I have been assembling these mood boards to scratch the itch in my interior design passion. With my house a construction zone and my small dreams of spending this fall in a remote place in the woods, this month's mood board is heavily featuring the things of cabin life.
I have no greater dream for my cabin than to someday build it on the great Lake Superior.
A tempest-inhabited lake, a sublime fever dream of beauty, awe, and crisp endlessness, Lake Superior deserves an elevated aesthetic. But it also deserves the joy and richness of life its experience supplies us with.
When I think of elevated, I am drawn to nuanced objects and materials. Our sense of touch is a wonderful place to start when creating with luxury. As I am designing the experience of this cabin, my mind walks through the context of its northern environment.
Days are filled with consistent winds. In the summer these bring a consistent chill, and in the colder months, the competing temperature of the gargantuan lake and the frigid air above it fuels a snowy and icu breeze. Fire is needed in a place like this. Warm textiles are also needed.
Hemp bedding comes to mind first as a way to add a different texture because it contrasts with what we normally encounter in our beds. It is a durable natural material that softens with age and use. A flannel comforter on top is a good way to bring warmth. Both are fitting for this rugged elevated space.
Next, objects and surfaces of stone should be incorporated. Drawing inspiration from the basalt and granite rock formations that line the shore of Lake Superior, we can play with the visual expressiveness of certain stones for the interior space. Mable comes in many gradients and colors beyond the classic white we’re used to. Viola Mable is a great example of a trend pushing for stone that is visually active and has just the right amount of contrasting colors. I am also partial to any stone that displays the lava flows of their primordial beginnings.
Continuing to walk through the concept of this space, I would be remiss to not elevate the experience of a cabin without a plush and cozy chair, preferably with a bold sensory textile such as shearling. This fabric is ageless, endlessly warm, and ages incredibly well. Next to this chair, I am poised to also recommend the space incorporate a wood stove to heat the space as well as provide the intoxicating aroma of burning pine to the room.
No detail is too specific within this experience. There should be added candles in brass trays and handmade ceramic holders. Wool blankets should be laid across the back of deep linen and mohair sofas. Since it is October, perhaps a tragic and thrilling read of the book Killers of the Flower Moon can pull the rest of this aesthetic curation together.
I would be remiss to not mention the art intended for this space. Though I haven’t begun to execute the works for this dream cabin, my desires start with rich oil paintings. I love the idea of abstract landscape watercolors bringing about a delicateness to the space of Lake Superior. There is a lot of harsh visual elements around this landscape, and there is also an ephemeral mood that hangs over this part of the world.
Each time I’ve been to one of the Great Lakes, they sit as if they’ve been there forever, but yet my experience with them hardly feels significant. So this joyful, moody little watercolor I will one day paint, with rich bold colors, quick brush strokes and textures, will elevate the experience of this cabin well.
This elevated cabin is not completed without some activity for rest. I am prioritizing the functionality of the shower and incorporating plush organic towels to produce a spa-like experience. When I turn the brass hardware of the shower faucet the steam from the hot water should instantly fill the space and heat up the ceramic cream zellige tiles.
After this ritual, I’m drawn to percolated coffee from a moka pot to give a deeper taste. Finally, my dreams of this cabin end with a cribbage game, played with the warmth and love this setting is elevated for.
