Cabin Dreams: Inspiration for a Future Retreat

I planned to write this post from the site of our future cabin–cup of tea in hand, words flowing onto my computer screen inspired by a gentle breeze and incoming tide.  But no.  Thanks to a catastrophic plumbing situation here at home, a very naughty move by Winifred, and a gale wind warning and small-craft advisory, I am not.  Instead I sit at my kitchen table surrounded by dirty dishes and piles of toys and laundry, yearning for cabin life.

This weekend was to be our last summer trip to my parents’ cabin in Halibut Cove.   My sister and I grew up spending summers on the small island community, which is six miles across Kachemak Bay from Homer, Alaska.

Red House West || Cabin Dreams

The view from my parents’ porch.

Halibut Cove is only accessible by water--Opal loves to drive the boat!

Halibut Cove is only accessible by water–Opal loves to drive the boat!

Halibut Cove is the place where I feel happiest in the world.  I really want Opal to grow up with the freedom and wonder that I felt as a kid there, and so this summer we started seriously exploring the possibility of buying property on the island. We looked at a few spots and then my parents very generously offered to let us build a cabin on their property!

Exploring the rocky intertidal zone--it's always much more fun when Katie is there to tell us about the secret lives of nudibranchs and chitons.

Exploring the rocky intertidal zone–it’s much more fun when Katie is with us to explain the secret lives of nudibranchs and chitons.

I am beyond excited and also a little overwhelmed by the project. Construction is set to begin in the spring (and please understand that when I say ‘we are going to build a cabin’ I mean ‘we are hiring professionals to build a cabin for us’) and so I have been feverishly collecting images and ideas, and I thought I would share a sample with you here.

We’re aiming for about 900 square feet and two storeys. Here are a few cabins from the interwebs that capture something of the feel we’re going for:

Katie's sleeping nook?  Source.

Katie’s sleeping nook? Source.

It would be great to have a bunk room for Opal and her cousins.

A bunk room for Opal and her cousins would be so great!  Source

Just looking at these pictures is getting me so excited, I can’t wait until next summer!  I wish I could be in our cabin right now instead of looking at the ever-growing midden piles here in our house.  Time to put pen to paper and start making lists and drawing rough designs.  Any advice for good cabin inspiration sources, or specifics we should consider as we go through the design process? Thanks for reading along–there’s a lot of blog fodder in this project so stay tuned!

16 responses on “Cabin Dreams: Inspiration for a Future Retreat

  1. michellet2013

    Sounds like a fun winter project Mera—and Halibut Cove is so gorgeous! I’m sure that Opal will be Captain of that boat in no time…

  2. michellet2013

    Sounds like a fun winter project Mera—and Halibut Cove is so gorgeous! I’m sure that Opal will be Captain of that boat in no time…thanks for sharing!

    1. meramatthews

      Totally train-berth like! Cousin accommodations are a must–I can barely wait to watch all those cuties grow up together in my favorite place, next door to my favorite neighbors! 🙂

  3. Carol Crump Bryner

    How lucky to be able to build your cabin in the place where you are happiest in the world, and then to share it with the next generation. I especially love the little bed alcove for Katie to sleep in. In another one of your sources there was a bed with lights underneath it! Never saw such a thing. What fun you’ll have planning this.

  4. Lynn

    Great news, Mera. I may be as excited as you and will drop by a book of mine called “Cabins,” as well as “Young House Love.” Look for them on your porch. The cabins pictured in your blog have touches of the cabin nearby, from banquettes to climb-up bunks. Yum.

    1. meramatthews

      Thank you Lynn! Yes, it’s true, I can’t escape my influences (especially when they’re so good!). Looking forward to perusing your books!

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