Adirondack Charm Meets Fresh Style — A Miles Redd Living Room I Love

Some rooms stop you in your tracks—not because they’re dramatic or showy, but because they feel instantly right. This Adirondack living room by designer Miles Redd, photographed for Architectural Digest, is one of those rare spaces that balances comfort, tradition, and freshness all at once. It feels lived-in, loved, and welcoming… yet wonderfully stylish.

A Fresh Take on Cabin Upholstery

What struck me first was the upholstery. Every major furnishing is covered in a Lee Jofa fern fabric, and instead of feeling repetitive, it creates a harmonious, collected-over-time look. The pieces themselves look like they came from different eras—some older, some newer—but the unified fabric ties them together beautifully.

If you love this style as much as I do, I carry the same fern print in my online shop — it has the same woodsy charm and works wonderfully in cabins, bunk rooms, and cozy sitting areas.

Ferns in Indigo and Linen   Photo Source: Kravet

It’s a reminder that mountain homes don’t have to follow the beige-brown-leather formula. Pattern can be cozy, not busy—especially when the palette is natural and the print references the landscape outside.

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 Adirondack living room by Miles Redd with Lee Jofa fern upholstery and traditional cabin decor.  Photo: Architectural Digest / Miles Redd  Noe Dewitt

(For more classic Miles Redd cabin decor style see my previous post on Miles' own rustic cabin.)  

Adirondack Style, Done the Right Way

The second thing I noticed: those wonderful Adirondack stick-style elements. The stair railing, with its classic twig pattern, adds an instant sense of place. It roots the room in traditional mountain craftsmanship without feeling rustic or heavy.

Adirondack details like this have so much charm—and when paired with lighter prints and fresh fabrics, they keep a home warm and soulful rather than overly “themed.”

 Classic Adirondack stick-style stair railing, log trusses and beams, wood tongue and grove walls all give cozy mountain cabin living room design.  Photo: Architectural Digest / Miles Redd  Noe Dewitt

Cozy, Inviting, and Happily Traditional

So many mountain interiors today fall into two extremes:

• the grey-white-black modern chalet look (beautiful but often too cold), or

• the heavy leather lodge look (warm but predictable)

This room sits right in the sweet spot.

It’s cozy, inviting, traditional, and casually elegant. The eclectic mix of upholstered pieces, the pattern-on-pattern softness, the timeless rug layering—it all works together to create a space that feels like it has evolved over decades, not designed in a day.

That kind of layered charm is at the heart of great mountain design.

Want More Cabin Style Inspiration?

Explore two reader favorites:

• Can I Paint My Log Walls?

• 8 of the Most Charming Cabin Kitchens Ever

See hundreds of fabrics and wallpapers curated especially for cabins, lodges, and mountain homes:
TahoeDreamInteriors.com

Follow along for fresh cabin ideas:

• Pinterest

• Instagram

Let your mountain home reflect the beauty, comfort, and creativity you love.

— Sue Pipal

Ferns Fabric in Indigo White  Photo Source Kravet

Note:  Ferns also comes in coordinating wallpaper.  

       

Ferns Wallpaper in Green   Photo Source: Kravet

Bring Color Back! Let's Start with Red.

 

Native American-inspired, Manta Performance Fabric

Red: The Classic Cabin Color Making a Comeback. For over a decade, design trends have leaned heavily toward black, white, and gray — sleek, minimal, and muted. But in mountain homes, where wood and stone naturally darken a space, neutrals can leave a cabin feeling flat and gloomy.  That’s why we think it’s time to bring color back — and what better color to start with than red?

Red has always been a classic in cabin décor. It brings life, warmth, and cheerfulness to cozy spaces without disrupting the rustic charm that makes cabins so irresistible. In fact, red is woven deeply into mountain-home traditions: classic plaids, durable woolens, Native American–inspired textiles, bright stripes, ginghams, and lodge patterns have all featured red for generations.

Photo Source:  Ralph Lauren Indian Cove archives

It’s also wonderfully practical. Red is a mid-tone color, which means it doesn’t show dirt easily. It looks fantastic in woolens, plaids, and textured fabrics — perfect for family use, pets, and gatherings. It provides warmth without heaviness, especially in rooms with lots of natural wood.  This season, we’re celebrating red with a curated mix of fabrics and wallpapers that feel both traditional and fresh:

A stag and oak wreath motif, charming and woodsy. Woburn Meadow

Image source unknown — used here for design inspiration and educational discussion.

Red is featured in Designer Miles Redd's own mountain cabin! (Above)

And don't forget wallpaper when you're decorating with red. Below, Fly Fishing. Inspiration idea: Use your favorite red wallpaper in bedrooms and the powder room. To view all our red cabin wallpapers, click here. Left, Jules Wallpaper in Red.

A red and white velour safari print — playful, bold, and unforgettable. Safari Red  Navajo Velvet , above, makes a statement but is oh, so soft and cozy to cuddle up in! Red Pendleton Blanket, below. Pierre Frey's Alpage, above, a classic chalet inspired beauty! Inspiration idea: All of these fabrics mix beautifully when layered. Don't be afraid to mix themes, textures and patterns. Let the red unite it all together in your rooms.  Use stripes and Native American–inspired fabrics on ottomans, benches, and banquettes. Try red accent pillows, quilts, and throws to bring instant warmth. Add pops of red in kitchen towels, pottery, dishware, and table linens to carry the color story throughout the home. And for the bedroom, a stack of Pendleton blankets, wool throws, or red-inspired sheets adds heritage charm and all-season coziness.

