4 Cozy Retreats for Fall Cabin Fever (Country Living)

As we head into the fall season, we long for the warmth and coziness of all things autumn: changing fall leaves, sunny yet cool, crisp temperatures, colorful front porches with pumpkins and mums, bonfires, butternut squash coups, white bean chicken chili, football tailgates, postseason baseball, and for me, exquisite photos of cozy log cabins....Each fall Country Living magazine features amazing log cabin makeovers, and I wanted to share a few of my favorites below from our current and prior fall seasons....

(1) A Rustic Log Cabin in the Georgia Mountains - by Brian Patrick Flynn 9.8.14

"With a healthy dose of preppy plaids, cheerful checks, and gallons of white paint, designer and blogger Brian Patrick Flynn reveals how he revived this dated Georgia log cabin without breaking the bank."

"A couple of coats of a darker forest green paint on the metal roof and black on the logs took the house from outdated to modern-day rustic."
I love the simple beauty and charm of the galvanized buckets with boxwoods scattered with pumpkins along the front steps

The organic colors and textures in the sisal rug, iron and leather chairs, and a strong range of dark to light tones in the slate color palette create a warm, masculine kitchen

Link to these fab chairs is here...

http://www.hayneedle.com/product/rocketdiningchair.cfm?styleboardID=165

"The butcher-block countertops, black cabinetry, large industrial pendant lights, and a porcelain apron sink - all from IKEA! - kept costs down without sacrificing style"
Love the charming buffalo check curtains, plaid stool covers (removable for washing a bonus!) and those gold knob pulls are fantastic against the black cabinetry....Also note the unusual herringbone pattern of white subway tile, so unique and fun!

Facing all-weather sofas from Target blend in seamlessly with the painted black and gray railings and beams...the gold accents provide warmth in an otherwise cool space.

Guest Bedroom: Love the way these Western hats pop against the chartreuse painted walls!

This series of cobalt blue painted bunks with brass accents is just perfection!

Genius artwork idea on these closet doors: "1950s paint-by-number motif featuring Yogi Bear!"

Master bedroom: Flynn created a simulated headboard by "upholstering the back wall with soft wool plaid fabric trimmed with nailheads"....love the oversized lamps with burlap lamp shades and leather studded initials (Ballard Designs)

Master Bath: Love the mix of hunter green with brass hardware

Family Room: "Painting the walls, ceiling, and floors white really lightened things up, and new eight-foot-tall windows and French doors (minus view-blocking wooden blinds) bring in much more sunshine."
I love the way the soothing slate color palette permeates each room,
yet Flynn livens it up with pops of kelly green and buffalo check curtains....

Stairwell: A rustic desk displays a fun collection of elements: vintage chalkboard, brass trophies, etc...again, love the strong contrast of black elements against white painted walls....

(2) A Rustic Log Cabin in Canadian Cottage Country 

- by Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan

"With rich wood finishes, cozy gray accents, and loads of ambition, interior designers and Colin & Justin's Cabin Pressure stars Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan reveal how they transformed a rundown Ontario cabin in just three months....

"A hand-built triumph finished with Caeserstone detailing and nickel lighting.  Cabinetry painted in Whale Grey by BM sets a dramatic tone. So as not to disturb the clean lines, we discreetly concealed fridge and freezer separates from Liebherr behind doors: the former in the left tall tower and the latter in the right, effectively sandwiching the built-in stove and cooker."
I love the juxtaposition of the rough wood textures surrounding the sleek deep gray cabinetry

"The great room scene is anchored by a large gray rug that seems to float, like an island, in front of the stone-built fireplace. Our luxe lodge vibe mixes wood finishes, leather detail, and gray linen to elicit a soft and relaxing vibe. Black accents, via drapery and accessories, anchors the scheme."

"Modern black Windsor and gray leather chairs now gather around an outsized, rough hewn wooden table, while a faux antler chandelier floats proudly above, providing atmosphere and adjustable illumination..."

"Laid throughout the great room and kitchen, the new wood flooring visually connects and expands the entire space, while shades of gray complement the honey tones of the log walls."

Master Bedroom: "BM Revere Pewter paint was our weapon of choice, and, paired as it is against the joists (which we left unpainted), the resulting look is dramatic yet soothing. For the most part pattern was limited, though we conceded a spot of Robert Allen ikat fabric for drapery and toss pillows, and geometric weave rugs from our C&J Home collection..."

"A large custom headboard by Ultra Upholstry stretches along one elevation, its soft nickel pins visually balanced by pale lumber nightstands and dressers from Urban Barn. Opposite the bed sit two comfy (and affordable) chaise lounges from Ikea"

"Floral tile was replaced with acres of slick Ceasarstone wrapped across the main wall areas and around a deep soaker tub. A rain head shower features high pressure jets, while fixed glazing protects the room from water splash."

