Dragonfly Designs

Where I Want To Be

Comfy!!

What could be more inviting than this comfy rustic chair and side table? Just bring on an Arnold Palmer and a good cookbook to thumb through. My idea of the perfect afternoon at the cabin!

The fabric is AM Glory by Andrew Martin. I've used it in the past in a Tahoe bunk room. It makes a fabulous cheerful statement.

I also love this little Double Cross side table from Genesee River Trading Company. Everything this company makes is utterly charming.

I love whimsical for cabin living! What about you...are you modern rustic or cabin camp style?

Beautiful Wood Floors that Withstand Heavy Mountain Use

One question I am frequently asked is, "What kind of wood floors are best for cabins and mountain lodges?" Over the years, I have formed a strong opinion on this and I find that I make the same recommendation over and over.

Pre-wrecked--I am a big believer in using flooring that is antiqued. This can be actually antique wood or floors that are given an antique look at the factory. The more aged patina floors have, the more they will hide future scratches and mars. The reclaimed wood floor below was just installed into one of my projects last year. As you can see, it has just been barely sanded enough to make it smooth enough to walk on with bare feet. This has preserved it's beautiful antique color and texture. There are plenty of gouges as well as high and low points. If this floor becomes scratched or worn in the future, it will be easy to hit it with a little marking pen or stain and then oil over the top. It should appear exactly the same for many years into the future.

Reclaimed Wood Floors and Custom Area Rug by Dragonfly Designs

Reclaimed Wood Floor Detail

Lot's of Movement--I like to see lot's of color variations in the floors I install into my projects. Planks of varying colors, checking and cracking, knots and age marks or stains all make it hard for the eye to land in one place. This movement helps camoflage any wear and tear the floor may experience over the years. The floor below was installed into one of my projects over ten years ago and it still looks gorgeous today. The floors are antique white pine.

Antique White Pine Floors and Custom Needlepoint Carpet from Stark featuring Tahoe Native Plants and Animals

Detail of Custom Area Rug

Varied Plank Sizes--Next on my wood flooring wish list is varied planks. I like to use a mixture of at least two sizes, usually 8" and 10", but the more variation the better. Wide planks are my favorite, especially when the floors are beautiful. The floor below is made from antique hickory. It has been finely sanded but there is still quite a bit of variation, and of course, hickory wood has knots. The client and I had a bit of fun with this floor and added the bow-shaped joiners. This floor has been in use (with dogs) for over four years and still looks perfect.

Antique Hickory Wood

Bow Joining Detail

Mid to Darker Stains--Lightly-colored stains are harder to keep up, especially in the mountains where grit from summer hikers tends to come in the doors and winter shoes are often muddy. I tend to prefer floors that are no lighter than the ones shown above. If the house looks good with darker stain colors, the floors will be much easier to keep beautiful over time.

Always Oiled Not Verathaned.--I always recommended an oil finish such as Tung oil. The problem with Urethane or Verathane is that eventually the finish will wear through and then the floors will have to be sanded and varnished again. With antique floors, the more you sand, the more you remove the character. On the other hand, oil is something that can simply be added to over time. When the floors start to show a little wear, you just reapply the oil. Since the oil has a stain added, the dark glowing brilliance and color of the floors is brought back to life. If there are scratches or gouges, you can easily touch them up with a little colored marking pen or stain before reapplying the oil. There are special furniture retouching marking pens available for purchase or you can use art markers.

Maintenance for Oiled Floors--Oiled floors do need a little regular re-application with oil to look their best. Depending on how much wear the floors receive, once a year or so, you will need to reapply the oil. A few years ago I dropped by the house of my client whose floors are shown in the first photos above, to find the husband brooming Tung oil around the house. He had not even bothered to move furniture or roll up the area rugs, but was simply applying the oil to travel pathways and exposed areas of the floor. These clients have dogs and entertain large crowds frequently and their floors look exactly as they did the first day they were installed, now a dozen years later.

Concerns About Hydronics--Of course, in the mountains, folks like to have hydronic heat. Many of my clients have successfully installed solid wood planks over hydronic heating but I do still run into contractors that are fearful about doing so. "Antique-look" laminated wood floors are available that will solve that problem. These use new wood which has been distressed and aged to look antique. Some even have a hand-adzed look (a wavy textured one often finds in very old antique floors). These are also available in varied plank sizes and you can find also find them oiled. The oiled laminate floors below were installed about two years ago into another client's newly built Arts and Craft style house.

Oiled Floors in Laminate Application

Wood flooring is a big expense and you want to make sure you buy beautiful floors that have durability and performance in mind. Using my "pre-wrecked", oiled, high variation flooring tips will ensure that your floors survive years of heavy mountain abuse, dogs, kids and grit.

St. Moritz Sophistication

Antiques, new upholstery, sumptuous details and gorgeous woodwork all create a gorgeous mix in this elegant St. Moritz chalet.

