A Cosy Off-The-Grid Cabin in The Woods

There's two ways go in Autumn / Winter - embrace it or escape it. And boy does Alice Saunders embrace it. When Alice isn't making travel bags for her successful business Forestbound in Boston, she's escaping to her magical cabin in the woods in the heart of New Hampshire. It's 'escape' in every essence of the word. Located at the end of a dirt track, the off-the-grid cabin has no running water or electricity and mobile reception can only be obtained by rowing across the lake! Alice and her boyfriend spent several years renovating the space on a shoestring budget, furnishing it with charming vintage pieces and cosy layers of textiles. The result is an unbelievably cosy, rustic, relaxed living space where the pair can truly switch off, read and enjoy the surroundings - completely uninterrupted! Time to dream....

This has to be one of the cosiest little cabins I've ever seen! I'd so LOVE to be kicking about there right now, candles lit, book in hand. How about you? 

It would also make the most perfect writers retreat, don't you think? Once, of course, I've come up with a topic - details friends, details!

Could you imagine escaping here for a few days too?!

If you'd like to see more pictures,  hop on over to Alice's instagram here. Better still, if you're planning a long weekend at a similar log cabin, you might just want to pick up one of her Forestbound original tote or carryalls made from found and salvaged textiles. They're fab! 

There's a load more dreamy places to drool over in the rural retreats and log cabin archives (some of which are also on Airbnb - just saying!). 

Have a cosy day! 

Niki

Photography: Alice Saunders, shared with kind permission.

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Before & After: A Dated Cabin Becomes a Dreamy Airbnb Hideaway In The Woods

Have you ever dreamed of owning a little home from home? Somewhere you can escape to at the weekends and completely switch off. Often the cost and effort involved in acquiring and renovating a second home is enough to put most people off. But actually, a fixer upper doesn't need to cost the earth - there's a lot you can do with a small, remote place on a tight budget. Tom and Hope had always dreamed of owning and renovating cabin in the woods. The answer came in the form of The Cobb Haus, a wooden cabin at the end of a track in the quiet rural neighbourhood of Whispering Pines, Cobb, California. The pair closed in February and set about transforming it into a peaceful retreat, a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I caught up with the pair to find out more about their wonderful hideaway in the woods - which is also available to rent! 

EXTERIOR BEFORE

How long did it take you to transform your cabin into the lovely hideaway it is today? 

We completed in February and had it finished (I say that loosely as it is a continuous work in progress!) in June.

EXTERIOR AFTER

Wow, that was quick! What type of work did you carry out in that time?

Most of the work we did was purely cosmetic aside from the bathroom which was a complete remodel. 

KITCHEN BEFORE

What was your decorating goal? 

We really wanted to keep the original 40s / 50s charm while adding some modern touches. It's a small space so keeping the decor minimal and well thought out was key. 

KITCHEN AFTER

The upper cabinets were replaced with relaxed open shelving and the lower cabinets were painted in Woodland Lichen by Sherwin Williams. The green was a perfect choice as it draws the surrounding nature indoors. 

BEFORE - WOOD BURNING STOVE / SITTING ROOM

"There is no central heating but there is a wood burning stove and two small space heaters you can move around as needed."

WOOD BURNING STOVE / SITTING ROOM AFTER

The pair painted the wood burning stove with special paint and replaced existing the hearth with tiles from Home Depot. 

The cosy sitting room has been kitted out with poufs and a side cabinet from IKEA and an Article sofa. There green curtains from Target were picked out to match the kitchen cabinets for a cohesive look. 

What inspired the interior style? 

It's hard for me to pinpoint one style as inspiration, but I love to pull from Scandinavian, mid-century and a little boho, while keeping a minimalistic feel. 

DINING AREA BEFORE

DINING ROOM AFTER

I see (with glee!) that you rent out your cabin through Airbnb - did you have this in mind during the renovation?

Ultimately, we wanted it to feel like home for whoever walks in. We wanted it to feel cosy and inviting with a focus on the beautiful views of the surrounding forest. 

BEDROOM BEFORE

BEDROOM AFTER

A lick of white paint on the floors, walls and ceiling have completely transformed the bedroom into a light and airy room. A glimpse of the forest through the window makes a great focal point (almost like art!). 

The side table is from HomeGoods, however, you'd be forgiven for thinking it has been fashioned out of a tree trunk from outside the door. A perfect nod to the surroundings! 

Truly inspiring, don't you think? 

In case it's rekindled your dream of going for that fixer upper you've always dreamed of, here are some budget friendly lessons to learn from this renovation:

6 ways Tom and Hope saved money

1. Carrying out a lot of the renovation themselves
2. Painting existing kitchen cabinets rather than replacing them
3. Working with the existing structure
4. White washing the interior for a fresh feel
5. Furnishing with items from IKEA, Target etc
6. Renting out the cabin via Airbnb to cover running costs

Not quite ready to purchase your own rural hide-away?! The Cobb Haus is available to rent through Airbnb. And word on the street is that you can also order healthy, homemade meals directly to the door! It sounds like a trip to Whispering Pines (beautiful name!) might be in order, don't you think?

