This rustic sleeping cabin nestled in the woods may seem the essence of cottage chic now, but until recently, the old place was all about potential. The wood interior felt a little forlorn. It lacked any organization or style, and it had become a storage depot for cast-off furniture from the lakeside property's main cottage. Even so, when Robin and Toby, the couple who summer here, decided it was time to fix the place up, their instructions to designer Sarah Richardson were clear: keep it simple.
RESHAPE
The job was a natural for Richardson, who confesses, “There's nothing I like more than a little cabin like this; it feels nostalgic and connected to the outdoors.” An avid cottager herself, the designer and host of HGTV's Room Service relished the opportunity to reshape this tranquil retreat, using only the existing L-shaped building, minimal furniture, a little hard work, some paint, and the distinctive spoils of various trips to flea markets and second-hand stores. Noting that transportation is an issue when it comes to furnishing a lakeside dwelling, Richardson contends, “It's about making the best of what's available, what you can find, and what you can make. And technically, you could do it all in a weekend.”
DEFINE
With the aid of Toby, a builder who managed the renovation, the ever-resourceful Richardson made two of the cabin's most defining new features: an elevated queen-sized platform bed – perfect for taking in the lake views – and an inviting daybed-cum-overnighter surrounded by windows and nothing but nature. With little space to spare around the bed in the tight sleeping nook, Richardson designed the platform – which accommodates a mattress, no box spring – to overhang its base by several inches, allowing for a handy ‘toe kick' and more comfortable bed-making. A mattress ‘stay' prevents the mattress from sliding off the platform. Both built-ins feature generous drawers, a neat solution to the tiny space's storage dilemma.
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