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Log Retreat on a Northern Lake
This project was a 2 phase project. The log retreat was already built and furnished when my clients purchased it and contacted me to help them with the interior design on the main floor, upper level and the guest area. This was to be phase 1. We decided on a combination of Arts and Crafts with a rustic twist. I usually begin by getting to know how the residence will be used and by who and how many. That is how I base the room layouts and decide what general type of furniture to put in those layouts. Once we had decided generally on the layout, the clients felt they wanted to decide the color schemes by selecting the area rugs first. They had seen a rug I had done for another project and loved it. It is the rug you see in the main living area photo. It is based on a Navajo pattern, Diamond Dazzler. I customize the pattern and size and select the colors from yarn samples. A color computer rendering is made from my selections. If this meets with our approval a small sample is custom woven. If that also is approved, the rug can then be woven. These rugs are woven in the Carpathian Mountains. The wool, the dying and weaving is all done by small groups of village people. It takes about 4 months to weave a rug of this size. Other rugs selected were orientals for two of the bedrooms and a braided rug for a bedroom. Furniture, fabrics, and wall treatments were all based on the rugs.
Phase 2 of this project, is the lower walk out level. It was basically finished with drywall and carpet. It had no character and served no purpose. We decided to do a major remodel, and decided the theme would emulate a Montana ranch look. I called in a contractor that I have worked with on other projects. Working together we formulated a plan which included jacking up a 2 story structural log wall to put in a reclaimed douglas fir timber-frame, frame work in a portion of the space. To make the space look like an old square log structure we used all reclaimed beams sawn into a square log wall system which was chinked just like a regular square log structure. For the paneling and cabinetry we used reclaimed heart pine, in conjunction with the reclaimed douglas fir. I designed cabinets, a stone bar, built-in seating and many pieces of rustic furniture. The floor is natural lime stone, and counter surfaces are granite, and the bar front is field stone. The wall surfaces that are not the square log system are a Parisian Plaster treatment. I have included before and after pictures for you.
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