apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It is small, but big enough for a guest without resorting to the floor, and
super easy to maintain. The ground floor consisting of a ‘living area’
which encompasses dining, kitchen and living, a single bathroom, with a
galvanized bucket sink, the one really crazy idea that my contractor could
NOT talk me out of, a bedroom, and a tiny mud hall which is used as the
entrance for muddy, wet feet and all our gear storage.

The top floor is completely open, save for the twig banisters, and is a sleeping loft for guests. It also has a walkway to the cozy top porch. The porches are the
best “rooms” in the place.

On the décor:
The idea here is rustic country. Rustic to me is a combination of
purposefully made rustic/twig pieces mixed with a healthy dose of nicely
made, but simple wooden furniture. Relatively nothing matches from piece
to piece, and 90% of the furniture was bought over time from antique/junk
stores and the occasional yard sale. 50% of the pieces cost less than $25
bucks, 90% less than $100.

Aside from the table (an old farm table I got for $170 bucks, still a steal), the mattresses and the couch, much is fixed up old junk furniture. Perfect for the look, and even more perfect because as a ‘fun’ place, I don't want to care if there is a scratch on the furniture. I raided the camping section at Wal-Mart for dishes and mugs, as well as a few lanterns for that feeling of roughing it while still having running water and a stove behind you.

You won’t find curtains or blinds here, except for one in the bathroom, requested by guests whom I surmise felt the wildlife was looking in at them. (Woodpeckers, the biggest peeping toms of the forest set). The windows with their green views are so much better than pictures, I didn’t want to cover any of them. What does hang on the walls are vintage showshoes, canteens, lanterns, fishing rods and lures. Childhood camp nostalgia. Because there is so much going on architecturally, the furnishing are actually on the sparse side, and we follow the mantra “Stop junking up the cabin.”

Why my cabin getaway is a winner:

1)It’s cheaper than it looks by a lot. The idea of a getaway should be a
“get away” from your constant worries. What exactly is worry free about a
place that cost you a fortune and maintenance costs have you thinking that
you might have to give it up or rent it out if you lost your job? Being a
decent distance away from NYC, really extends your dollar 10 fold.

2)It’s exactly me because I did it myself! It’s also funky. It has a
sunken bucket sink, open log slab ‘cabinets’ and log slab countertops.

3)It is low-tech. The lack of TV, computer, etc, really does make you
appreciate the outdoors, a book or a game of cards with the gang. It is
nice every once in a while to unplug, and here you don’t have any other
choice (cellphones and blackberries don’t work!).

4) Finally, I truly believe even the nature-petrified among us would catch
the magic of this place if they stepped foot down the driveway. Any of my
guest would tell you that the pictures don’t quite capture the feeling.
It is a different world, and one where strangely nothing could be better on
a Saturday night than a glass of wine and a good book or fireside
conversation, or a Sunday morning drinking coffee in the front porch
rocking chair, listening to the birds chatting in the early sun. And right
down the rutted country drive, outdoor adventure of every kind awaits:
biking, fishing, canoeing, hiking, swimming, white water rafting, and
boating, even tennis and golf are near.....and you never, ever have to make
a reservation for anything. I can’t think of any better apartment therapy
than a few days away from it!