Could start by selecting a few large area rugs: under dining table area, to anchor furniture for living room, etc. Then I would select my major seating pieces: sofa, chairs. Your wood on the walls has a lot of activity. I would stay with no patterns on the furniture, just solids in rich textures. Maybe large coffee table with a slate top.

Thank you! I really like the slate coffee table idea and you're right some area rugs would probably be a great starting point. Thanks again :)

I agree with you that white furniture is not right here. This is not a girly place. Rose and pink would look kind of silly, too. I'd go for antique furniture in various original dark wood finishes. These would contrast nicely with your medium-wood walls and trim. Maybe some pale wood pieces for variety. In some places, wood things that match the walls will work - when you don't want them to appear too big, for example.

Then perhaps some painted pieces, bright, dark, or medium colors according to your taste. I've seen some log or log-like interiors done delightfully with "hippie" colors. Don't feel obliged to have red or forest green plaid.

Lucky you! We had a full pine log house, loved it. Now DH has a full log office. The office is done in oriental rugs and green leather upholstered chairs plus wood office furniture in the same tone as the logs, a bit darker than yours.

I love big colorful rugs to anchor your spaces. Then you can use cream to beige upholstered pieces if you like. Punch them up with colorful pillows and maybe a nice fluffy textured throw. You might like to mix in some colored pieces as well, any color will go with the wood. It does have an orangey cast, so you could look in the cool green, teal and blue shades. As for wood furniture, darker pieces will go well. Remember, many trees grow together in the forest!

Funny, I saw room with cream/beige upholstered pieces also! ESP?

Call me crazy but I like the idea of white furniture. Nothing tailored but rather big, overstuffed, comfortable, pieces slipcovered (I know it's a fading trend) in a thick, white canvas would be a nice contrast to the wood in the living room--or anywhere. I noticed the white vent, the outlet cover, the sink all have a nice crisp contrast to the wood tone. I kinda like it that idea. Then you could channel your creativity to selecting visually interesting pieces to accent your spaces with. Call me crazy again but I could totally see a chandelier made of buckhorns illuminating your white clad living room.

I looked for a few images and found a few. I think these look fairly good. Pic 2 isn't a log cabin but you see what white slip covers against a rustic background can look like. Just remember you don't have to do this all over the house but do establish some kind of communication from space to space. Also remember "white" doesn't have to be white. Very light colored blonde woods or grays can be "white" too. And if you want to rough it up a little to make it a bit more manly, how about a chunky glass top on a base made of stripped logs screwed and arrange in some interesting manner and painted in shades of white?

Whatever you decide, hey, you'll be living in a log cabin. How cool is that?

Just because it is a log cabin does not mean you absolutely must use a certain style of decor. Look at these wonderful examples for inspiration, and create a space that feels welcoming.

HI -- WOW ! Lucky You ! I love it and you said you can't see white furniture in it and that's the first thing I thought of when I saw your house. Nice comfy Montak type sofa's with lots of ethnic covered cushions and some buffalo plaid drapes and cushions and cable knitted throws. And large Art. I can see the shadows of the formers art placement. Please don't hang your art in the same spots. I don't think you need to do anything to the wood or the fireplace , this is just a decor issue.I think some of those white animal heads scattered up the face up the face of the fireplace would look awsome. So you could have the white sofas for the summer and then have slipcovers in something for the winter like a denim or a cord. Yes, keep all the bigger pieces in plain fabrics and add your colors and textures with the smaller decor items.For side tables and coffee tables you could go with painted pieces. Or maybe a wrought iron base in there some where. Have the area rugs in woven textures in neutral tones and add a cow hide some where in the room.Big earthenware base lamps with linen shades. And have some copper items in the decor. You could maybe darken or paint the stair spindles as an accent ,but save this idea for after everything else is done and see what you think, it might not need to be done.

I love wood with green, black, and white or cream, with natural accents. The black adds a modern sophistication to the look.

Here are a few examples...

I'd hold off and wait till you get your furniture moved in, then throw some pics. on Houzz and let the community give you some suggestions. White furniture might look great in your new home (which I would kill for BTW!). You might only need accents and accessories to complete your new abode! On a side note, is that really you in your profile pic., or did you just rip out and scan a page from Vogue? Lol, but seriously...

