Cabin Coziness A Summer Dream on Pelican Lake

BY JOYCE EISENBRAUN | PHOTOS BY JILL OCKHARDT INTERIOR DESIGNER: BY DESIGN

Like the children’s story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, some cabins were TOO big, some were TOO small, but this one was sized just right. The young family with two small boys had found their summer dream cabin on Pelican Lake, but wanted to update the interior so it was better suited to their needs. That’s when they called Kari Bucholz, principle at by Design, to create a fresh look on their limited budget.

“It was very open and a very cute cabin,” noted Bucholz, “but they wanted to update the colors and make the kitchen a little more family friendly. I’d worked with this family previously in their other homes, so it was important to take this space that didn’t feel like their home, and make it theirs.”

The main floor of the mid-1990s cabin has about 950 square feet of space, with a kitchen, eating area, smaller living room, and a master bedroom. Upstairs are bedrooms and a sitting area. Major structural renovations weren’t in the budget, so Bucholz focused on updating through new wall colors, flooring, light fixtures and accessories.

The kitchen had a traditional look with lighter oak cabinets and antique white and brass hardware. Large white glass pendants hung over the island seating, where smaller floral-topped stools provided seating for four. The countertops were finished in a neutral gray laminate, and the appliances were all in white.

Bucholz kept the oak cabinets, but the laminate countertops were traded out for a granite-look dark brown, accenting the new trim above the cabinets. She also moved a base cabinet over to accommodate the new dishwasher. But the biggest change in the kitchen was the revamped island. Bucholz removed the simple rectangle and designed an angled “L” shape, adding space to the kitchen, and more space for serving and seating. On the side wall, she also added another wall cabinet for more storage. The base of the new island was finished in a dark maple stain, complementing the darker countertop. The homeowners had found new stools with big comfy seat cushions and high backs. Bucholz had them recovered with a charming nautical sail cloth on the front and matching cheery red, blue and yellow accents on the back. The pendant lights were removed, creating an open visual flow for the room.

The original flooring in the kitchen and dining area was a white vinyl with a black diamond accent. Bucholz now tied the kitchen to the dining and living spaces with new commercialgrade vinyl flooring in a faux dark wood design.

In the living room, whitewashed walls, gray flooring and light gray window treatments created a neutral palette, but the family wanted something with more pizzazz. Bucholz spiced up the décor with a deep sable color on the whitewashed board walls, and added a chalky blue accent wall that goes to the second floor. Two oversize contemporary chairs, each with large ottomans that serve as extra seating or coffee tables, create a cozy place to relax and look over the lake. The microfiber fabric in a warm cinnamon is a sturdy choice for this busy household. An area rug ties in the colors with rich browns, blues, greens, rusts and gold. The roller shade window treatments have also been replaced with a decorative cornice, studded with nailheads, over woven wood blinds.

The master bedroom got an upgrade to a king-size bed, new flooring to replace the old carpet and new window treatments. “We were able to make small changes that made a big difference,” said the owner.

Upstairs, the old whitewashed ceiling and walls of the loft were repainted in the deep sable brown. “They were really concerned that it would get too dark,” Bucholz remembered from a conversation with the owners. “But once they saw the finished area, they loved it.” The upstairs loft area has large floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the lake. Bucholz added a large brown faux leather sectional, ensuring lots of space for active kids and their friends to play, relax or watch television. An oversized tufted ottoman also provides more seating, and doubles as the perfect place to hold a tray of snacks. Geometric accent pillows finish the look.

In the bedrooms, Bucholz simply added accents to what the new homeowners already had. The boys’ bedroom window treatment has a brightly colored sailing fabric used on the cornice, with existing blinds beneath. In the master bedroom, she found locally available hemp fabric, done in dark brown and cream, for the window treatments.

“This was a fun little project for me,” Bucholz said. “So often the impression is that designers have to do ‘big’ projects. I just want to do as much or as little as the owner wants.”

“For this cabin, it was exciting to change their whole kitchen by doing something they had not thought of,” she said. “That’s part of my job to give you something you may not have considered. People often get ‘stuck’ in a particular style or color, so my task is to help you look at new concepts and then enjoy the result!” result!

Bucholz’s creative insights are greatly appreciated by the owners of the cabin. “She’s the most creative person I know,” said the owner. “For example, Kari is able to combine fabrics in ways I wouldn’t think about she’ll do a funky window treatment and a crazy pillow accent that just pulls everything together.”

“We loved the location of the cabin, and it was certainly livable, but we wanted Kari to make it more our style,” said the owner. “My favorite is the new kitchen. With all the changes, the cabin now feels calm, warm and relaxed just what we wanted!”

Although renovated on a budget, the cabin on Pelican Lake now has a tempo and style that suits the family’s needs. And like a Goldilocks’ assessment, this one now feels “just right.” [AWM]