Once upon a time: A 1970s cabin love story

I've watched enough HGTV to have vision.

 

Dangerous, right?

 

But it's that blind confidence that helped us forget we have three young children, two energetic dogs and a full, busy life when we made a crazy purchase: A cabin, of course!

 

First, an overview.

 

It's not really a log cabin. And it's not big. It's not very secluded and not on the water. It doesn't have a hot tub (fatal flaw!) or a single feature that's younger than me. (Harvest Gold, anyone?)

 

It DOES, however, have a very strong desire to be updated AND it comes furnished (get ready!), so we took this little cabin by its little cabin hand (a stick, maybe?) and promised to love it.

 

And as impossible as it is to work on..., as unsafe as it is to visit with the boys..., as ridiculous as this whole notion is in the scheme of our crazy lives..., we love it. We totally love it!

 

So, here she is! (All photos from March 2, 2013, when Pete met the inspector.)

Hey, look! An old basketball hoop! Good luck dribbling on the forest floor...

The little deck on the front. Built-in benches=awesome!

Inside (obviously) and looking to the right-- 

 

Panning a little to the left. See the pink chair again? Here's the little eating area--

 

Panning more to the left, you see our favorite part: this closet! In a living space that's not very large, someone decided a coat closet smack in the middle would make the most sense. (Then, smart owners went ahead and put a loveseat in front of the closet, making it both a good use of space AND useful!)

 

I know you're lovin' all over the plus-size Allergy Wreath. Don't worry. It comes with the cabin! (So you have your bearings, a sliver of the front door is now on the left.)

 

See now? We've come full circle. And you can better admire the 1973 hanging lights trapeze.

 

But wait! That coat closet hid the kitchen! ...In all its Harvest Gold glory... (I mean, appliances YES, but I didn't know the countertops could match, too! Score!)

 

How cool is the tiny table and chair? The boys LOVE it! That door you see on the right goes to a small back deck, perfect for a grill.

 

And that doorway you just saw leads to this half bath--

 

Now, back in the main room-- 

 

The fake wood paneling continues down the hallway!

 

First door on the right is the full bathroom. (Look. I know you want the toilet seat "BATH" sign, complete with ruffles and tiny towels. Quit shopping for your decor needs in our photos and let me finish showing you around! Geesh.)

 

More of the bath. And I know: the flowers + gold linoleum + fuzzy green toilet seat=you in overload, but stay with me!

 

Back out in the hallway, the utility closet (which will play a key part in an upcoming story...just you wait) is next on the right.

 

Then three bedrooms that will look largely indistinguishable at this point--

 

 

 

The hallway also conceals a linen closet, made to withstand most everything, except of course, the weight of a few pillowcases.

 

You may recall a set of French doors near the table and chairs. (Slide back up if you'd like. I can wait.) They lead to this great screened-in porch!

 

And here's a look in the opposite direction, this time with the benefit of flash photography! See how the ceiling's wide open? That skinny door up ahead leads to a (full of crap) storage area.

The view of the porch from outside--

 

So, that's it. Your introduction and our set of inspirational "before" shots. Do you see the potential, or are you shaking your head at our misguided major purchase???

I realize that, as I launch the blog to chronicle our remodeling adventures, we closed on this wooded beauty exactly one month ago today! Wonder how long the list of projects can grow...