Fabulous home! I, too, love the idea of the white furniture....if the scale is appropriate. The slipcovered pieces are durable and provide wonderful contrast to the wood. I have lived in a hundred-year old cabin. I love mixing textures more than colors. We have leather furniture, animal print rugs, ornate gold mirrors, glass candlesticks, antler and crystal light fixtures, bulky but bright floral oil paintings, etc. The only change I would have made would be to slipcover the leather sofas to change the overall look and add more dimension to the overall texture. Your wood provides much visual interest, so I would not compete with it. My rule of thumb.....decorate with bold pieces, don't be afraid to be dramatic, and don't clutter with little stuff. Feel free to see my idea book for the pictures on HOUZZ that I feel demonstrate these dramatic contrasts....there are a lot of cabins and rustic homes. Good luck! Post your results!

I love the rustic/industrial feel of this inspiration room and think similar decor would work equally well in your gorgeous vaulted space.

Man, I think every poster is on the same page here. Only difference is what shade of white/ cream/ etc. for your furniture!

Have fun with it. I'm attaching a few pictures of my log house. It is a weekender, so it's non fussy and hardy. It gets a lot of traffic. The dining room has an old cherry stained table and chairs which I stained navy blue. I then carried the blue throughout the house, staining the kitchen cabinets, old buffet and a few other pieces. Colorful rugs tie the room in. Love a long wide kitchen plank table and chairs, which a friend of mine has at her house.
Hope my ideas give you some enlightenment.

Congrats on the beautiful log home! We've been in our log home for four years. We've actually tried to bring in more color and get away from bringing in different wood grains, which tend to blend (in a bad way) even when they're contrasting shades. Having some painted furniture, especially creams/whites, can really brighten up the place and call attention to the beautiful wood of the house itself instead of hiding it in a sea of wood. We've also added variety in color and textures using colorful fabrics, modern nickel or brushed bronze lighting, and upholstered items that pop against our wood walls and ceilings. All wood-themed cabins can start to look dull or drab to me, so I like the contrast.

I'm sure whatever you go with will look lovely, but just wanted to let you know our experience has been that there's not as much restriction in log home decor as it seemed at first!

BTW, I love the stone on the fireplace. We're going to have our fireplace done soon, and that is very similar to what we're hoping to find. I was wondering if you know what stone it is or have any close up pics of it? Thanks!

I have the same dilemma when it comes to the wood from floor to ceiling. I just got married and moved into the house my husband had built. The entire house is wood. Outside, inside the wood is everywhere. It is pretty, but personally I would never have done it like this. It is just too much wood, and he built it as a man cave. Plus it is not my taste at all, but he loves it.

The wood is lighter like yours, and our fireplace is stone all the way to ceiling. I really love the fireplace. I have some darker pieces of furniture ,as well as, a couple pieces that are painted a blue color. The blue really helps to make it not be so much wood. My coffee table is blue and so is my china cabinet. I also have a huge rug in the living room that helps a lot as well. The living, dining & kitchen are all open.

Hope these suggestions help. If you have any for me please let me know!!

I find all the wood is a great foil for texture and color. I love playing with textiles in different weaves, colors in the blue and green ranges. With blue and green, you have air, water and earth. Add a touch of orange for the fire and the trees that make up your home will be content. You will have a happy home.

I LOVE THE PHOTO THAT JAMIESON POSTED. CAN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT. WHAT I DID NOTICE RIGHT AWAY WAS THE WHITE SOFFIT AROUND THE ROOM WHICH SEEM TO SUPPORT THE CHOICE OF WHITE FURNITURE. COULD YOU PAINT SOMETHING WHITE? THE SPINDLES ON THE RAILING? OR THE MANTEL SURROUND?

I had posted a few pictures above of my log home. I have a lot of color going on in it which really brightens the home up. I'll send more pictures. I used Mexican tile on a buffet I had built and ran some Mexican till up a little space on a doorway. I've got a couple southerwestern type colorful rugs. I have a green leather sofa. So many vivid colors look great in a log house. If you love color you should have no problems.

