We hear all the time, “I can’t wait to see what the design style will be in your cabin!” Which seriously warms my heart. While we have been enjoying our cabin and even tackled a couple small projects there (check out the reading nook here!), the big demo starts July 30th! A lot of our plans have been hinging on the HVAC…or lack thereof. I know it’s boring, but not having any air conditioning or traditional heating (a wood burning fireplace heats the lower level, but we’ve never had any luck with it actually doing so, and a pellet stove that needs constant feeding heats the main level and loft) has really opened our eyes to how limiting it is in how we are able to use this cabin. In the summer, it’s SO HOT (especially in the loft) and in the winters, it’s hours before we can take off our coats. So we’re excited to get a better system in place that we’ll be able to access and monitor from our phones. More on that soon.
At the same time, we’ll be demo-ing the kitchen and since the floors will all need to be ripped up to install the heating system, we’ll be laying all new floors and framing in a couple new rooms. And then, then!!!, it’s game on for all the fun stuff.
I explained it in a CLJ Q&A a few weeks ago, but we’re definitely going for a cabin vibe here. Give me all the wood and antlers and plaid. But the style will definitely still be Chris Loves Julia with moody colors thrown in and some dramatic lighting for good measure. I love to explain it like, if YOU were going to the beach or to the mountains, your outfit would change–but your style wouldn’t. Does that make sense? The finishes and decor will definitely be mountain cabin, but the style will definitely remain our own.
Here are a few inspiration pictures I’ve been collecting that inspire me!
We’ll be putting up our first Cabin Diaries episode on CLJ TV (through our instagram @chrislovesjulia) really soon, doing a walk-through tour talking about all of our plans and hopes and dreams and concerns! Can’t wait to get started!
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A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace traditional style and whether we still consider our house to be a “modern Colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely — I had really just been thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed […]
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Random thought. I know you’ve mentioned not wanting to paint the walls in the cabin (at least I think you have) and I totally agree. But have you thought about painting the floor? I was watching your instagram tv this morning where you were tryin to decide on the wood color when I thought of it. Just curious if it was something you entertained.
We are open to staining the walls, but are so excited to have a wood interior in the mountains! It’s gonna be cozy!
Trying not to break into the happy dance as I look at your inspiration photos. YES! Fist pump. Now I’ll sit down and wait for the good stuff to happen (with a lot of hard work on your part). I love watching somebody else do all the difficult stuff while I work on my audience skills over a chilled glass of Pinot Grigio…
Can you tell me where the gingham title photo is from? It’s linked to a dead 404 Pinterest link.
Cle Tile.
Okay so we are in process of renovating a foreclosure cabin in Star valley ranch Wyoming just a few miles I’m assuming down the road from your place (I’m an Az girl so loving the change up there!!) I love your inspiration pics & I actually have some of them saved on my Pinterest board too!! I’ll be following along! I need to decide on flooring and lighting choices soon (on a tight budget)
I love it all! But those moody, rustic living rooms and bedrooms are making be say, “Be still my heart!” Absolutely stunning. Can’t wait to see your final choices.
Julia – I love these inspiration photos and I’m so excited to follow your progress. But I do have a question. My husband and I have a summer home constructed of log. Because the log is raw (not painted or stained in any way) it doesn’t bounce the light around but absorbs a lot of the light. Often times I find it too dark – so much so that we’ve decided to install skylights to bring in more natural light. I see your photos are dark and moody – are you concerned about it seeming too ‘moody’? Do you have alot of natural sunlight? Just curious….
85% of the rooms are floooooooded with light. But that’s definitely always something to think about.
Awesome for you! Thanks for the reply :)
The images are great! I can’t wait to see your spin on it. I shudder sometimes when I see retreats or cabins that have antlers, bones, and plaid in every room and in every light fixture……….gaa! I’m sure yours will be a breath of fresh air :)
Ever since you placed the search at the top, my auto scroll won’t work. Would you consider moving it to the side? Pretty please? Just a thought. Great insiration photos. Sorry to hear you will have such a large expense with the heating and cooling from the start.
Love the inspiration photos. They really are your vibe but cabin style. This will be fun watching your journey with your cabin along with Emily Henderson’s cabin in California. Both very chic but different in tone.
Absolutely beautiful! Your inspiration photos definitely say cabin and Chris Loves Julia. I can’t wait to follow the progress and be inspired for my own (dream) cabin one day.
Oh wow, this is the BEST group of inspiration pictures I’ve ever seen, no joke. That first kitchen picture is making my heart race, ha! Sooo excited to see how this all plays out in your cabin!