Decorating & Design
February 21, 2017
11 Tips To Design A Cozy Scandi-Style Cabin
With its sweeping views and Scandi-inspired decor, this alpine cabin in Whistler, B.C., easily earns its title as the homeowners’ “happy place.” But the 1,800-square-foot retreat wasn’t always so picture-perfect. When the family first saw the property, “it was literally taken down to the studs,” one owner remembers. To maximize its potential, contractor Victor Beresford created an open, airy envelope, while designer Sophie Burke came up with a distinctive look for the interiors. “The idea was for it to have a Scandinavian feel: light, bright and modern, yet still cozy,” Sophie says. She went with clean-lined, but comfortable furniture, natural touches and a palette of cool blues and warm greys. Here are the key elements of this livable look.
Thanks to large, thoughtfully placed windows, the family can admire their rugged surroundings from every angle.
The living area marries a bright, spacious feel with a sense of comfort and intimacy. The family loves to kick back with a book or board game on their soft linen-clad sofa, woven pouf and swivelling armchairs.
In the adjacent kitchen, glossy tile and stainless steel appliances add a little polish, while soft grey cabinetry ties in nicely with the steely shades in the living room upholstery.
The existing ceilings were clad in warm cedar, so Sophie went with paler oak floors for a sense of balance. “We loved that it didn’t have any yellow tones,” she says. “It had just enough character to add warmth to the space, without getting too rustic.”
“We wanted to use lots of texture and natural materials,” Sophie says — a nod to the wilderness surrounding the cabin. Here, she paired mottled Pennsylvania bluestone tile with natural linen drapery. A woven picnic basket is a sweet finishing touch.
In the back entry, an antique bench brings in a little vintage character and makes a practical spot to get bundled up. A whimsical ice-skating illustration by Sophia Augusta is fitting for this outdoorsy retreat. “We really connect with nature here,” the homeowner says. “We enjoy all the usual winter activities: skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing out on the trails.”
Furnishings and textiles in tranquil shades of blue accent the home’s simple white-and-wood scheme.
Soft greys and handsome slates pair beautifully with blue, and lend the cabin a more sophisticated vibe.
Like the living spaces in the cabin, the stairwell stays nice and bright throughout the day, thanks to a large skylight and crisp white walls. At night, a minimalist, brass-accented sconce illuminates the space. “We wanted the lighting to feel more contemporary than what you’d typically find in a traditional Whistler cabin,” Sophie says.
In keeping with the streamlined pieces in the rest of the cabin, Sophie went with a simple nightstand and leggy bed in the principal bedroom. Deep blue linens and a graphite headboard are a cool counterpoint to the room’s warm wood accents, while wall-to-wall carpeting keeps things cozy.
Simple arrangements of greenery are peppered throughout the house as sweet reminders of the cabin’s lush surroundings. Dusky blue Eryngium flowers, like the ones placed on this rustic stump table, pop up here and there, along with vases of ornamental kale and cabbage, bowls heaped with persimmons, and bud vases styled with fresh green Hypericum.
Heather Ross
House & Home March 2016
Sophie Burke