Laurenbrooke your home is wonderful, so much possibility! I love cottage and cabin design. I find homeowners are open to so much more expression in their secondary homes. I love Mary Emmerling's books for inspiration, she is the queen of this kind of decor. Do a google search and you will see what I mean, or go to your nearest library and find her books. Also Ralph Lauren does some wonderful things for this kind of decor, use for inspiration and then go shop around.

Restoration Hardware has many many pieces that would fit well in your home. Right now they have a sale on slipcovered and upholstered and leather sofas and chairs. You could do a slipcovered 7' sofa and an additional slipcover for less than some similar sofas cost. I would be happy to share more info if you need it.

Capel has some wonderful rugs, I have used many of theirs for cottages and cabins here in BC. Look for local artisans as well, you might find some very unique and interesting things. Sometimes their ads are posted in local papers or cottage magazines.

I too love the look of the white slipcover and do not think it will ever go out of style, as it is functional (can bleach them to keep snowy white), looks great against all that wood, and always is a good backdrop for cushions of every type. I love to use kilims, ikats, tribal, southwest and mixes of florals and embroidered. I mix it up with leather and hide too.

When shopping for slipcovers for a holiday home make sure your washer can accomodate the bulk of them to wash to make life truly relaxing, look for things such as velcro tabs or zippers to make them easy to put on and off. Make sure the fit is good too unless you like the oversized loose look. I would stay away from a mix of cotton with manmade fibers, choose either cotton/linen or something like a perennial that is 100% stain free and easy care.

Hope this helps and please show us some pictures of your new home as it transitions.

Susan Mills

I love the horizontal knotty pine. You can go in any direction with it as per the inspiration photos above. It can go modern, cottage, beach, ski lodge....just decide what mood you like and go from there. The pine is your wall color, it is relatively light, very warm and definetely not boring which gives you lots of options. It looks like the kitchen will need some work and there you may want to go with some white drywall, which will make a great contrast to the wood. Cabinets will depend on how you decide to do the rest of the house. Your home will always feel cozy - isn't that nice!

I have a log as well & I go for BRIGHT colors. Try a colorful quilt on your bed & or walls, also red or green(not dark green, but bold) blue (bright) furniture , with area rugs. I have red checkered seat cushion on my kitchen stools (which are a green celadon, almost like a light green) as well as red checkered valance. Think lots of color to make that wood recede. Good luck.
Marcy K

Old post!

Here is some food for thought: black iron accents - lights, coffee and end tables; caramel leather soft sofas and chairs, maybe some celery green accents or rich persian rugs.

Post from 2012.

this is beautiful very relaxing atmosphere. I would blend in colors of earthy tones but not same color as the wood. Deep barn red or forest green for anchor colors ,solid area rugs with a lot of texture, black metal fixtures and an oversized comfortable couch for starters.

This post is from 2012... OP is long gone. Check the dates before you spend time on comments.

I think scale is the most important thing. You will need to have appropriately sized furniture or whatever style chosen will be overwhelmed by the wood.
I'm on the side of large upholstered furniture. Beige or taupe feels right to me. I would put a lot of color into the floors through area rugs Can go either Persian style or Kilimanjaro style IMO. So many possibilities and so so beautiful. Lucky you!

@rocketjcat, when someone posts on an old post, it gets bumped up, and all who requested notifications on the subject are notified. I am sure there are many people who are still interested in this subject, so it doesn't hurt anything to post on it.

I benefited from seeing this. Just sayin.

mantel / 3 above mantel / inspiration

It doesn't 'hurt' to post on these old posts as long as those posting REALIZE ITS OLD. There are many contributors to houzz that spend literally hours doing layout, posting inspirational photos and photoshopping designs to help on these dilemas. If they have missed the fact it's an old dead post they have wasted a whole lot of time. We mention that these are old threads as a courtesy to them. If you enjoy reading some of them that's great, so do I. Nothing's stopping that.

Go big or go home. Especially in all the space you seem to have.

Or try the olde saw.....less is more. I am my happiest after the painters fold up and leave and all the Knick lacks, painting and other decor is still packed away.. I luv the feeling of open ness. That is why I am thinking MCM. No one to please but myself...will be departure from my more transitional.

White is the way to go. big white sofas. modern look. just gorgeous