How Roughing It in Style keeps cabin decor relevant!
In 2018 I highlighted an up north furniture store for it’s ability to do two things simultaneously:
- Give me that warm golden cabin feel I crave that is unique to it’s nostalgic aesthetic
- Make that same look feel harmonious with modern colors and design without compromising any of it’s charm
Well, it’s 2025 and I had a chance to walk thru their showroom and I would share the same feedback again!
Here are some notable ways the cabin decor store is keeping it fresh and new by finding it’s own version of the latest trends!
Layered prints and fabrics
In my mind warm cozy cabin has always been about plaid, hounds tooth, fur…and while this bed has all that it is also showing the importance of scale, subtle color matching and detail like the leather piping on the pillows. It is a look that would feel upscale in any bedroom but hits a home run with the log walls and stain glass lamps.
And you know I have to throw in this other example since I am obsessed with ski paraphernalia. Like my ski pillow covers these would have to be tucked away in summer, but they sure look great on top of these basket weave accent pillows!
Dreamy fishing art
I have found the “up north” equivalent to the Pastoral Art Trend I wrote about last year. Time and time again I was drawn back to this dreamy image of a fisherman in a canoe as I strolled through the store. It reminds me of a picture of my Grandpa or Uncle and the coloring is actually very close to some old photos of us as kids at my Aunt’s House on the lake.
Another version, sewn into a leather pillow, looks like the wildlife art of my parent’s den growing up. The fish pillows definitely have the vibe of an old Field and Stream magazine.
And this autumnal scene of duck hunters in the rushes could have been right off their wall! It is a nod to this duck and goose trend that had crept into my vintage shop hopping last spring.
Over sized chairs-due for a comeback?
I certainly celebrated the pairing down of a large overstuffed couch and a clumsy chair and a half (with an ottoman) to a chesterfield leather sofa and stylish wing back side chairs. But something about curling up with a book against a rain soaked window at a remote up north cabin justifies a bit more of a spacious seat. This one has a great modern take by giving us a stylish shape (no ottoman needed), a slimmer arm to balance it’s girth and the additional design of nail heads and leather.
This leather and wood chair was so comfy I almost left the store with it! It is the ultimate place to settle-into with a built-in side table for a cup of coffee or glass of wine. The entire chair swivels except for the separate leather ottoman, which is elegantly curved to tuck up against the seat. It reminds me of the grown up version of the Papasan chair we all wanted in our teen bedrooms (combined with an elegant wood barrel).
Speaking of wingback chairs…
The combination of leather and upholstery design here is by far winning me over even my favorite chair picks from last year’s search in the Valley. So much interest and texture without a splashy pattern or color. This is something you could imagine matching a wide variety of decor but not getting lost or looking boring.
A touch of fun!
I believe every good cabin design should have one piece of whimsy or folklore or at the very least- something personalized for the area or family lineage. Among the beautifully curated spaces of Roughing it in Style- I was happy to finish my shopping experience with this- a fun replica of a tourism poster for Wisconsin Fishing that is the perfect pop on a knotty pine wall.
In conclusion…
The most relevant thing about cabin design, ironically, is in it’s ties to the past. You know I love the “kitsch” of the ultimate summer getaway and I hope through all the new construction and redecorating families always remember to save a space for it- for faded comic books and tattered board games, Nancy Drew mystery novels and old paint by number books…
A well designed space will resonate with your guests in the moment but the simple reminders of bygone times and traditions stay with you for a lifetime.
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