Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Fishing Cabin for One Becomes a Retreat for Two
A new open layout, fresh finishes and white paint transform a fishing cabin in Alabama
Pitts transformed the main level of the 1930s cabin by opening up vaulted ceilings, reconfiguring rooms and painting walls white to revive the formerly dark interior. She also added a cozy screened porch off the back.
The designer also gave the exterior a face-lift. “We redid the exterior to have a more current feel,” Pitts says. The exterior is now covered in Hardiplank siding painted a tranquil blue-gray.
Pitts added custom brackets and a canopy above the door, along with an ornate circular window above to create a welcoming new entry.
Pitts added custom brackets and a canopy above the door, along with an ornate circular window above to create a welcoming new entry.
Pitts paneled the central hallway in board-and-batten siding and painted the interior of the Dutch door white to match the walls. The couple’s two long-haired dachshunds like to hang out here.
Pitts relocated the kitchen from the opposite corner of the house to create an open, flowing floor plan. The nearby doorway — previously the main entrance to the home — now leads out onto a grilling deck. A coat of Benjamin Moore Gray Mist on the walls brightens up the kitchen and adjoining living area.
“There’s nothing really fussy about the kitchen,” Pitts says. Simple Shaker-style cabinetry in a crisp white was used to encase appliances like the refrigerator. A warm wood covers the outer countertops to connect to the vaulted ceiling. Pitts topped the farm table-inspired island with white quartz. The range hood and walls clad in board and batten add a campy feel to the home.
Pitts reconfigured the updated guest room by removing closets to make room for two double beds. The board-and-batten walls extend from the living areas into the bedrooms. A wood sunburst mirror hangs on the white wall between the two beds and visually connects to the wood ceiling.
Browse sunburst-style mirrors
Browse sunburst-style mirrors
The designer transformed the master bedroom by adding a window seat and more closet space and opening the ceiling to expose the vaulted roofline. A black four-poster bed provides visual contrast against the white walls.
Pitts installed a minimal marble-top vanity in the master bathroom to make room for more storage. The custom floor-to-ceiling Shaker-style cabinets on both sides of the vanity offer plenty of room for toiletries and linens.
The new screened back porch is sophisticated yet casual, outfitted in organic materials and plush seating. Vine chandeliers from Scott Antique Markets in Atlanta are unique statement pieces.
Pitts incorporated large ceiling beams into the design of the outdoor living area to make it feel like part of the interior. Dutch doors that echo the front door lead from the master suite onto the back porch, and a row of three French doors connects to the living room.
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More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Wilson Lake, Alabama
Size: 2,000 square feet (185.8 square meters)
Designer: R. Cherri Pitts of Studio C Architecture & Interiors
Two professionals from Florence, Alabama, purchased this log cabin on Wilson Lake nearly 20 years ago. It was originally intended to be a fishing retreat for the husband, but he decided to give the cabin a softer touch to encourage his wife to visit more often. The couple enlisted designer Cherri Pitts to create a comfortable shared retreat ideal for both husband and wife.