Sandra Greenway

Sandra Greenway, Greenway Interior Design, Inc.

Cabins in concept are retreat places.  Places to live casually, relax, leisurely and enjoy activity both inside the cabin and outdoors near or on the water, in the woodlands, prairies and gardens.  To create a place fitting for cabin living requires thoughtful planning, research, shopping and potentially professional expertise.

Floor coverings in cabins are best when they are wood because of their natural beauty, acoustical integrity, warmth and clean-ability.  Wood flooring can be quickly mopped clean of dust bunnies, dirt and sand after a weekend of outdoor activity and fun at the cabin. There are many species of wood flooring available in a variety of sizes, textures, widths and installation techniques that can distinguish your cabin as your own. Area rugs can be added where necessary for adding warmth, color, pattern, style, beauty, comfort and gathering moisture at entrance doors. Cabins are most enjoyable when there are comfortable places to sit for conversation, eating, playing and reading with others.  
 
The furniture needs to be arranged in a way that allows for 2 people to converse from a distance of no greater then 8 feet, however, ideally at 4 feet.  Depending on the size of your gathering room there may be space for essentially only one conversation grouping of furniture.  However if your room is larger you could have 3 or 4 conversation areas that also can function well for one large group conversation.  

You will want to buy upholstered chairs and sofas with arms in an upholstery weight woven fabric of a cotton blend.  A combination of coordinating small, medium or large scale pattern in multiple colors is always a good choice for adding warmth when surrounded by wood on the floor, walls and ceilings. 

Dining tables and chairs are best as wood due to its natural beauty, clean-ability and durability when exposed occasionally to moist clothing of the season.   Dining chairs with four legs, a spindle back, open arms and a comfortable 'sit' are essential to the health and enjoyment of indoor activity at the table. Chairs are most easily lived with when they are slim, have simple and clean lines and are lightweight versus chunky, klutzy uncomfortable and ugly.  One or two small, durable, round, wooden backless stools can also be great to have on hand offering flexibility for when there many people to sit around the dining table or be used for alternative functions like tables, standing etc.

In each conversation area you will want to have tables accessible at an arms reach for each sitting place.  

Lighting is essential in a room.  Placement of light fixtures through out a room gives a room balance and visual comfort on the eyes.  The light level does not need to be even however must be appropriate to the task function.  There are a variety of light fixture types to chose from such as table lamps, floor lamps, reading lamps, torcheres, pendant fixtures, wall sconces and small accent decorative lamps.  Experts can offer you guidance so that your rooms are properly lighted to create a enjoyable and well functioning room for living.

Window treatments are most fitting to cabins when the fabrication and hardware style is informal and unstructured.  The color and pattern of the fabric selection can be anything you like ranging from mini to bold depending to the size of the room.  The fabric selection needs to be a drapery fabric weight, suitable to hang gracefully without stiffness or drooping. 

Bedding in cabins is all about being cozy and leisurely!  Cozy often means layers of wool blankets and handmade quilts available to accommodate the various temperatures of the season.  Color and pattern in blankets and quilts are essential.  Bed sheets of light values of solid color feel the most fresh, clean and relaxing.  Adding large square Euro-style pillows along with bed pillows in coordinating shams and small decorative accent pillows are an exciting way of adding color, pattern and texture to a bed that makes a bed inviting to open as part of your night time ritual.  Of course making the bed in the morning is always the first thing you want to do in preparing for a new day of activities at the cabin.

Sandra Greenway
Interior Designer/President
Greenway Interior Design, Inc.
Transforming lives by transforming spaces
www.greenwayinteriordesign.com