Archive for category: Online Interior Design

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My future cabin: the kitchen

I can’t believe we’re finally here, folks! The last room on the main level of the cabin…the kitchen! I have been dreaming about this spot for years and in so many different ways. And this is where we’ve landed! Classic cabin green kitchen cabinets with a dark countertop and timeless ivory subway tile for the backsplash. The natural wood dining table and unlacquered brass fixtures will age to perfection.

The priority on the lake side of the cabin will always be the lake view. In the same way that windows wrapped the living room sofa, the kitchen windows wrap around the corner along with the cabinets. A small dining table sits in the crook of the L shape and doubles as an island would for extra prep space. A shallow pantry is recessed into the bathroom space to provide extra food and cleaning supply storage (more on that later!).

We maximized that view by electing for giant windows and base cabinets only. Since we don’t need a big refrigerator, the drawer versions work better overall. We’ve placed them next to the pantry wall on the far left side of the stove. The range will not have a traditional hood vent, but instead will have a downdraft or discreet vent  in the ceiling. The basic shape of the globe pendant lights provide for a minimal distruption to the view.

And yes, I acknowledge that having a giant green sofa across the room from a bunch of green cabinets makes for a whole lot of green in this one space. But I’m okay with that because green is not just a trend for me – it’s literally my favorite color. I went back and forth so many times on these cabinets and was certain that would be black. But as much as I loved the look, it just didn’t feel right in the end. But black accents in the countertop and dining chairs? Yes, please! And can we have a moment for those rugs?!?! I didn’t want the space to feel too formal, so I went for a punch of fun color on the floors. And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Speaking of adding an element of fun – check out the wallpaper in the pantry! So many of the other rooms had a fun wallpaper element, but I did not want to distract from the main focus of this big open room – the view. So I tucked that wallpaper moment behind the pantry doors! I love the playful aspect of this, especially in combination with the green of the cabinets and colorful runner rug.

But wait…shame on me for breaking my first rule of design. A room has to function first, right?! Right. Rest assured this pantry is more than just cute, folks. I wanted a space to house canned food and other staples along with cleaning supplies. All tucked behind some old french doors with pleated curtains for another touch of the casual cabin life.

Well, folks. Here we are….we’ve reached the end of the road. Thank you for coming along this journey with me! While I don’t have a preview photo, I do have at least one more issue in the works. Stay tuned and enjoy this view in the meantime!

Are you dreaming of your own new kitchen? We can help!  You can choose from our basic kitchen + bathroom package with 8 standard items or customize your package to change / add catalog items. You can also add space planning or work with us in person if you are within 25 miles of Madison, WI!

Each of our designs come with a photorealistic image of the room, design narrative, and a clickable catalog. You can then do the work yourself or give a copy to contractors for comparable bids!

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My future cabin: the living room

We’ve made it to the living room, folks! Now you can sit down, put your feet up, and enjoy the view. I have a feeling THIS is where I will spend most of my time at the cabin. Whether it’s by myself with a book or a slumber party with friends, this is the best seat in the cabin.

This giant green sectional sofa is the heart of the room, and for good reason. It allows two people to fully stretch out, which is the only way I like to be. Side note: I realized recently that as a kid I often ended up lying on the floor because I had to share the couch with my sister and there was never enough room to stretch out. Which is probably why I will absolutely find you the longest sofa your room can handle.

 

But I digress…this sofa is great for both a couple people and a bunch of friends. It can be a decent spot for two overnight guests by itself or could also hold a queen-sized bed for guests. And need I mention it’s beautiful to boot?! I debated a lot about the color of this sofa and really wanted to avoid using a deep emerald green because it has gotten trendy. But I’ve literally been dreaming about this big green sofa for many, many years. And I finally decided that I’m not going to not choose something I love for my home just because a lot of other people have chosen it, too. I love how it contrasts with the black and white patterned rug and provides the perfect backdrop for more pattern and color in the throw pillows. I went with a medium toned leather for the side chair to coordinate with the wood furniture pieces in the room.

I do wish there were more space across from the sofa for two side chairs, but this is the challenge of a smaller cabin. Sometimes you have to make a choice. And this time I chose one big comfy chair instead of two smaller chairs. I just couldn’t imagine someone wanting to sit and chat for hours in a small (read: uncomfortable) arm chair. I want to be able to sit crisscross or sideways with my legs over one of the arms or with my feet up (on the coffee table? Maybe I should tuck an ottoman under there, eh?).  I feel like this chair should be reserved for introverts during parties – anyone else?