A timber TV stand - inherited with the cottage - is repurposed as a country-inspired vanity area. Sanded, painted, and topped with Caesarstone, it provides the perfect focal point for the refreshed bathroom."

Guest Bedroom: "Red accents and lots of mirrors add zest to what is essentially a tiny nine-by-eight foot space. Red throws from Ikea and linens from HomeSense create a cozy cabin feel, along with antique-looking nightstands from Hilltop Interiors. The room's orange pine was sanded and stained to bring out its rich inherent quality.

Sunroom: "The rebirthed sunroom now stretches its seasonality thanks to locally sourced granite floors and Sunspace WeatherMaster Plus windows with insulating plastic memory glass that is virtually impervious to scratches, breakage, and bugs. Dressed with weatherproof wicker and accessorized with linen Robert Allen toss pillows, the sunroom is now a comfy and inviting place to chill year-round"

Basement Family Room" "The focal point in the family room is the oil burning stove which sits in front of a granite-clad feature zone. Both basement rooms feature double French doors, dressed with gray plaid drapery, that lead to a large sunroom ...Shots of yellow bring this formerly lackluster space to life."

Basement Bathroom: "To add flair in the compact space, we custom manufactured the outsized concrete trough sink...Gray slab tile and black grouted subway tile conspire a fresh 'wash and go' environment" 

(3) This Jackson, Wyoming, retreat boasts gorgeous grounds, energy efficiency, and clever design ideas that make roughing it downright luxurious

- by Elizabeth Jenkins 9.21.15

"Never underestimate the importance of the land when it comes to designing a house, and specifically, a log cabin. "So much of our work is responsive to what the site offers," says architect Kevin Burke of Jackson, Wyoming. And when a Texas couple approached Kevin, a partner at Carney Logan Burke Architects, P.C., about designing a log home getaway on their idyllic 4-acre lot-complete with a creek and two ponds - Kevin took nearly every cue from the property."

Exterior: "Due to legislation in Teton County, traditional log house construction is not allowed (it's not the most environmentally friendly). So Kevin designed a half-log residence that looks like a classic log home but performs to today's energy standards. "We installed log siding both on the outside and on the inside of the stick-frame exterior walls," he says. "To anyone walking in, it appears like a true log house."

Porch: "Meanwhile, the homeowner, a former interior designer, scoured the country for pieces that give the space a real sense of place. From locally sourced landscape paintings to Western-inspired bedding..."

Dining Room: "The gallery wall of nature-inspired paintings includes an oil of aspens by landscape artist David Grossmann....Colorful floor coverings add warmth throughout the home...the trellis dining table sits on a custom find from The New England Collection."

Living Room: "Cabin doesn't have to be synonymous with masculine. The home-owner brought in soft touches such as the plush coffee table from Wisteria"

Kitchen: "Afraid that too much wood might be stifling, the homeowners chose to paint the kitchen cabinets Smoky Ash by BM. "We were a little surprised they wanted color on the cabinets, but in the end, it was a really smart move," says Kevin. The result is an airy swathe among the paneling in surrounding rooms."

Master Bedroom: "The Claudette headboard from Ballard Designs adds chirpy, nature-inspired charm to the master bedroom....Are colorful Pendleton throws expected in a log cabin? Probably. But the homeowner chose a more subdued brown version for the bedroom and paired it with a cream matelasse."

Guest Bedroom: "Because the "Bird Suite" is long and narrow, the homeowners chose to forgo a king-size bed and instead opted for two queen-size iron beds from Garnet Hill to more symmetrically fill the space. The green chinoiserie-inspired chest came from the "scratch-and-dent" section of the Wisteria store in Dallas."

"Instead of traditional twin-size bunk bends, the homeowners decided to build six queen-size versions. The room also contains two twin beds, bringing the sleeping total in this space alone to 14 people. Talk about a slumber party! Each sleeping space featured a hallowed-out alcove with its own outlet for recharging mobile devices and a custom sconce for late-night reading....Kevin seamlessly incorporated handy drawers below the bunks so the couple's visiting children and grandchild can store clothes and toys. Guests can sleep easy in the upper bunks thanks to custom iron safeguards. Bonus: They provide a rail for sliding ladders and add an industrial finish to the woodsy space."

(4) This Gorgeous Georgia Cabin Puts Log Homes Everywhere to Shame 

- by Jennifer Kopf 9.3.15

"Perched on Georgia's Lookout Mountain, this "new" log cabin is 300 years in the making, thanks to materials salvaged from tobacco barns, mills, and other neglected structures. Hand-me-downs have never looked so good.

