Mountain Lane Homesteaders

Going INSIDE the Cabin in the Woods.

I have had many people request to see a close up picture of the cabin we built as well as some interior shots.  It's taken me a while to get that accomplished but I think I am finally ready.  I decided that after my last rain story I'd better show you all that we have made significant progress since then!   

Here is how the cabin looked at the time of the great rain episodes last year:

This picture was taken the morning after the rain in.  If you look at the roof you will see the decking boards.  Sam and I had done almost all of the right side, and the emergency help in the rain on halloween night finished it and did the left side.  The next morning a neighbor came over and helped to get the plastic up over the peak.  Up until then we had only had the plastic across the actual floor up there.  I believe we lived with it just like this for about 3 weeks or so before we got the actual roofing on.  The little ceramic welcome sign hanging on the front all crooked just tells it like it was!

And here is how we look now:

Bit of an improvement don't you think?  I actually took this shot a couple of weeks ago.  Since then there is much more firewood stacked out front and we have started to put stain on the lower half.  We ran out of the stain before we finished and haven't been back to the city to get more of the same kind yet.

Now how about coming inside for a visit:

This is a picture of our bedroom corner and the wood stove.  You can see that it is just to the right as you walk in the front door.  The cement floor is hard and cold to walk on in the winter but is easy to clean up and helps keep us cool in the summer.  On the ceiling are rafters made from the poles I told you about that we got out of the woods.  The blue ladder on the left leads up to the loft where the kids areas are. 

This is the "living room" corner.  It is just to the left when you walk in the front door. 

Here is a picture taken from the living room and looking at the dining area and "pantry"

And here is our fancy kitchen!  Notice the significant lack of counter space?  We hope to extend the counter out to the left so it reaches the fridge if we can ever find the time to get it done.  The blue bins there hold all our cooking utensils, dishcloths and towels, and food storage containers.

Now turn slightly to the right and VOILA!

The "bathroom".  The blue tank is our water pressure tank and will be covered up as soon as we begin to make the walls to enclose the bathroom space.  You can see the edge of the bed in this shot so you know that you have now been all the way around the bottom floor. 

Here is a view up to the loft from the foot of my bed.

The left side where the light is belongs to my youngest daughter, the right side belongs to my son.  These "rooms" are above the kitchen and bathroom.  The other bedroom corner is on the opposite wall above the living room.  No way was I going to publish photos of how messy this area is right now!

Here you can see more of the rafters.  Once we got them out of the woods we leveled 2 sides on a sawmill (no small trick when you have to factor in the tapering of the tree!  Sometime I'd like to show you all a little bit of the sawmill process too.) and then I peeled them all with a drawknife.  I am so pleased with how they came out so you can see why I don't want to cover them up with insulation!

Thanks to all of you who have shown so much interest.  If you haven't gathered it by now, we simply LOVE our home.  Oh, we know it's not fancy and that building the house is the bigger goal, but we are so happy with how this cabin is turning out.  And that's a pretty good thing.  Considering how long it's taking to get each task done, it looks like we may be in here for a while!

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10:39 AM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by OurLittleHomestead

WOW--beautiful! :)

Lisa

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10:55 AM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by crewchief

oh wow! this is awesome, I can't wait for DH to get home to show him. He's going to be so jealous!

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10:56 AM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by mc2rwe

I think that is just about the most awesome house that I have ever seen. I think it just looks perfect!!!!

Kat

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10:57 AM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by j706nancyr

You are sooo brave and patient......and look at how it has paid off! Your cabin is absolutly beautiful!
You guys have done a wonderful job.
Nancy

Hi, Darcy!

11:21 AM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by teapots66

My friend Amy & I do not feel it looks flimsy - although if a bear were outside my window I might feel otherwise. It looks absolutely Little House-ish. I was looking at your bed and thinking of you all huddled there on that last fateful Halloween/rain night. What a blessing to have come so far. Your gum is on its way - Hugs, Chris

Wow

11:23 AM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by shekinah

Your cabin looks so awesome and very cozy. What a beautiful beautiful place....You have done so much work and Praise The Lord.

Enjoy

Blessings
Page

I just love it...

12:25 PM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by marthaskitchen

it is so beautiful, cozy & personally I would move in tomorrow. Loved the photos. Thanks for sharing your new home with us. Have a great day
Helen

Beautiful...

12:57 PM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by mamaof2andtwins

The wood is just lovely. What an undertaking. Congratulations!
Jennie

This is very cool!

8:06 PM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by vgauthier

I've always dreamed of a place like yours ~ congratulations, job well done!
val

WOW!!!!

8:11 PM, Tuesday, October 24, 2006 .. Posted by countrydreamn

Love the pictures. When will you post pictures of the big house? Also how big is the cabin and did you buy plans for it or design it yourselfs?
Awesome job!

Blessings,
Debi

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11:38 AM, Wednesday, October 25, 2006 .. Posted by southernbelle

Thank you Darcy! Now I have a better idea of the place. I just love the house. Yall have done so much! What an inspiration! Thanks for sharing the house with us. : )

Beautiful!

11:48 PM, Wednesday, October 25, 2006 .. Posted by katenicholl

I love the pictures of your cabin. It's like looking at "Little House on the Prairie" with mod cons! It's lovely. I am just a little bit envious!

Catherine :o)

Thanks for sharing this.

6:29 AM, Thursday, October 26, 2006 .. Posted by MissionaryMom

I've been curious too. It has a homey, rugged look. I love it!

Carol

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9:40 AM, Thursday, October 26, 2006 .. Posted by Andrea

You have a beautiful place. Thank you so much for sharing the pictures! :-)

Love~ Andrea

Oh Wow Darcy

5:38 AM, Wednesday, November 1, 2006 .. Posted by jackiebridgen

It's fantastic.
I am just doing battle with the green eyed monster here!
Such a snug house (and so tidy!)
You are doing a brilliant job!
Jackie

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6:57 PM, Sunday, November 5, 2006 .. Posted by sadie

I am just bursting with pride at all you have done. The house is BEAUTIFUL, and cozy, and wonderful. Lots of love!!!

Sadie

Your cabin in the woods

12:12 PM, Thursday, November 16, 2006 .. Posted by Aunt Carolyn

Hi Darcy - I finally got on your blog to see what you have been up to and am I ever impressed! I am looking forward to the day when you get the big house done and Uncle Jack and I head west - his sister lives in Washington you know - and we want to stop at your place and stay in your \"guest house\" on the trip out. Keep up the good work - you guys are doing a great job. Say Hi to everybody for me. Love, Aunt Carolyn

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12:20 PM, Wednesday, December 6, 2006 .. Posted by ElCloud

My question is ... how do you keep it warm? It appears to have no insulation at all, and no siding. Doesn't cold air just come right through between the boards? And doesn't the loft get really chilly? Does the roof now have roofing on it, or does it leak in the rain? It's beautiful, but I am curious about this.

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11:56 AM, Friday, December 22, 2006 .. Posted by BlueApple

Just lovely! I would love to live in your cabin!