So the introverts don’t get to watch the movie? Have no fear…even though the big comfy chair will be heavy, these magic moving sliders will make it super simple to rotate the chair around and back for good viewing.

While this view could never compete with the lake on the other side of the room, it’s pretty good in its own right! Like I have in all the other rooms, I’m going to find a pretty way to infuse closed storage. And like in the bathroom, this is two separate furniture pieces placed side by side. With another all-drawer design, we have maximized space for all the extra pillows and blankets needed for our overnight guests. Plus the top provides the perfect spot for a record player and a bit of décor.

A reward for making it this far: a sneak peak at the kitchen coming up next!

 

Are you dreaming of a bathroom remodel? We can help!  You can choose from our basic kitchen + bathroom package with 8 standard items or customize your package to change / add catalog items. You can also add space planning or work with us in person if you are within 25 miles of Madison, WI!

Each of our designs come with a photorealistic image of the room, design narrative, and a clickable catalog. You can then do the work yourself or give a copy to contractors for comparable bids!

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My future cabin: the bedroom

 

Welcome to the next stop on the cabin tour…. the primary bedroom! One of, if not the most important rooms in the cabin. Because a good night’s rest is one of the best parts of getting away. Right?

 

First things first, this room had to fit a king sized bed. It’s a non-negotiable for me; as a side-sleeper I need plenty of space. And our not-so-small cat, Willow needs room, too.  Beyond that, we don’t need the room to hold much. But the overall cabin floor plan provides for a long closet and perfect spot for a tall dresser.

Our second priority was making the room feel dark and cozy. We like to have the ability to close the curtains and have near complete darkness at any time. An afternoon nap at the cabin?! Yes, please! Because this is cabin is a fun getaway space, we decided to go a little bolder than we normally would with our everyday bedroom. I just couldn’t resist using this oversized green plaid pattern on all the walls! It’s a statement, for sure. But one I’m willing to make.

But with that much pattern on the walls, the eye needs a place to rest. In this case, we’re doing that with super simple neutral bedding. We also chose a rug with color tones that are similar to the flooring, which will provide texture and definition but without drawing any extra attention. We did add a fun pop of color with a couple classic cabin accessories: a Pendelton pillow and throw blanket.

The closet and dresser provide their fair share (and then some) of the closed storage on the main level. While we don’t intend to house full wardrobes here, it would be nice to have some staples on hand so that we don’t have to pack a bag every time we decide to pop up for the night (omg – doesn’t that sound dreamy?!). So we will have plenty of space to store clothes in here as well as extra linens and blankets. Because who doesn’t want alllll the blankets at the cabin?

 

If we were to use this cabin as a short-term rental, we would want to consider these things a little differently:

  • Provide two luggage racks; one in the closet and one in place of the tall dresser
  • Provide various types of extra pillows (feather, firm, etc)
  • Consider adding a cantilevered window seat across from the bed
  • Consider adding a patio door across from the bed with deck access.

A reward for making it this far: a sneak peak at the living room coming up next!

 

Are you building a cabin of your own? Either as a vacation home or short-term rental? If you need helping hand, we’ve got all your affordable interior design needs covered! You may want to specifically check out our Whole-House Interior Design Packages or our Short-term Rental Design Options!

 

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My future cabin: the bathroom

Welcome to the next stop on the cabin tour….the bathroom! When I daydream about being at the cabin, there’s no rush to do anything. So I wanted this bathroom to be a place that you could take all the time you need to truly enjoy your morning routine.

I mean. Can we take a moment for that tile floor?! This is what they mean when they say something is timeless. It feels both classic and current at the same time. This particular pattern is comprised of small tiles, so it also works well on the sloped shower floor. Being able to run the pattern throughout the entire space will always help to make it feel bigger. While it feels spacious, it is not the biggest bathrooms. It takes up a fair amount of the overall square footage of this little cabin but I don’t regret it for even a minute. It’s worth it because I truly love every square inch.

Y’all. This is it. The cabin shower of my dreams! Oh how I love an outdoor shower, but Wisconsin winters do me no favors in that department. So this feels like the best of both worlds! Indoor plumbing with an outdoor feeling. Can you imagine how much natural light will absolutely flood this room?! The moonlight may even be enough to navigate in the middle of the night!

