Cabin Fever: Rustic Style comes Home

by Rachel Carley

A log cabin in the woods is one of America's most cherished icons -- a dream shared around the world. As the stress level of city life rises, more and more of us are imagining our own cottages far away from traffic lights and urban distractions. Cabins in the wilderness have never gone out of style, because the rustic life is a simple, rewarding one rooted in the traditions of the great outdoors.
Featuring rustic interiors as well as North Woods architecture, Cabin Fever visits more than two dozen charming retreats old and new, large and small, in the mountains and along the water, from the wilds of New York out to the wild, wild West. Author Rachel Carley explains where our love for the rustic comes from and shows the amazingly varied guises in which it appears today.
After serving as settlers' cabins, log homes enjoyed a phenomenal popularity in the late nineteenth century. Wealthy families such as the Vanderbilts, Guggenheims, and Carnegies summered in areas as remote as they could find, building what were euphemistically called camps. Those less affluent, following the era's prescription for fresh air and simplicity, traveled to even more rustic hotels and vacation cabins to get their share of the refreshing woods. Cabin Fever presents some of the best of these old lodges and private cabins, along with striking new homes that give a contemporary twist to the ideal of the rustic life.
To help fill a cabin, a whole camp, or even an apartment with the latest in rustic style, the book's catalogue shows where to find home furnishings from twig bedsteads to Hudson Bay blankets to Adirondack chairs. Brimming with exceptionally creative ideas for achieving this truly American look, this enchanting guide to living with the rustic style will cure every variety of cabin fever.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Design

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 1998

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got several hours of enjoyment out of this. Massive wood features, river rock fireplaces, copper tubs, leather side chairs, solitude, nature and craftsmanship... all with a "spare no expense" attitude for building a cabin retreat. It's a coffee table book devoted to "rustic" retreats built by millionaires who like "old growth" trees as design features on stairways and living rooms. Some of these are veritable castles made of wood. We're talking about 10-14 thousand square foot "cabins," folks. None but the richest of the rich could afford to create them... or own them. I wish there would have been a few more simple examples... lower budget cabin design, within grasp of the common man.

Political correctness, greed and my green envy aside, these places are all awesome and I'd love to spend a few years visiting all of them, spending a week or two in each.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Domme Partner in our F/F relationship directed that I read several books in order to help her redecorate a recently inherited lake cabin. Although my personal tastes are quite girly girl, I found this volume greatly helped me to better understand the look and atmosphere she wishes to emulate. Cabin Fever will certainly be very instructive to anyone wanting to achieve a rustic style. XOXOXOs to the author, Rachel Carley, for creating this well written and beautifully illustrated book:)

[Clayton Bye · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love the art one often finds in country life, you'll love this book. Some of these cabins are inspiring, others beautiful and a few will leave you awestruck. Another great coffee table book that has brought me hours of joy.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

fabulous photos & info of great lodgings - mostly in the western US