Image Source: Remodelaholic
It’s a bit hard wrapping my head around anything cozy since the temps here in NJ have been holding in the upper 70s-low 80s {until this rainy, chilly day. Hooray!} which is pure torture for a lover of all things fall + cozy…aka- moi! However, we did just enjoy a little getaway to the Poconos last week + the weather was perfect. Not cool enough to be considered “full fall” but I could wear jeans + a sweater at night so I’ll take it but the area in general had me dreaming of a future mountain lake home in a bad way! And of course when dreaming {emphasis on dreaming} about a new home, my mind goes immediately to decorating.
When decorating a vacation home it is easy to get carried away with a “theme” that fits the surrounding area + it is something I have seen many times in beach houses in my home town. There is nothing wrong with mimicking elements of where the home is, in fact it’s encouraged, because otherwise it will stand out like a sore thumb, but there is a threshold for kitsch. As tempting as it may be to deck-out a mountain home with antlers, bear silhouettes, and make everything brown, there is a way to pull together a cozy look that lends itself to being in a vacation home + enhancing the feeling of the surrounding area without making your home look like a novelty store. Below are some elements I would include in my dream mountain lake home {again, dreaming!}
1. Incorporate Traditional Elements of the Area
A great way to support the local the market + incorporate items that reflect the history of the home {if it’s older or historic} or the area is to do a little research on the town or county + go antiquing to find a few choice pieces to showcase in the home. Whether it’s a painting, piece of furniture, mirror, pitchers/jugs, or hardware you can find a lot in antique markets or even local auctions. If it’s an older house, visiting the local records, library or genealogical society can offer up some cool information, pictures or even land surveys that can be turned into informational wall art.
2. Utilize Contrast
When looking for inspiration you may see a lot of mountain homes that are dark brown wood, dark brown leather, dark rugs, dark stone…you get the idea. But too much of a good thing can look really bad. You can still create a cozy “cave-like” feeling in a room or two but when the whole home takes on that look it can be a bit overwhelming for the senses and underwhelming on the aesthetic end. I love the idea of exposed wood {like log cabin wood} walls + hand hewn exposed beams in the living room but with varying shades of gray, black + cream/off-white in the furniture, rugs + accent pieces. A rawhide rug in modern silver/gray with a faux sheepskin rug layered over it would give a great texture contrast, while bringing in animal elements in a modern way.
3. Blend Rustic With Modern
Try to stick with more contemporary light fixtures with dimmable lighting to be able to create that warm, romantic feeling. I really like exposed light bulbs in a wrought iron chandelier. Having a darker living room next to a lighter kitchen will bring the appropriate energy + balance to the whole home. And again, exposed natural elements like wood + stone with more contemporary furniture will add to this balance.
4. Texture is Key
Picking the right textiles is crucial for creating the overall look + feel you want for a space. A lot of people seem to go with heavy leather furniture for cabins but to me they don’t suit the needs…too cold when it’s chilly + too sweaty when it’s hot. Plus you slide all over! I won’t deny one or two small leather chairs or stools for good measure, though. Overall, I suggest more modern style + colored furniture like a gray, taupe or ivory couch in cotton or twill {something that can easily be professionally cleaned}; once again, hardwood floors, with exposed stone and/or brick in select places {i.e. fireplace, entryway, etc.}; soft foot stools or ottoman; and a ton of fluffy fur + flannel throws/pillows to top it all off. For bedrooms in the fall/winter white cotton sheets with a flannel or linen covered duvet gives you breath-ability + warmth.
5. Plan for the Year
If you are ever planning on purchasing a rental/income property it’s important to remember that ideally the house will get year-round use, if not from you, hopefully from renters. If we ever went with a rental/income property in the mountains, I would certainly be looking for something close to a lake + ski resorts this way it’s the best of both worlds-and potential rental income-all season long. Likewise, when decorating, try to remember the moods you want to create for different seasons: light + airy in the Spring/Summer but warm + comfy in the Fall/Winter.
To achieve this, think about how someone renting a summer cabin would want to feel in the home + how a winter cabin renter would expect the home to look. The key is to keep the main body of the home {i.e. walls, floors} in a natural state {exposed wood, stone or light colored walls}, having secondary features {i.e. furniture, rugs, large light fixtures} be in season-less textiles + contrasting/complementing colors to the large elements, and tertiary pieces {i.e. smaller accessories} can be switched out reflect the appropriate time of year. Factor in accent colors found in nature surrounding the property into the decor as well. In a mountain lake home, for example, you would want to bring in mid-tone blues {not too bright, not too dark} to mimic the water, medium to dark greens to reflect the foliage, and grays/browns to enhance the rocks + trees.
But remember, ultimately it’s important to surround yourself with things + colors that make YOU happy + comfortable!
Here are some favorite ideas for my dream fall/winter cabin. Check out my Pinterest board below for more inspiration!
