apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would paint all that wood paneling a lighter shade to start with.

You seem to have two desks there -- I'd put a lamp one each.

I'd flank the sofa with torcheres.

Use a pharmacy floor lamp for the easy chair.

Just a thought...

What makes this a "good question" as opposed to a question for which there is slam-dunk obvious answer is the fact that in a weekend cabin, one likes as little maintenance as possible and rustic charm is not just a fun thing, but all that rustic staying in its current state kind of means they don't have to paint, unless they first start painting.

I think they should use those inexpensive but kind of semi-industrial looking bare-bulb-in-a-cage things, because there's lots of kinds of light fixtures that spiders could built nests in in that kind of place, and those look pretty well sealed up.

it is relatively easy to install small track lighting systems. The will give you light when you need it and not be too obtrusive when you don't want it. Lowes has some available.
However, you could always go for the cabin look with one of those Wagon wheels........ JonathanB's idea of torcheres is also good....

If you have the ability, you can install high adjustable track lighting along the top of one of the walls and have them shining up onto the sloped ceilings. They come in very small light sizes now. This is unobtrustive (i.e. not have 85 lamps in one small room), and definitely gives that additional illumination during the day that would otherwise be provided by daylight if the porch wasn't there. I have a cabin, same issues in the living room thanks to charming porch, and have done exactly that.

The other thing I see is that your ceiling boards are stained dark. I think it looks nice, but stripping them and going for a lighter stain, more natural toned, will definitely reflect more light.

I would go with a light system on tracks fixed to the ceiling. Have a look at IKEA, they have not too expensive ones, with only the halogene bulbs fixed on wires. This would allow you to direct the light to specific points, and no insects ( spiders ) could nest inside. I would keep teh lamps you have on the side tables to create a cosier atmosphere in the evening, when you don't need light allover.

I like the idea of flanking the sofa with the lamps you have. I would look in to different shades for them, though. The ones you have now are a bit BRIGHT- perhaps an off white or cream would warm them up a bit?

Also (off topic, sorry), is it just me or are your rugs too small for your space?

Put a lamp on the yellow bookcase by the window - opposite side of the stove to the other two lamps. Or scooch the couch and that side table further towards the entrance-wall, and place a floor lamp beside the couch on the porch-side.

Place a lighting fixture above the table to ensure there's enough light to eat/work by. Consider an undercounter lighting system in the kitchen - working in a kitchen when there's not enough light is incredibly frustrating.

Also, I love that you included a floor plan, brilliant idea - something I'd like to see more often on this site! :D

Instead of the one overhead chandelier-type fixture, you could hang two medium-sized pendant lamps from the ceiling. There are always neat and cheap ones on eBay; Ikea has some too (look at "Septim," maybe although the scale is hard to judge without seeing the actual room/lamp, the wicker "Leran" or stainless "Foto" could be cute too).

If you did choose to whitewash the wood paneling and/or ceiling (it's pretty so personally I wouldn't use opaque paint) you could use white enameled or porcelain ones and they'd kind of fade into the background.

A light-colored or striped dhurrie or jute rug could be a relatively inexpensive way to brighten things up/unify the living area

I'd start by painting the walls and ceiling white or some other pale, cool colour to open and lighten the space.

As a person who currently lives in the darkest log cabin this side of the Mississippi, I can tell you now: don't bother with any lighting that faces up. We've had the best luck with lights that face down, like track lights.

You can safely add an extension cord plug to any 'hardwire' style light (you can buy the kits at Lowes/HD, or just cut and strip the end of a standard extension cord), and IKEA has tons of choices. Pendants can work too, especially if they're not shaped so that half the light goes to the ceiling.

Table lamps are good, too, especially for reading. Be prepared, however, for it to take an absurd amount of light/power to make a real difference. Wood sucks up light like there's no tomorrow. Good luck!

I agree with some of the other commenters: you should paint the ceilings and walls white.

If you have the means: stay with the natural wood walls and add some kind of light tube, or solar tube through the roof and ceiling. They are efficient sky lights. This would make use of available sunlight during the day, and then you can use traditional table lights at night.

This is an example:
http://www.solatube.com/residential.php

Embrace the darkness! I love cozy dark spaces with a lot of wood and hate most ceiling lighting (esp. track/inset lights (apologies to those above). Of course you want good lighting for reading and in the kitchen or work spaces, but darkness can be lovely. We mostly use Edison blubs that give a soft golden glow. Check out the Gamble House, quite dark, but stunning: http://www.gamblehouse.org/photos/int/port-LR1039.html

yeah dont paint the wood, I'd go WITh the natural feeling and go for dark and cozy against white snow outside in winter and big sun outdoors in summer, it can be chic and restful and lovely...

I'm with Marfa... I love the coziness, as is.

Would it be practical to exchange some or all the windows with French doors? Or, in a similar "big fix," a skylight?

How about lighter, larger rugs?

Don't bring in any more dark furniture. Consider replacing or slipcovering the leather chair.

And get a BIG mirror up on at least one wall.

With lamps, you won't ever really light the whole place, so concentrate on focusing th elight on the seating areas. For example, get those twin lamps on both sides of the sofa, or on a sofa table behind the sofa.

Mirrors go a long way to throwing light around. I'd reccomend an antique or used one, old streaky glass will have a less sharp light. Mirrored candle sconces can be kind of cheesy but if you can find nice ones they really help, especially at night.
If you choose to get ceiling lights, I would suggest pendant lamps with glass shades, though that might be a little harsh for the 'living' area.
You'll definately want candles on every surface. We have a similar room in our house upstate. On sunny days it feels kind of gloomy, but when the electricity went out in the middle of dinner on Christmas eve (two years in a row!) it was still bright and cozy.
I kind of like the futon, and I wouldn't cover up those walls for anything.

i think painting the wood paneling would destroy the chalet look. however it would be more light inside if you got rid of the green/red/black things and substituted white or cream furniture, rugs and fixtures,with glass or crystal accessories. i've seen this done in switzerland - you have the rustic cabin look and a sort of snow-and-ice, light sparkling interior.

DON"T paint the walls. It isn't a surgical office. Just buy a few lamps. Those table lamps don't provide too much light even in a regular bright room. So, I would suggest something like the halogen balck torchiere type up light, but NOT that specific light, because it is UGLY and only for dorm rooms and halogen is no good(fire problems). So, just get tall stable standing lamp with high wattage bulb maybe at 3 settings, and glass top that faces up and reflects light seems to be your best bet. try two of those. (even though other person said doesnt work well, still seems to be best bet).

Don't paint the wood, you might lose the rustic feel of the place.
The red french doors and what looks like a yellow bookcase definitely brighten the room and add excitement and character. I would recommend continuing those bright accents throughout the cabin, perhaps with a brightly framed mirror for instance. A surefire way to open the space up with light, at least during the day, is to install skylights. I personally live under an exposed dark wood ceiling, but a group of skylights at the crest lightens up the entire place by 100%--and we don't pay a monthly bill for it. Place lamps or track lighting around places where much light is needed: kitchen workspaces, desks, reading areas, etc.