 

Especially with another skylight in the toilet room! EEEEEKKK!!! This little room is high on my list of favorite spots in the whole cabin! I love the idea of peak privacy for a toilet room but a small space like this does not always pair well with my mild-to-moderate claustrophobia. The solution? Add natural night wherever we could. This room doesn’t have any exterior walls, so up on the roof the window went!

Okay, the skylight is truly great and all but can you even with this wallpaper?! I full-on swoon over a high impact wallpaper in the right space. And this one feels like perfection to me in here. The dense pattern allows your eye to wander so much it starts to feel like you could get lost. It’s like a treat every time you find a new little woodland creature.

Don’t worry, we will not be glossing over the vanity situation. She’s a beaut – and affordable to boot! It’s a wide space so off-the-shelf options are limited and we didn’t want to go the custom cabinetry route. So instead we will install two stock vanities directly side-by-side! That these each have three wide drawers will provide maximum storage for toiletries and extra towels.

 

You could absolutely use two separate mirrors here, but I wanted this space to feel as open and light as possible. This big mirror will help bounce all the natural light around the space and make the space feel wider all at once. The pendant lights will supplement at night and on cloudy days.

If we were to use this cabin as a short-term rental, we would want to consider these things a little differently:

  • Provide fragrance free shower soap, shampoo, and conditioner
  • Stock a vanity drawer with extra toiletries and a hair dryer
  • Ensure you have enough towels (bath, hand, and washcloths) for twice the maximum occupancy

A reward for making it this far: a sneak peak at the bedroom coming up next!

 

Are you dreaming of a new bathroom? We can help!  You can choose from our basic kitchen + bathroom package with 8 standard items or customize your package to change / add catalog items. You can also add space planning or work with us in person if you are within 25 miles of Madison, WI!

Each of our designs come with a photorealistic image of the room, design narrative, and a clickable catalog. You can then do the work yourself or give a copy to contractors for comparable bids!

 

 

 

 

 

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My future cabin: the entry

Welcome to the first stop on the cabin tour – the entry way! We all know that first impressions matter, so we cannot overlook the first room that greets you. While its first focus should be function – always – this space also sets the tone as soon as you walk through the front door.

As a reminder, this particular entryway also happens to be a central corridor and literally interacts with every other room on the main level.  Because of this, it was important to provide it’s own little moment, even if that was just a little bump-out.

We managed to fit a bench, closed storage in the form of a dresser, and a big mirror all in that little bit of real estate. The mirror, while needed to remind yourself how beautiful you are before before you head out the door, also tricks the eye into making the space feel bigger by spanning the full width of the bump out. But where do the shoes go?! Good question. In the dresser drawers! Like this IKEA piece – have you seen it? It’s a great small space shoe storage solution.

The stairs to the basement are just to the left as you walk in the front door. We’ve wrapped the stairwell walls with gridded windows to capture maximum natural light and those forest views. We’ve also added decorative stone to the foundation walls to help establish that cozy cabin feeling. The more natural materials you can feature, the more cabin-y it will feel!

Turning around to take a look at the other side of the entry, we are reminded that we are in the heart of the central corridor. The front door is quite literally right next to the shared bedroom wall. Any of the limited options that we considered for this side had to really hug the wall. Even though we’ve allowed for a wider-than-standard hallway, we still don’t want to impede into that space if at all possible.

So we opted to create a sort of interactive art installation and take up the whole wall with with a multitude of coat hooks in an offset grid pattern! I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time navigating multiple items on a single (heck, even a double!) hook. And every time I visit a vacation home, I’m always wishing there were more hooks. So we decided to go all out with the hooks! This could be accompished with several different styles; I can also imagine different colored and sized hooks playfully installed in a random pattern.

But here, we’ve kept the color scheme of the entry way comprised of earthy neutrals. This is intentional – so that it can speak to all the different rooms it opens up to: the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen / living room. To keep things interesting, we’ve made sure to include lots of texture, balanced the light / medium / dark tones, and included colorful accents. Since this is our vacation home, we’ve used personalized framed photography on a picture rail that spans the length of wall above the coat hooks. On the other side, we included accents with the foundation stonework and patterned throw pillow. Oh! And the plant. Never underestimate the power of a green plant accent! If you can, tend to the live version for improved air quality. But in the case of a cabin, especially a vacation home that is visited intermittently at best, you’ll want to invest in some quality faux greenery.

