When Courtney saw a foreclosure listing for a “retreat” on 28 acres in remote Stevenson, Washington, she thought it could be the perfect woodsy getaway for her family. She went to see the property that day…and discovered that it had been uninhabited for years and was in pretty bad shape. Despite the infestations of mice and spiders, she saw its potential, and convinced her wife Amanda that they should purchase the cabin and land, which was about an hour away from their home and businesses in Portland.

Amanda and Courtney are both daughters of contractors, and are skilled builders themselves. Though the couple was already busy with their bakery, toy store and two year old, they knew they wanted a place not far from the city where they could get away from it all. Amanda dove right in, and spent most of last winter working on the cabin, ultimately remodeling the kitchen, two bathrooms, and reconfiguring the layout of the home.

When asked what about the project she is most proud of, Amanda says, “Not to sound pompous but the whole house. It feels like this was a three bedroom/two bath DIY project. I’ve never been able to remodel and design an entire house largely by myself in eight months.”

The family gets away to the cabin as often as they can, and love that they are able to give their child the gift of the woods, “I grew up in the mountains of Utah and adored being a kid in that environment. We wanted to be able to offer that to our daughter.”

Our Style: Rustic contemporary. Or mountain modern. Or everything must play off of the beams and the cedar ceilings.

Inspiration: 28 acres!! I wanted it to feel like the most comfortable tent I’d ever seen.

Favorite Element: The beams and the ties that bind them. They were likely cut from the trees that stood on the lot on account of them being completely uncommon dimensions.

Biggest Challenge: Working on it through a historically snowy winter. Without a heat source. And a two-wheel drive truck. Truth.

What Friends Say: When are you going up next?

Biggest Embarrassment: Realizing how much of a city kid I’ve become. I get excited about seeing deer. The quiet sometimes unnerves me. The wind freaks me out. I had no idea how to navigate a septic tank or a well-water system.

Proudest DIY: Not to sound pompous but the whole house. It feels like this was a three bedroom/two bath DIY project. I’ve never been able to remodel and design an entire house largely by myself in eight months. From uninhabitable to livable and modern in eight months. I am thrilled.

Biggest Indulgence: All. New. Appliances.

Best Advice: Make lists, draw drawings, play fast and loose with your design. You will be surprised what elements go together that you might think wouldn’t.

Dream Sources: I’m far too practical for that question. My dream source would be having everything that I need in my existing collections. Or, finding it new-in-box at Goodwill.

SECOND FLOOR LIVING ROOM
Color — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .05
Couch — Johnston by Langley Street
Coffee table — Emmerson by Simple Living
Brass floor lamp —Target
Drum side table — from one of Courtney’s drum kits
Hanging lamp — Target Murphy by Threshold discontinued
Hammock — Hammaka
Side chair — Goodwill
Gold cube side table — Target
Rug — Goodwill

OFFICE SPACE
Color — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .05
Desk — Amanda made it with this base
Vintage clock — Ebay
Dog crate and cushion — Amazon
Cement planter — Smith and Hawkin

DINING ROOM
Color — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .05, Accent wall STONE .05
Table and chairs — Sacramento by Baxton Studio from Wayfair
Rug — IKEA Stockholm-discontinued
Chandelier — Brooklyn Bulb Co
Sandstone canvas print — Trademark Fine Art
Dog canvas print — East Urban Home
Moon calendar print — A Little Lark
Mixed art — Goodwill

KITCHEN
Color — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .05
Cabinets — IKEA Kallarp
Handles — Uni Decor
Island — Keystone Granite Q-Quartz
Sink — Golden Vantage
Faucet — Kraus
Fridge — Samsung
Range — Whirlpool
Hood vent — Z Line
Tile back splash — Abolos
Shelves — made by Amanda
Rug — Target-discontinued
Mixed art — Goodwill

SECOND FLOOR BATHROOM
Floor and shower tile — Metro Glacier by MS International
Shower surround — Prism by Dreamline
Vanity — IKEA Kallarp
Vanity top — Keystone Granite Q-Quartz from MSI
Vessel sink — Kraus
Faucet — Guma
Corner medicine cabinet — Ucore
Towel, hand towel and toilet paper holders — Layden Collection-Amazon
Mixed art — goodwill

DECK
Rail system — Atlantis
Chairs — Goodwill
Coffee table — Crosley-Target
Solar table lights — Grand Patio
Outdoor rug — Goodwill
Planters — Home Depot
Barn light over deck and front doors — Canarm

MASTER BEDROOM
Color — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .05
Glass door — Home Depot
Bed frame — Modern Studio by Zinus
Metal Night stand — Target
Chair — A&J Homes Studio
Floor lamp — Target
Prestone side table — dumpster!

STAIRCASE
Paint — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .06
Handrail —made by Amanda
Swing arm lamp — Baycheer
Antique sled — Goodwill

LOWER LIVING ROOM
Color — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .06
Lights — Claxy
Sleeper sofa — Zeb by Ashley
Orange side chair — Taylor by Madison Park
Brass and marble side table — Target
Brass floor lamp — Target Arcadia collection-discontinued
Logging saw — Flea market
Vintage Weyerhauser print collection — Goodwill
Canvas Grass Print — ArtWall
Blue stoneware lamp — Goodwill
End table — Target
Army boot locker — Goodwill
Fish trap — Eagle Claw
Banksy canvas print — Trademark Fine Art
Mixed art wall — Goodwill

DOWNSTAIRS BEDROOM
Color — Colorhouse Paint STONE .05
Bed frame — Mercury Row by Biondi
Linens — The Industrial Shop-discontinued
Swiss Army blanket — Swiss Link
Drum side table — from one of my Courtney’s drum kits
Wooden side table — made from countertop scrap pieces
Mixed art — Goodwill

LOWER LEVEL BATHROOM
Paint — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .02
Tile — Redwood mahogany by MS International
Soaking tub — Morgan by OVE Decors
Glass tile surround — Abolos
Soap dispenser — Simple Human
Vanity — IKEA Kallarp, Hairpin legs: DIY Hairpin Legs
Countertop — Lumber Liquidators Acacia Butcher Block
Vessel sink — Luxier
Sink faucet — LightInTheBox
Penny tile back splash —made by Amanda
Mirror — made from extra cedar trim boards
Mixed art — Goodwill

ENTRY
Color — Colorhouse Paint BISQUE .06
Front door: Builders Choice — Home Depot
Amish chair — Goodwill with matte black spray paint
Tile — Metro Charcoal by MS International Home Depot
We the Resilient Poster by Ernesto Yerana —Purchased in a set of prints in alliance with the Women’s March, which we were fortunate enough to attend. It was our daughter’s first protest.
Curtains — Nicetown
Mirror — Goodwill
Original 1950s photo of Multnomah Falls — Ebay

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