An ultra-cozy DIY cabin is as much a choice dwelling in the summer as in the winter. So making a cool cabin usable year-round is a must, whether it’s nestled within the forest of New York’s Catskills or in a former gold rush town at the base of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, if renting out the property is your goal. And being able to perform everything from large-scale renovations to easy little updates yourself requires certain skills worth learning.
Here, we chat with six homeowners with stylish outposts scattered throughout the country to get their essential tips for fixing up a warm and inviting cabin—no matter where it is.
Incorporate your personal style
Danielle and Ely Franko, the married couple whose passion for all things cabins is unparalleled, have a lot to say when it comes to creating the ultimate cozy space. The pair purchased the first DIY cabin, which they call The Greenhouse, back in 2016 “on a whim,” Danielle says. Though she and her partner were living and working in New York City, like most New Yorkers, they had a soft spot for the Catskills. She explains, “We had been seeing really beautiful rental homes popping up in the area and thought we might have something of value to contribute. The problem was we had very limited knowledge on how to do any of the renovations and an even more limited budget. So, we did the only thing we could and taught ourselves everything.”
And to say the students have become the masters is somewhat of an understatement. Just five years after buying and renovating their first cabin, the duo has purchased and fixed up two more in their collection called The Hunter Houses. Their primary tip? Decorate the cabin with a collection of things you love—whether or not they match perfectly. Stop into thrift stores, small boutiques, and local shops to find pieces that speak to you and emphasize the charming elements of your house. For the Frankos, their mission was to highlight the historical details of their cabins. The Barnhouse, for instance, was built in 1845. “We’re nothing if not romantics for a good bit of history in our homes,” Danielle says with a laugh.
Emphasize the cozy elements
One coveted cabin vibe is that feeling of hygge, so highlighting those features (or creating them) wherever possible is critical. Laura Camerlengo, who owns a circa-1956 cabin in Arnold, California, with her husband and daughter, suggests, “Be sure to highlight the existing feeling of coziness with textiles, including quilted blankets, lots of throws, and layered plush rugs.” The family of three also swapped out all of the harsh white-toned bulbs both overhead and in lamps for yellow Edison bulbs. “The softer glow fosters a sense of warmth,” she adds.
Don’t be afraid to make big changes
Tom Feldman, owner of a charming A-frame cabin in Skykomish, Washington, changed pretty much every detail of his unique spot. “We’ve renovated everything from the subfloor to the roof. The most noticeable renovations were removing the second bedroom upstairs, which blocked a gorgeous 24-foot cathedral view in the living room,” he explains. If there’s an architectural element of your cabin that you want to change, just do it. Feldman even completely removed the cabin’s entire front facade and replaced it with a more modern design, complete with nearly floor-to-ceiling custom windows and doors.
Another helpful trick? Create contrast in a big way. Feldman suggests employing a combination of clear, unfinished cedar with other materials. “The contrast between the light-colored paint (China White by Benjamin Moore) on the rest of the walls and the cedar definitely adds another layer of comfort,” he adds.
For changes Feldman can’t make himself, he enlisted the help of Seattle-based RD Interiors, who created an updated kitchen and bathroom that not only work with the unique A-shape of the house but emphasize it. “Don’t try to do absolutely everything yourself,” he warns. Some tasks should be left to the professionals, so finding a local contractor or designer is always a good idea when embarking on a renovation.
Layer as much as you can
“We intentionally mixed textiles throughout the home, put a variety of local art on every wall, made sure there were chunky knit throw blankets in every room, and ensured warm overhead lighting was complemented with lamps,” Lauren Coleman, founder and CEO of The Sursy, says of the bright and airy cabin she designed in Golden, Colorado. A smartly layered home will never look too heavy or overwhelming—especially if all of the elements pair well together. The interior designer also suggests salvaging as many original architectural details as possible. In the cozy cabin, which was built in 1962, she opted to keep the wood-burning stove as the primary heat source. Not only does it actually work pretty well, but it adds an ambiance that can’t be replicated with a furnace.
Set a budget
After nearly two decades living in New York and Los Angeles, Atlanta native Annie Chernecky recently returned to the Southeast to build her rentable cabin in Highlands, North Carolina. “I was inspired to recreate the experience of the mountains that I remember as a child, but more elevated,” she notes. Though Chernecky worked with Raleigh-based architects Jake Heffington and Erin Lewis, she did quite a bit of the heavy-lifting herself—especially because she had a modest budget. By doing some things on her own, she was able to focus her spending on the bigger projects.
“I found beautiful large-format tiles at a building surplus store for $100 a pallet and committed to tiling every inch of the floor myself—with the help of my brother and cousin,” Chernecky explains. “I found used Malm fireplaces for $300 each, had them sandblasted, and spray-painted them with fireplace paint,” she adds. At the end of the day, planning how much money you’re willing to spend will help guide the design process in a way that simply winging it doesn’t. And Chernecky’s remarkably soft interiors prove it.
Keep it simple
Mike Hadley who inherited from his parents the Deer Isle-Stonington, Maine, cabin he shares with his wife and, sometimes, his sister, admits he hasn’t changed much since then. “My wife, our four kids, and my sister have so many special memories over the years at this unique, peaceful, and rustic home on more than 18 acres,” which explains why he was reluctant to make sweeping changes to the place. In fact, his number one tip when it comes to outfitting a home is infusing it with a sense of casual comfort. “The natural stone, tile, and wood inside and out of the house help keep it ‘real’ and unpretentious,” Hadley notes.