Read more about The Cobb Haus here and check out more pics on instagram. 

Other incredible rural retreats to dream about this Monday:  

A magical Norwegian mountain cabin

A rustic Norwegian log cabin

A family retreat on Sweden's west coast

A photographer's charming summer cottage in the woods

Wishing you all a truly inspiring start to the week! Here's to new future projects, big and small!

Niki

Photography courtesy of The Cobb Haus, with kind permission

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A Striking Swedish Cabin On The Island of Ingarö

Here in Sweden, the schools have gone back and offices up and down the country are starting to fill up (can you hear the braincells creaking back into action?!). Pelle and Simone Porseryd have no doubt recently returned to Stockholm fresh from a relaxed getaway at their summer house on the island of Ingarö in the Stockholm archipelago. Standing 54 metres above sea level, the contemporary cabin has a beautiful wooden facade and asymmetric windows overlooking the rocky landscape and water beyond. Inside, vintage Scandinavian classics and newer pieces are silhouetted against an earthy, dark backdrop. The look is understated and full of contrast, yet cosy and undeniably cool. And then there's that black sauna too. Let's take a peek! 

I could totally imagine flitting about here all summer - how about you? 

I bet the view from the sitting room window is constantly changing - and equally dramatic rain or shine. 

Seeing this cabin has made me all confused. In my dreams I had always imagined a traditional Swedish cottage but this contemporary style has thrown a spanner in the works - it's beautiful too, in another kind of way! Hmmm. 

If you're feeling inspired by this retreat, you might also like this relaxed Swedish cabin by the sea and an idyllic hide-away on the island of Dalarö. 

Kram!

Niki

Photography: Kristofer Johnsson (shared with kind permission) / Styling Alexandra Ogonowski. Featured in Residence magazine. 

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Off The Grid: 'The Hut' In The Woods Of Ohio

It takes something pretty special to appear on an episode of Discovery Network's Building off the Grid series. And it's easy to see why The Hut in Belmont County, Ohio cut the mustard! Designed and built by owner and founder of Midland Architecture Greg Dutton with the help of family and friends, the 600 square foot / 55 square metre cedar-clad cabin features bleached eastern pine floors and whit clad walls. Sustainable and off-the-grid, The Hut was completed last year and has been kitted out with furniture made from natural materials in shades of cream, beige and chocolate. A wonderful, tree-house inspired, Scandinavian style retreat, designed to ensure you can completely switch off - in every way! 

Could you imagine hanging out here in the woods - living completely off the grid? 

Imagine how easy it would be to relax?! 

Feel inspired by a load more rural retreats and log cabins from the archives - do you have a favourite?

Happy 'hump day' (nope, still not used to that phrase!). 

Niki

Photography courtesy of Midland Architecture found via Style Files

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Could This Hygge Danish Log Cabin Be Your Holiday Home?!

Dreaming of a summer in Denmark? This authentic log cabin has just popped up on Airbnb! Situated in the countryside near Asserbo and the coastal resort of Liseleje on North Zealand around 60 km from Copenhagen, the cottage sleeps 10 and comprises a main house and guests house. But the best part? It's owned by Pernille Grønkjær Taatø (who's inspiring coastal home I featured here and charming parent's cottage I captured here) - which means that it's also been decorated in the most impeccable Danish style! As per Scandinavian holiday cottage tradition, the interior is understated and designed for a simple way of life - but also immensely cosy! The fresh white and gentle blue-grey tones are true to Pernille's signature style, while the rich dark wood and stove give the space a lovely, warm, hygge vibe!

The cabin has everything you might need for a long Danish summer - a comfy sofa and chair (Söderhamn), simple dining table, wood burning stove, candles and string lights* for a little hygge on chillier evenings! 

When it comes to holiday homes, Danes often prefer to pick whatever they find in the nearby meadows or along the country lanes. 

A mattress and cushions helps to transform a little nook under the stairs into a chill out zone.

A coffee and reading spot for one - with a candle (of course!). 

 A simple rustic stool* and traditional rag rug* add a cosy touch in the sitting room.

A rattan chair and hooks provide the perfect place to build up a 'chairobe' and never feel the need to put any clothes away (it's summer after all!). 

The guest house is made for bunking down (I'm thinking all the kids!) and relaxing (those fresh white floors, walls and hammocks!). 

Isn't it charming?

I'd be so happy to wile away a summer here, how about you?

More about Pernille's summer home on Airbnb here.

Unavailable the weeks you're looking at? There's also the option of these two lovely cabins on the same coast- or why not hop over the bridge to Sweden and stay at one of these instagrammable places.

Anyone would think I'm trying to entice you to Scandinavia this summer - who me?!

If I haven't managed to persuade you - you could always bring a Scandinavian summer cottage feel to your own home - there's a load of rural retreats to feel inspired by in this archive (I think it's one of my favourites!). Can I stop by for a fika?!

Niki

Photography: Pernille Grønkjær Taatø
*Affiliate links

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