As a reminder,  our vacation home plan assumes 2 bi-weekly users and will need to accomdate occasional groups of up to 6. A few things we considered for  our cabin entry way:

  • Store a guest book on the photo ledge
  • Artwork can include personal photos and/or fun times at the cabin
  • Ditch your outside shoes for personalized cabin slippers
  • The linen closet holds one spare set of sheets for each bed  and at least 6 bath towel sets
  • Could also use entire entry nook to house / store extra dining seating.
If we were to use this cabin as a short-term rental, we would want to consider these things a little differently:
  • Pair a small seating option with closed storage to house games, books, and extra blankets
  • Display a binder with property / rental information on the dresser
  • Frame and hang the wi-fi password on the wall(s)
  • Instead of typical artwork, frame a local map with points of interest labeled by the front door
  • Provide cabin slippers as part of rental experience – and to encourage no outside shoes to help preserve cleanliness and flooring longevity
  • Linen closet holds same AND the locked owners closet holds additional spare linens

If you like what you’ve seen so far – stay tuned to see what the bathroom has to offer next. I may be biased, but I think it’s pretty spectacular!

 

 

Are you building a cabin of your own? Either as a vacation home or short-term rental? If you need helping hand, we’ve got all your affordable interior design needs covered! You may want to specifically check out our Whole-House Interior Design Packages or our Short-term Rental Design Options!

 

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My future cabin: the plan

I grew up in a log cabin on a section of my grandparents’ farmland in Central Illinois. The acre yard and 20 acres of pasture beyond were literally my playground. While my life is now happily rooted in the city life of Madison, Wisconsin, I have a built-in need for quiet and fresh air. That and my love of hammocking (yes, it’s a verb in my world) is what inspired me to buy a small wooded lake lot in late 2019! It’s about an hour away and I dream of having a cabin there someday for slumber parties and remote work. Until then, I will continue to use it for day trips to hammock and kayak on the small no-motor lake. It’s truly dreamy and I’m so grateful to have this little getaway!

 

Originally, I wanted to build a majestic A-frame on top of the hill. Sadly – no matter how beautiful it would have been – the price tag was just not worth the ineffecient floor plan. So back to the drawing board I went. I emerged with a basic 25′ x 35′ rectangle that will ultimately feel anything but basic. You’re going to have to wait a bit to see what the outside will look like, but the main level floor plan is ready for its debut!

While the lower level will be largely unfinished, the main level is split in half along with a central hallway, which creates four distinct areas:

  • Entry/Bathroom
  • Bedroom
  • Living Room
  • Kitchen

The more private spaces face the driveway with the open kitchen and living room facing the lake. The stairwell is just to the left of the main entry door and will get flooded with natural light from windows that wrap around the corner.  These same gridded windows will also be used in the bedroom, but the lake facing windows in the kitchen and living room will provide as unobstructed views as the budget allows.

The ceilings will all be vaulted, so the rooms will feel more spacious than their relatively small footprints. And knowing what is to come – I can say with confidence that while this cabin may be small, she is holding onto a few really big moments (stay tuned – the entry is next!).

So what makes this a cabin and not a small house? Good question! While this would fit Webster’s definition of a “small one-story dwelling of simple constuction”, I will also have a basement added. Since the building code in my area requires a 4-foot frost wall below grade – and I’m on a hill – it makes sense to go ahead and dig a full basement while they’re at it. So I guess it’s technically a small house?

But I consider this to be a cabin because it will be used as a getway and not a full-time residence. With that comes different considerations for the amount and type of space I will need. In one word? LESS. Here’s the working assumptions and priorities that went into this plan:

  • Will be used year-round.
  • Most trips will be relatively short with 1-2 of the owners as guests.
  • Needs to be able to accomodate 4-6 total guests on occasion.
  • There will be some clothing left there full-time, but not a full wardrobe.
  • Basement level will hold laundry appliances and a powder room, but will otherwise remain unfinished.
  • Prioritize lake views and comfortable seating / sleeping spaces.

