Great Mini-Lodge of the Northwest

Don and I found a coffee-table book at Costco about 8 years ago: "Great Lodges of the West." All our lives we've both had a fascination with places like Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone, or Paradise Inn at Mt. Rainier. The massive logs, the old timbers, towering ceilings, the stonework and elegant but rustic 1940s style grandeur.

So we've tried to incorporate that feel in a mini-version at Shorthorse. For a couple of rank amateurs, it seems to have turned out pretty well!

The Master Bedroom

Our bedroom is the warmest room in the house. It's a comforting room with cedar walls and ceiling, and a couple big windows, plus a glass door that opens out onto a small balcony. There are no dressers or closets; we have a walk-in dressing room adjacent to the master bath.

We have a small gas stove/fireplace near the foot of the bed. It adds a little extra heat to the room very quickly, which is nice on those cold evenings (or mornings).

The outdoor pictures above are the views from the little balcony. Notice the deer in one of them. They live here.

A Well Deserved Nap

Here's Don, learning how to relax in the new house. Retirement is rough!

My Hideaway

Our old furniture from Yakima is up here in my room, where I'm blogging this. The dogs like to hang out here with me. It's a cozy multi-purpose room....office, exercise room, lounge, music room.

Don's room (his office) is downstairs and is the one room that's not done yet. Tom Wagler is making a desk and some bookcases for him.

Before and After

No more need to pretend or to be impatient for completion. It's happened. This is our foyer...in August '07 and March '08.

The Kitchen

I grew up in northern Minnesota, in summer cabins that were lined in knotty pine. It's one of the warmest, friendliest, most comforting looks I know of. So I wanted that in my own new kitchen.

The walls are still light, but I'm looking forward to the day they mellow into that honey-gold hue.

Tom Wagler did all the cabinetry. He and his family are part of a large Mennonite population here, and they are impeccable craftsmen. Tom delivered the cabinets one late afternoon in December, and piled them in the kitchen for installation the next day. We went in to look at them after he'd left, and noticed a simple, philosophical Bible verse written prominently on the bottom side of a drawer that was sitting on end so we could clearly see it. A nice personal touch.

Our countertops are Cambria (brand) quartz. The stainless steel sink has two bowls--the big one is about 10 inches deep and big enough to accommodate a cookie sheet. The other one is small.

All our appliances came from Lowes. I'm having fun with the double wall oven, both of which have convection features. I'm finding that convection cooking really is faster and better than traditional baking.

The cooktop is a smooth ceramic electric, on the island. I wanted it that way so I could stand there and cook, while looking at Don who'd typically be sitting at the eating nook. Much nicer than having my back turned to him, particularly if we're trying to converse.

A downdraft on the island pops up when you push a button.

The floor is a rustic-looking, reddish-brown ceramic tile with dark gray grout.