Julie and Jimmy Cash have always had a love for the West-its rugged mountains, dense evergreen forests, and rustic log cabins. "I was forever taking pictures of old log houses with the hope of having one someday," says Julie. So, when the Birmingham, Alabama-based couple decided on a family retreat at the top of Georgia's Lookout Mountain, it was finally the chance to build their own little cabin in the woods. As the Cashes dreamed up the design, Julie wanted to make sure their new home looked as authentic as the ones she'd admired throughout her travels. "If we couldn't have old logs, then I didn't want it," she says.

Teaming up with nearby Walden Log Homes proved to be the perfect solution. Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the company scours the country for falling-down and soon-to-be-demolished structures, then works with the owners to salvage the logs, barnwood, beams, and anything else they can repurpose into newly built homes filled with age, character, and charm."

"From the hemlock ceiling beams to the 300-year-old heart pine floors, nearly 80% of the Cashes' cabin is made of reclaimed materials. Sourced from barns in Tennessee and Virginia and a mill in South Carolina, the home's materials have roots throughout the South, with each piece of wood adding its own history. "We're just the latest caretakers of these logs," says Julie. "They have a real story to tell. Each time you look at them, you see something different."

Porch: "You can still see all of the old holes and nails in the porch railing, which is made from tobacco barn poles that were originally laid horizontally to hang the tobacco leaves for drying. Bernie, the Cashes' cattle dog mix, digs the log cabin lifestyle."

Kitchen: "A surround of rustic barn-wood cabinets, topped with teak countertops, makes for a kitchen with lots of warmth and texture. The custom-built island and hanging plate rack reinforce the acquired-over-time feel of the new home. The black soapstone apron-front sink delivers farmhouse style in an understated, feast-your-eyes-on-those-cabinets way....The heart pine floors are milled from 300-year-old beams salvaged from a demolished South Carolina mill."

Dining Room: "A mix of black Windsors hand-crafted by Lawrence Crouse Workshop surrounds the farm table. The painted bench is a throwback to Jimmy's childhood "when there was always a bench for the kids to sit on," he says. In between the beams, Julie painted the paneled ceiling-made of new wood- Snow White by BM, a look she continued throughout the house. "With so much natural wood, I wanted to create a visual break," she says. She only ever painted new wood, though, not wanting to alter the finish of any of the reclaimed materials. The antique German Black Forest antler chandelier was a lucky antiquing find. It and the Navajo-patterned rug reflect the home's Western influence."

Library: "Stately black-and-white buffalo check wing chairs provide a cozy spot for recreation or reading. Carpenter Bobby Gaydon crafted the built-in book-shelves out of tobacco poles and unsanded barwood, adding the classic Z design to mimic the interior doors throughout the house. The hefty scale of the room's rectangular poplar logs adds age-old architectural interest. (Most reclaimed logs run about 6 inches in diameter, but the Cashes' measure an impressive 14-22 inches thick.) The material between each is Walden Log Homes' own mix of mortar chinking. "Because the logs have already stood the test of time, we can use a more authentic-looking material rather than a synthetic one," says Dan Robinson, co-owner of the company."

Stairwell: "Julie sought out as much reclaimed red barnwood as she could get, resulting in washes of the nostalgic color throughout the house. The railing, like that on the front porch, is made of poles salvaged from Virginia tobacco barns. Retro metal signs add a graphic touch, and every August, Julie hits the World's Longest Yard Sale to add to her collection. The sconce is an old carriage lantern she found at a Birmingham antiques store."

Master Bedroom: "The handsome cannonball bed is one of the few new pieces in the home. (Finding a queen-size antique proved all but impossible.) Layers of white bedding keep the mahogany item from feeling heavy, while a pretty pastoral scene in its original gold frame and marble bedside lamps dress up the room without adding a lot of fuss. The treasured roll-top trunk accompanied Jimmy's great-great grandfather Hales throughout the Civil War. The carpenter insisted on carving all of the door hardware out of wood for authenticity."

Guest Bedroom: "Bold buffalo checks-this time in red- resurface on these handmade log beds. Previously bunked, they now better accommodate grown-up guests. "I didn't want any of my buddies rolling off the top bunk," says Jimmy. Aside from the vintage kilometer markers, Julie kept the walls sparse to showcase the exposed notches and dovetail ends of the hand-hewn logs. The generous windows, trimmed with 6-inch-wide barn-wood, were also left bare. "Because we live in such a beautiful setting, I wanted the emphasis to be on all the trees outside," says Julie."

Which of these four cozy cabins is YOUR favorite?  Happy fall ya'll!!