her cabinets and do a few other things to improve her surroundings.  I helped her choose a paint color for her cabinets, new cabinet hardware, and new lighting for several places in her kitchen and breakfast room.  I also encouraged her to gather up her many pieces of equestrian art and create an interesting art grouping.   As she is progressing through the project, my client has sent me a few photos to let me know how she’s doing.

updated log home

 

I think her art grouping looks amazing!  The cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Fieldstone – which is actually more of a grayed green than the photo appears.  I’m still waiting for photos of the completed kitchen.  Of course, I’ll share the before and afters with you when I do.  Here’s the light fixture that previously hung over the breakfast room table:

 

That picture wasn’t taken in 2005 – she’s just like the rest of us, and doesn’t always have the settings on her camera correct!  Anywho, here’s a shot of the new light fixture:

edison bulbs

 

Those Edison bulbs in the new fixture are AMAZING!  I love my online clients – you never know what kind of interesting projects you’ll be working on!  If you need help sprucing up your space or choosing paint  colors for your home, schedule an appointment with The Decorologist today!

9 Comments

  1. Dana Tucker

    The first house that Brooks and I bought was a log cabin. We loved the warmth of it at first, but the darkness of the wood got to us after a while. I love your suggestions and think you did a great job of bringing this cabin up to date.

    Reply
  2. Maria @ All Things Luxurious

    Wow, her space looks fabulous! I can’t believe what a difference those changes made — gorgeous! Can’t wait to see before and after. 🙂 Happy Friday!

    Reply
  3. Susanne

    Ooohh aaahhh as always Kristie. Aside from the obvious, the lovely color of the cabinets and the outstanding lighting fixture, I love how you can now see the sofa, with that very nice sofa table behind it. The buffet lamps, side chair and plant really excentuate the equestrian grouping. Even the deer is smiling. Actually, I love log homes. I know they’re not for everyone. More importantly, I’m a firm believer in the simple notion that any style home always has room for upgrades and improvements. I can’t wait to see the finished project. I can also become your virtual assistant and public relations coordinator in a heart beat…lol. Just received my copy of the 2013 Ikea catalog today. Can’t wait to see what the Ikea hackers have in store for us.

    Reply
    • Kristie Barnett

      virtual assistant and public relations coordinator??? sounds fabulous, send me your resume 😉

      Reply
  4. Paula Van Hoogen

    Thanks Kristie! We pretty much live in the land of log cabins her in NC too, though not as many as in other mountain areas. They ARE a challenge to update, upgrade and bring light into. I like also the way you & she made a classier art arrangement on the wall. I like the new chandelier, but I love the old one too—wouldn’t that be cool in a master bath for re-purposing?
    I’ll bet she’ll be thinking of Annie’s Chalk paint someday for her hutch too.
    Good Job!!!

    Reply
  5. Kate

    Another example of the power of PAINT! Some other thoughts for your client that I’m sure you’ve already suggested: a tablecloth with more color to it – perhaps even solid fieldstone blue as it’s likely right next to the kitchen; match the valance at the nearby window with the new, bright tablecloth; and if she doesn’t want to commit to painting the back wall of the wood hutch, perhaps she could paper it as you’ve done before? It may be sacrilege in her part of the US to adorn trophy heads but here in South Texas, they’re so commonplace that we do all sorts of whimsical things with them such as drape Mardi Gras beads or scarves around the neck or plop colorful hats on the horns. I actually think it draws more attention to the ones worthy of mounting as they tend to fade into our mental backgrounds. Of course, that would never happen in a Georgetown townhome or a New York City pied a terre since mounted heads aren’t common in those markets. Or, she could place it somewhere unexpected. My personal favorite is a boar’s head mounted below sink level in a powder room directly across from a toilet. That home belongs to a bachelor and the placement is such a wonderful reflection of his personality!

    Reply
  6. Anne marie

    As I looked at the first pic I too thought art and paint cabs. Quick and easy. Love those cabs and a great color!

    Reply
  7. Donna Frasca

    Love log cabins! I think they’re great with a lot of texture and natural colors. I’d bring in rich, deep reds, greens and chocolate browns – you know, the typical colors you’d see in a cabin. That’s funny how blue Fieldstone shot here – great color choice for the cabinets.

    Reply

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