A rustic and charming kitchen mixes it up-- old world blue and white tile, country pine, rugged stone floors and white washed cabinetry intermingle with modern granite counter-tops and the most luxurious of contemporary appliances.

In the entry... a practical stone floor, faux painted "stone" walls, rustic knotted doors and mountain antiques.

This is a to-die-for ceiling!! It's all just beautiful with the old limestone fireplace and the pine book shelves with rustic pine column and ionic capital details. Again, the mix of rugged mountain materials, country craftsmanship inspired by European-city-sophistication and elegant antiques, carpets and upholstery.

And another gorgeous ceiling and floor.

White washing or 'liming' at its best.

Above, a perfect place to relax and enjoy the view. I love curtains in the mountains. They soften up all that pine woodwork creating a feeling of sumptuous comfort.

Speaking of sumptuous, nothing like a velvet headboard, a fur throw and old oil paintings to bring on the luxury.

A wider angle view of the library. In the midst of all the books and masculinity, a cozy sofa in a floral print beckons the reader to curl up and enjoy the fire.

Utterly charming. Love the detail in the woodwork, the short curtains and the well-loved little carved fireplace.

As seen on dustjacket attic.

Dancing Bears

In Tahoe we love our bears. Here are a couple of ways to incorporate bears into your interiors...

High End:

Isn't this cabinet from Ty Loyola charming?

Hand-carved and hand-painted Ty Lyola Dancing Bears Cabinet (for more information, click here)

Not everyone can afford this adorable hand-carved hand-painted custom-made cabinet, but if you can...this is the one to splurge on. I call this a room-maker! 48" wide x 36" high. $7950

"Low" End:

I spotted this piece of artwork by Cathy McClelland on a recent artists' tour in Tahoe. It's called Acceptance of Transitions.

Acceptance of Transitions by Cathy McClelland

The original painting was $3200 but you can order giclee's for as little as $150 (click here).

This charming painting reminds me so much of autumn on my favorite Blackwood Canyon hike when the Aspens are dropping their leaves. It looks just like this and the air and forest floor is filled with dreamy floating yellow polka dots as the leaves float to the ground. It always makes me feel like throwing up my arms and dancing, too.

Did you know there are many actual photos of bears raising their arms to the skies like this. It's true! I wonder if they are actually dancing, too...

What to do About Dark Painted Beams

The Lake Tahoe area, where I am a designer, experienced a building boom in the 1970's. Unfortunately, many of the styles that were popular in the 70's have not stood the test of time well. Because so many of the houses in Tahoe are second homes and are not kept up as well as primary residences, I often am called into a 70's interior which has been left perfectly intact--down to the orange shag carpeting, olive appliances and black or deep chocolate painted beams.

Dark Painted Ugly 70's Beams

The perennial question is, "What can we do about these beams?" Clients have tried sandblasting or scraping them, but my experience is that these are expensive and not necessarily satisfying solutions. I've found that paint works best.

If the budget is ample, there are faux artists that can make the beams look like natural wood beams. My favorite local artist is George Zaffle of Truckee, California (and he does travel around the country). The photo below is a before pic of one of my projects, a 70's Tahoe house where the black beams had been painted over in an even worse pale mauve paint.

Before--Pale Mauve Beams

And below, the same house with beams that have been painted to look like natural wood.

After faux painting.

Here are some close-up shots of those same beams:

Faux Painted Beam Detail

I am currently working on this master suite, below. As you can see the dark beams are heavy, oppressive and very dated looking in this room.

Master Suite Before Beams

Below you see beam painting in progress. The new lighter color will lift the ceiling and allow the new furnishings to be the show. Before, the room was all beams.

New Beam Painting in Progress

If the budget is tight, I often simply recommend painting the beams a better color. In the photo below, the beams have been painted white. This works really well with walls that have some substantial color depth as do these cocoa colored walls.

White Painted Beams

I particularly like beams that are painted a mushroom or taupe color. If the beams were previously stained, you can select a stain and simply stain right over the top. However, if the beams were painted, you will need to use paint. The photos below shows a light mushroom paint color. For mountain homes, I would recommend a somewhat deeper color.

Mushroom Colored Paint--Go Deeper for Mountain Homes

The deeper mushroom color below works really well for me. It looks modern and attractive and completely goes with the updated interior. This would be appropriate in most mountain homes.

There are also some lovely grey colors that will work for beams. For mountain homes, try to keep the greys warm and slightly woodsey or taupey. This way they will look a bit more like natural beams.

Taking Inspiration From a Walk in the Woods

Beautiful design inspiration is all around us. We need only stop a moment and drink in nature's glory.

Inspiring color schemes...

Uplifting elements become themes....

I take these wondrous images home from my afternoon walk and mull them around in my mind. Ideas surface and retreat. Finally a single idea comes to rest.