Winter Cabin Decor

“Thrift the Look” is one of my favorite challenges that I do as a blogger. If you’re new to my blog, then “Thrift the Look” is when I take a gorgeous photo of a home decor style and recreate it with items from the thrift store and upcycling when necessary. Today, the theme is Cabin decor; but more specifically for me, I’m working on decor for a winter cabin with a touch of rustic chic.

Before I begin, here’s a quick recap of Thrift the Look challenges of the past:

• French Farmhouse Decor;
• Lake House Decor;
• Boho Decor; and
• Beach Cottage Decor.

Now, let me tell you- this Thrift the Look challenge was supposed to take place last Fall. I had my inspiration photo all picked out and I had thrifted and upcycled all my pieces.

But when I put it all together, it looked HEINOUS. Absolutely disastrous. So, I waved the white flag and moved on to other projects.

The group of bloggers that I do these challenges with were gracious enough to delay our Cabin Decor challenge until now. (Check us out on Facebook: Creative Vintage Darlings)

So, I found a NEW inspiration photo. It’s actually from a Christmas article that featured Deuce Cities Henhouse and appeared in the December 2018 edition of Better Homes & Gardens.

But I thought that the mantel, specifically, could be isolated alone as decor for a winter cabin. It has the perfect feel of lodge decor, but in a very rustic chic way.

You can also see another variation of the mantel on the original photographer’s (David Land) Instagram feed here.

Anyway, keep that mantel in mind and let’s Thrift the Look!

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Thrift Shopping for a Winter Cabin and Rustic Chic Decor

I took screen shots of both versions of the mantel to save on my phone and hit up several thrift stores. Here are some of the things I gathered for my version of the mantel:

They included a wooden peg board to use as the centerpiece “shield”; a pine cone tree; a birch bark canoe (which isn’t represented in the inspiration photos, but how could I resist?); a bag of taper candles; a paper mâché reindeer; candlesticks; and a basket of pine cones.

I also picked up a very cheaply made anniversary clock.

The base was metal and the dome was glass, but the rest of it was plastic! In fact, I later discovered that it was broken.

But that made it the perfect candidate to be upcycled into a cloche! I spray painted the base, cleaned the glass, and used it to display the largest pine cone from that basket that I bought.

The inspiration photo displayed a much larger pine cone in a glass cloche, but this was good enough for me!

Now. The candlesticks.

I FULLY expected to find wooden candlesticks on my thrifting trips. I mean, I see them all the time! But when I need them? NONE TO BE FOUND.

If you study the collage of things I thrifted, then you may see that the candlesticks were silver. As in metal. So, I obviously need to make them a little more rustic.

First, I painted them with spray primer and then brushed on a caramel colored craft paint. After that, I broke out the antiquing wax.

Next, I brushed on a thin layer of dark wax and let it set for a few minutes. Finally, I wrapped my finger in a clean cloth and slowly turned each candlestick in my hand under my wrapped finger.

I didn’t move my cloth finger and kept as even pressure as I could. My goal was the look of faux wood or turned wood.

They weren’t perfect and they clearly aren’t wood- but they were going to work for what I needed!

After that, I gathered a few more things, including a black and white photo and some greenery from my yard. I also spray painted a vintage thread cone and that paper mâché deer with white spray paint.

Ready to see how my winter cabin decor came together?

Winter Cabin or Lodge Decor from the Thrift Store

And here it is, all assembled and together. I combined elements of both versions of the inspiration photos!

See what I mean, though? It may have been from a Christmas scene but it has such a modern rustic feel to it that made me think of a winter cabin.

A winter cabin with a touch of rustic chic…

How close did I come to the inspiration photo? Did I marry the two photos into one thrifted look pretty decently?

I hope you enjoyed this iteration of Thrift the Look! Now that you know what decor styles we’ve already completed, which style should we do next?

Craft on!

S

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