Redefining North Woods Cabin Design with The Botanist

The Works BnB are excited to announce the opening of The Botanist on the shores of Leech Lake in Walker, Minnesota. The luxury 6 bed, 5 bath property redefines North Woods style with a botanical and naturalist theme.

Botanical theme at The Botanist. Photo Credit: Steenz Studios

It all started when the owner of the property contacted The Works BnB to take on the management of the property and set it up as a short term rental. The property sits on two acres, across two cabins. The larger one is a four bed, four bath, and the smaller guest cabin is a two bed, one bath. It was your typical North Woods log cabin, a sea of golden pine. 

When Jo Hanson, CEO of The Works BnB, started working on the design with the owner’s 16 year old daughter, they quickly came to the theme of botanical and naturalist due to the daughter’s love of butterflies. “I loved this theme, as it’s so unique to anything I’ve seen in Northern Minnesota” said Jo. “It still embodies the beauty and natural elements of the North Woods, yet does it in a way that is fresh and different.”

The property before was a very traditional log cabin, with golden pine everywhere. There was no contrast, and nothing really stood out. The bathrooms were dated with basic tiles and bright gold fixtures, and the builder grade pine cabinets. The bathrooms were where the majority of the renovation took place. All four existing bathrooms were updated, and a fifth added from converting an interior sauna. 

The master bathroom was a huge transformation. The previous room had a false ceiling above a shower and drop-in bathtub with gold fixtures and outdated green tiles. The false ceiling was removed to uncover a beautiful vaulted ceiling with log beams. The pine shiplap was painted white to make the natural log walls stand out more. The outdated tiles were replaced with real marble over a heated floor. The basic pine vanity was swapped out for a freestanding West Elm vanity with chunky black marble countertop. The biggest change was the addition of a freestanding soaker tub and walk-in shower for that true spa experience. 

The Butterfly Bathroom. Photo Credit: Steenz Studios.
The Butterfly Bedroom. Photo Credit: Steenz Studios.

The Butterfly suite was designed with the owner’s daughter in mind, due to her love of butterflies. The bathroom before was a sauna, so was a completely new construction. The bedroom was a plain golden pine shiplap room that was used a craft room. The bedroom and bathroom were painted white, and a half log siding wall was added to the bedroom to make this basement room feel like the log home on the upper floor. The bed and bench were from Pottery Barn and the vanity from West Elm. 

The guest cabin after. Photo credit: Steenz Studios.
The guest cabin after. Photo credit: Steenz Studios.
Guest cabin kitchen before

The guest cabin on the property was a very sweet space, yet had a very tiny kitchen and no dining area, which wasn’t conducive with hosting guests. To extend the kitchen space, a custom coffee bar was added to match the cabinet style of the existing kitchen, and a custom live edge bar table was designed to extend the countertop space and provide seating. Together with a revamp of the cabinet color in Sherwin Williams Jade Dragon, new quartz countertop, new sink, faucet, hardware and appliances, the new kitchen is unrecognizable from the old one, and is far more functional. 

The master bedroom after - The Fern Room. Photo credit: Steenz Studios.
Detail of the master bedroom after - The Fern Room. Photo credit: Steenz Studios.

The Botanist is proof that you don’t have to decorate in a traditional North Woods style with log furniture, all natural wood, and bear / moose themed prints to make it feel like a cozy North Woods cabin. You can use other natural materials like linens and marble, and using other woodland elements like ferns, butterflies and mushrooms.

Jo Hanson continued, “I’m proud that we’ve sidestepped the traditional Northern Minnesota theme and brought something unique and fresh to travelers visiting the area. I’m excited to host many families and friends in this beautiful property.”

To see more of The Botanist or to book, click here

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