What would be different if it were a short-term rental? This particular plan could quite easily be modified to suit a short-term rental by:

  • Incorporating a stackable laundry unit on the main level.
  • Ensuring the sectional sofa holds a queen sized bed for additional guests.
  • Creating an ‘instagram-able moment’ with a cantilevered window seat in the bedroom.
  • Finishing the basement with a second bedroom and bathroom.
  • Including a ping-pong or pool table in the basement.

Are you building a cabin of your own? Either as a vacation home or short-term rental? If you need helping hand, we’ve got all your affordable interior design needs covered! You may want to specifically check out our Whole-House Interior Design Packages or our Short-term Rental Design Options!

 

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Whole House Design + THE (new) COLLECTION

Over the summer I tackled one of my biggest fears – public speaking. I presented a business challenge to a women’s networking group and asked if anyone had connections within the short-term rental industry. I was just hoping that would be able to meet with someone that could help me better understand the industy. What I got was far beyond anything I could have imagined!

A participant sent a message to tell me about Reliable Residence; a new company that pairs traveling medical professionals with furnished housing. Brilliant! Healthcare workers deserve every bit of the comforts of home – and a good nights sleep.

On a hope and a prayer, I sent a message on LinkedIn and asked if I could pick their brain over lunch or coffee sometime. The owner, Christina, replied and ultimately changed the direction of the next few months! She said that they were launching their website soon and expecting to be contacted by homeowners still needing to furnish their spaces. Would I want to meet soon? Would I ever!

We had a delightful virtual meeting where I learned that she herself is a doctor and has horror stories about various accommodations during medical school rotation travels. I also learned that their clients really value a ‘lived in’ space that genuinely feels like a home and not a hotel. That means artwork and accessories and all the things. And it would be great if all of those things were available to them in one place.

Then she asked a pivotal question: Do you offer multiple-room packages? So someone could furnish up to a 4-bedroom house all at once? You know what – I have been thinking about that for awhile – but haven’t quite figured it out yet. Feels like this might be a good time for that, eh? Mission accepted!

SO. How can a Whole-House Design be both comprehensive AND affordable?! Well, it took some noodling, but we think we came up with a pretty good solution!

 

Because the personalized designs take up the majority of our time, we will reserve them for the most impactful rooms: the bedroom(s) and living room. These personalized designs include photorealistic 3D images of the new rooms and a custom clickable catalog with direct links to 8 of the most impactful products for each room. That means all those ‘big ticket’ items will be unique to you and truly reflect your style!

. . . . and  T H E N . . .

We layer in those accessories and decor items with our pre-fab designs in THE COLLECTION.

The Whole-House Design package includes 4 Collection designs of your choice! These designs only have clickable catalogs, are pre-selected, and are available for anyone to purchase directly from our website. You can filter by Collection type, room type, color scheme, and total product cost!

As we mentioned, the Collection designs do not include a photorealistic image. This is because they live on the website at all times for all to see. So it is challenging to provide you a preview without quite literally giving it all away. So here’s where we landed. The product image includes extreme close-ups of pivotal products you you can get a sense of the vibe…

…and then the descriptions are jam packed with all the details we can muster! In fact, these descriptions are a real treasure trove. They also include the Total Product Cost and icons to show you which products are included. The last thing we want is for there to be any surprises when you go to make the purchases.

 

 

If you have purcased a Collection design directly from the website, you will instantly receive the clickable catalog in your email inbox! However, if you are choosing them as part of your Whole-House Design, you will receive your personalized and pre-fab catalogs together.

You can click on any of the images or descriptions to see each of the products we’ve selected for you! Now you can put together your new room on your own timeline – and breathe that sigh of relief.

 

 

If you are interested in a Whole-House Design package, schedule a Free 15 Minute Meet + Greet here. If all goes well and you’re ready to get started, you will need to submit a $1,000 deposit and schedule your consultation.

If your project will be virtual, email us photos and dimensions of your room. If you need assistance, we’ve got a photo guide and measurement template to help you out.

During the consultation, we will talk about your budget, style, and needs for your space. We’ll take a look at the style boards on our Pinterest page and talk about what you react strongly to – both good and bad. And if you have your own boards going, we’ll want to check those out, too.

 

Thank you so much for choosing Insighed Designs! If you have any questions at all whatsoever, do not hesitate to ask! And if you have a one-room project to tackle, we can help with that, too. Check out our Online Interior Design package!

 

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INSIGHED DESIGNS

nancy@insigheddesigns.com

Based in Madison, WI. Serving the world!

608-509-2488