A Designer’s Thoughtful Refresh of a Traditional Cabin in the Woods of Lake Tahoe

Today we invite you to our “Cabin in the Woods” interior design project located in Lake Tahoe, Nevada – completed in 2023 by Boxwood Avenue Interiors.

The primary goal of this project was to maintain the charming essence of the family cabin while breathing new life into the space. By keeping original elements of the home, like the pine walls and wood flooring, we were able to refresh a space that still felt like home and would continue to be loved for generations.

Taking into account the history of the home and embracing its quirks and originality – as seen in the original fireplace and whitewashed walls – we sought to do what we do best: blend old with new to create a not-too-precious space for everyday living.

Welcome to the Cabin in the Woods.

The Living Room

Keeping the original fireplace was an easy decision. A no-brainer. Should we have even considered altering it, I think I would need to find a new job. The saying “they just don’t make em like they used to” rings true here.

The fireplace anchors the home and embodies so much of cabin and lake living that is quintessential for a cozy space. Serving as a petit cadeau for the designer in me.

Can you imagine what it would entail to have something like this remade? You simply wouldn’t be able to.

We toyed over painting the walls, whitewashing them, or simply leaving them (originally pine). As you can see, we opted to whitewash them in a soft warm white. This was a decision that took months of consideration. Read More: How to Pick the Perfect Paint Color

Then, incorporating linens, wool pillows, and wood accents, the living room became an extension of the surrounding nature.

As a designer, I tend to be a (little bit) formulaic when it comes to furniture selection. A track arm, a slope arm, and something vintage. Occasionally I go rogue, but if you’re looking for a “rule book”, you can lean into my simple formula. Learn more about my process for designing living rooms in this blog post.

One of my favorite elements of this space is the beautiful handmade wool rug from Beni rugs. The rug took months to craft by hand, but was well worth the wait.

You may also notice the gorgeous vintage J. Halabala chairs reupholstered in a lovely linen complimented by the custom green swivel chairs featuring a white oak base.

Each piece was custom designed by our team and crafted by hand by our furniture makers in LA – even the coffee table is made of solid wood. I believe these investment pieces will last for generations, which is at the heart of our design process.

Whenever possible, I select handcrafted or vintage pieces. Rarely turning to big box stores to fill a home. Read More: How to Shop for Furniture Like an Interior Designer

The Kitchen and Kitchen Nook

One of the most rewarding parts of refreshing a space that has aged gracefully over time is being able to maintain its integrity. The stories it has to tell. I never want a space to be wiped clean of what makes it unique. Give me a little funk any day!

In this case, we wanted to keep the vintage feel while incorporating a few modern accents with lighting and new countertops. We painted the cabinetry a rich warm white paint color and embraced the beautiful architectural details of the windows. Soapstone countertops and new cabinetry hardware compliment a contemporary kitchen faucet (not shown, but I assure you it’s there).

The kitchen nook took on a personality of its own with the addition of a lacquered tulip table and a custom banquette seat – nested among vintage chairs, which we had cushions made for.

You may notice the textile combination of cream, green, and blue – featuring some of my favorite textile designers, including Zak & Fox.

Not shown, but worth noting, we blended old with new (as we do…) with a beautiful Jacob May dining table and woven chairs in the dining room. You can deduct that a wonderful way to achieve balance in design is selecting one old item and one new item such as a set of vintage chairs paired with a more contemporary dining table.

If you are interested in working together on a project, please reach out to see if it is a good fit! We are currently accepting clients globally and tend to pair best with those who appreciate the details as we do.

We prioritize projects with historical charm or new-builds with the intent of creating a generational home with integrity.

Contact us at: bonjour@boxwoodavenue.com or inquire through design.boxwoodavenue.com.

Additionally, if you are working on a smaller space, or simply need to bounce some ideas off of someone. I am available on a consultation basis (virtually) and would love to help you. You can access my calendar here.