{"id":255720,"date":"2025-09-26T08:42:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T08:42:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/255720\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T08:42:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T08:42:24","slug":"this-log-cabin-was-full-of-design-crimes-now-its-all-about-the-rustic-luxe-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/255720\/","title":{"rendered":"This Log Cabin Was Full of Design Crimes\u2014Now It\u2019s All About the Rustic-Luxe Details"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\tWe may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.\t<\/p>\n

Domino Reno: Before + Afters, DIYs, and Advice From the Pros<\/p>\n

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Shag-carpeted bathrooms and fluorescent lighting don\u2019t scream \u201cdream house.\u201d But for Seattle-based designer Jessica Nelson<\/a>\u2019s clients, who lived just 10 minutes down the road, the cabin\u2019s location\u2014nestled between a thick patch of forest and the ninth hole of their favorite golf course\u2014made it a dream worth chasing. \u201cThey\u2019d been eyeing it for years,\u201d says Nelson. \u201cWhen it finally came up for sale, they called me right away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GlassThe front door, after. <\/p>\n

\"MirrorThe entryway, after. <\/p>\n

Despite its quirks, Nelson saw promise in the home\u2019s bones. \u201cThe logs, the river rock fireplace, the floating stairs\u2014we knew if we updated everything else, those elements would shine,\u201d she says. Working with her go-to contractor, Nelson kicked off a top-to-bottom renovation that respected the property\u2019s rustic shell while dramatically modernizing the layout and palette. \u201cIt\u2019s still a log cabin,\u201d she says. \u201cBut now it feels serene, not stuck in the \u201970s.\u201d<\/p>\n

Making a White Kitchen Work in a Wood Cabin<\/p>\n

\"WoodThe kitchen, before. <\/p>\n

\"BlackThe kitchen, after. Pot Filler, deVOL<\/a>; Roman Clay, Portola Paints<\/a>. <\/p>\n

A low ceiling and awkward peninsula separated the kitchen from the rest of the main floor, while the aforementioned fluorescent panels made the space feel more high school cafeteria than mountain getaway.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew the kitchen had to feel light,\u201d says Nelson. \u201cBut how do you make a white kitchen work in a house made of logs?\u201d The answer: Nelson widened the window above the sink for a view of the fairway, installed a custom plaster hood for a softer texture, and added a vintage oak island to anchor the space. A green terracotta tile backsplash ties the space to the wooded lot outside.<\/p>\n

\"OpenThe dining area and kitchen, after. Island, Elsie Green<\/a>; Pendant Lights, Shoppe Amber Interiors<\/a>. <\/p>\n

And that drop ceiling? Gone. Nelson replaced it with new tongue-and-groove paneling to blend with the original logs\u2014an upgrade that was easier said than done. \u201cWhere the new ceiling meets the curved logs, the carpenters had to carefully scribe and cut each piece,\u201d she explains. \u201cIt\u2019s the kind of detail no one notices unless it\u2019s done wrong.\u201d Now, the joinery reads as effortless, though it was anything but.<\/p>\n

Choppy Bathroom Layout? Open It All Up<\/p>\n

\"CarpetedThe primary bathroom, before. <\/p>\n

\"TiledThe primary bathroom, after. Floor Tile, Tile Bar<\/a>; Wall Tile, Cle Tile<\/a>; Shower Head, Waterworks<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The bathrooms weren\u2019t just outdated\u2014they were carpeted. In the primary suite, a walled-off layout divided the space into awkward zones: the tub in one corner, a vanity in another, and the only sink oddly separated from both. \u201cIt felt more like a maze than a bathroom,\u201d Nelson says.<\/p>\n

\"TiledThe primary bath, after. Tub, Vintage Tub & Bath<\/a>. <\/p>\n

To increase light and function, she knocked down non-structural walls and created a serene wet room with a freestanding tub and walk-in shower; the vanity sits just outside of it. Calacatta marble, unlacquered brass, and plaster finishes keep the space from feeling heavy. \u201cThe house already has a lot of texture,\u201d Nelson notes, \u201cso we wanted the materials to feel calm and natural, but still luxe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"WoodenThe primary bath, after. <\/p>\n

Upstairs, the layout in the kids\u2019 bathroom floor plan stayed the same, but it got a full finish refresh with leafy wallpaper, a soapstone counter with green veining, and warm oak cabinetry that nods to the surrounding forest.<\/p>\n

\"BathroomUpstairs bathroom, after. Sconces, Urban Electric<\/a>; Mirror; Shoppe Amber Interiors<\/a>; Pulls, Lee Valley<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"CarpetedUpstairs bathroom, before. <\/p>\n

\"GreenUpstairs bathroom, after. <\/p>\n

Bedrooms That Let the Logs Speak<\/p>\n

\"BedroomPrimary bedroom, after. Bed Frame, Maiden Home<\/a>; Coverlet, Quince<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The bedroom sits just off the main living area, and while Nelson didn\u2019t move any walls here, the end result is still striking. \u201cI knew we needed a trim color that wouldn\u2019t clash with the logs,\u201d she says. After testing seven or eight options, she landed on a cool brown that subtly complements the natural wood without skewing too red. The rest of the palette comes through via the textiles: an upholstered headboard, natural linens, and a plush rug underfoot. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the most serene rooms in the house,\u201d Nelson says.<\/p>\n

The upstairs was once a loft open to the shared living space below, but with two kids, privacy was essential. \u201cWe closed it in and made it a true bedroom,\u201d says Nelson. One of the designer\u2019s favorite discoveries? The way the scalloped edges of the logs play against the new drywall, creating charming transitions no one saw coming.<\/p>\n

A Fireplace Too Good to Gut<\/p>\n

\"CarpetedThe living room, before. <\/p>\n

\"LivingThe living room, after. Chairs, Crate & Barrel<\/a>; Sofa, Maiden Home<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The living room\u2019s river rock fireplace was one of the first things Nelson knew had to stay. \u201cShe was on the fence at first,\u201d Nelson says of the homeowner. \u201cBut I told her\u2014there\u2019s no way we\u2019re touching this.\u201d Re-creating that kind of natural stonework today would cost a fortune, not to mention lack the original\u2019s charm. Instead of replacing it, Nelson gave it a gentle upgrade: a new gas-powered log set, a honed soapstone hearth, and a squared-off wood mantel. Now, the fixture feels like the soul of the space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Domino Reno:…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":255721,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[648,1032,18650,1033,171,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-255720","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-core-home","11":"tag-design","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115269714517569505","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=255720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/255720\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/255721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=255720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=255720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=255720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}