Visit our Red Fabrics

 Inspiration idea: Antiques and red accents in a Dragonfly Designs client project, above. It's all in the mix! European antique collectibles mix with American inspired plaid fabrics, antique hickory camp antiques, luxe fabrics and carpets. Left, Aravis red plaid fabric.

Visit our Red Fabrics

Don't forget that area rugs are another opportunity to add color! 

Strong whimsical graphics and textural patterns together? Yes, please! We love the contrast in the mix of this masculine antlers hunt theme and the smaller wood grain pattern. Always try to mix scale in your rooms. A large pattern will fight with another large pattern, but here you can see that the smaller scale of the wood grain pattern offsets the large graphic perfectly. Above left, Antlers comes in both fabric and wallpaper. A knockout idea: do up a gentleman's library with this antler pattern on the both the walls and the curtains. Above right, Wood Grain fabric, a cotton and linen mix, great for curtains, light upholstery, bedding and toss pillows.

For over 60 different red fabrics and hundreds of specially curated mountain appropriate fabrics and wallpapers, visit tahoedreaminteriors.com. All items are sorted by color to make your selection process easy. We offer free samples. For design questions, advice, or general chatting about your home, contact Sue Pipal, Interior Designer, at spipal@att.net. Visit our Red Fabrics Related Posts You Might Enjoy Whimsical Wallpapers for Playful Rooms Add Playfulness to Your Cabin with Whimsical Wallpapers What to do if I feel that there is just too much wood in my log cabin? Can I paint my log walls? Need some cabin kitchen ideas? 8 Of the Most Charming Cabin Kitchens Ever

Plaid Perfection for Your Cabin

 

Plaid and cabins — some things are simply meant to be. For generations, plaid has been the pattern of choice in rustic interiors. From cozy tartan blankets to timeless wool upholstery, these classic checks have warmed ski cabins, lake houses, and mountain lodges for over a century. Classic Ralph Lauren, Abelaird Plaid The tradition began with Scottish tartans — patterns that once identified clans and later became symbols of craftsmanship and comfort. When plaid crossed the Atlantic, it became a staple of frontier life and early American homesteads. From wool shirts to rugged blankets, its practicality made it indispensable in the great outdoors. Image source unknown — used here for design inspiration and educational discussion. Today, plaid remains a cabin essential — not just for its heritage, but for its versatility. Many of our plaids are woven from durable wool or sturdy blends that can stand up to crowds, guests, family reunions, kids, and even dogs. Dense colorations hide wear beautifully, so you can relax instead of worrying about the furniture. Plaids can be neutral like this Galloway Plaid in Natural, above. Beiges, tans, camels and browns can look elegant with natural wood and stone rustic cabin finishes, see below. Image source Traditional Home, Charles Faudree — used here for design inspiration and educational discussion.

Why not a blue plaid? Shetland Plaid in Quartz Blue, below, by Kravet has stunning coloration. We say practical, durable and beautiful! Inspiration idea: The more the merrier. Here curtains, walls and upholstery are all in one blue plaid. Left, Islay Plaid in Teal by Mulberry Home. This would be so pretty with log walls!

Engadine in Grey, a clean, modern windowpane plaid. Galloway in Red Green by Colfax and Fowler. Image Source Genessee River Trading Co Inspiration idea: Classic Camp Style--mix plaids with Americana quilts, blankets and antique accessories. Go bold with color. In fact, go bold with everything...don't be afraid to be whimsical, afterall, a cabin is for fun!

Whether you’re styling a Tahoe lake house, a ski lodge, or a cozy forest retreat, plaid brings warmth, texture, and that unmistakable “welcome home” feeling. Perfect for winter holidays, fireside evenings, and all the moments that make mountain life special.

Visit our Plaid Fabrics

Image Source:  Ralph Lauren Indian Cove Archives

Inspiration idea: For a dressed up cabin interior, this beautifully styled room by Ralph Lauren home shows off his expert skills at mixing classic collections and family heirloom furnishings with plaids, Native American fabrics, Navajo rugs and furry pillows. Sticking to a simple black and red color scheme makes it all hang together. Black and white windowpane plaid fabric, Westcliff Tattersall, is also by Ralph Lauren.

Visit our Plaid Fabrics

Image Source: Schumacher

Montana Wool Plaid in Hunter, by Schumacher.

Florals and plaids together? Yes, please! We love the contrast in the mix of pretty and delicate with rustic and masculine. Opposites make for the most interesting rooms. This large-scale modern floral thistle pattern from Sanderson, Thistle Garden, on a natural linen background is pretty without being too precious for cabin life. Plaids come in non-traditional colorations, too. This lavender and lilac colored woolen plaid, Morlich, is every bit as durable and rustic as any old-school red and green plaid, but it's pretty modern coloration gives it just that touch of style.

For over 60 different plaid and tartan fabrics and hundreds of specially curated mountain appropriate fabrics and wallpapers, visit tahoedreaminteriors.com. All items are sorted by color to make your selection process easy. We offer free samples. For design questions, advice, or general chatting about your home, contact Sue Pipal, Interior Designer, at spipal@att.net. Visit our Plaid Fabrics Want more cabin design inspiration?  Explore two of our most-loved posts:    Can I Paint My Log Walls?  8 of the Most Charming Cabin Kitchens Ever See hundreds of wallpaper and fabrics curated especially for cabins, lodges, and mountain homes.  Tahoedreaminteriors.com     Follow along for fresh cabin ideas and new mountain home inspiration:  Pinterest Instagram Let your mountain home reflect the beauty, comfort, and creativity you love. — Sue Pipal