The original Allison Plantation farmhouse (above) c. 1860 was the home of Dr. Robert Turner Allison, a doctor, pharmacist and cotton farmer who was active in South Carolina politics and the Confederate Seccessionist movement. The house burned in the 1990s with only bricks, foundation stones and the front steps of the house remaining. Over a century later, the property, now with a 21st century house sited just yards from the original house, is being used for recreational hunting and fishing.
For this project, our goal was twofold – first, we needed to add to and/or reorganize the poorly designed floorplan to accommodate the needs of the owners that purchased the property and the plain, almost-new house. Second, we needed to “country up” the house whose style had promising bones but fell short of a rustic cabin look. To do so, we used authentic and antique materials and furnishings and followed nine steps to turn the house into a true hunter’s hideaway. Read along to see what we did!
1. INSPIRED: PRELIMINARY PLANNING
2. PRESERVED: ANTIQUE ELEMENTS
We did an inventory of antique elements on the property that were available for use. In addition to the remains of the original house foundation there was another old farmhouse on the property that was a treasure trove of materials.
We reused antique pine paneling, one mantel (photos top left and center) and several doors (photo above) from the old farmhouse. The original house foundation stones and steps (photo top right and bottom) were used for the a retaining wall and steps in the cabin backyard.
3. TRANSFORMED: CABIN EXTERIOR
We began the exterior transformation of the cabin by enclosing the back porch (top left) for a new location for the kitchen and dining space. We then added a large dormer (top right) over the front porch for a new, large bedroom.
We added a small new porch (top center) for the back entrance and replaced the old asphalt shingle roof with a standing seam metal one. We also restained the cedar siding a custom tree bark-color stain.
4. ENCLOSED: BACK PORCH
We enclosed the large 40×10 back porch (above) to relocate the existing kitchen and add a dining room (top right). Careful space planning allows room for a table that seats 12, a large hutch and a comfortable galley-style kitchen (bottom left).
We left the cedar porch posts in place as well as original cedar walls and ceiling. We relocated and rearranged the existing kitchen cabinets in the new space and added a stainless steel countertop. We used dark green for cabinet knobs, farmhouse lighting and painted floor.
5. ADDED: BEDROOM DORMER
The main goal for this remodel was initially to provide more sleep space within the existing footprint. Other than reconfiguring existing bedrooms (which we also did) the only way to increase space was to add a large shed former over the front porch.
The new bedroom is a large, well-lit room with a vaulted ceiling clad in antique pine. There is plenty of room for a chest of drawers and chair (not shown) as well as a desk overlooking the lake.
6. GUTTED: THREE BATHROOMS
The cabin had three operable, functional baths – two full and one half – that were plain and uninspired. Originally fitted with big box store tile and vanities, we gutted and refitted them with a rustic farmhouse style.
We used an antique cabinet (photo above and in top center) for the main bath vanity and a pine console (at left) for the upstairs double vanity. A large trough sink (top right) now serves the powder room. We used shiplap for all bath walls.
7. REMODELED: MAIN AREA
In the main area we created a large room that is centered on the fireplace and large enough to hold a large sectional sofa, pair of chairs, large coffee table and extra ottomans for seating (photo at bottom left).
To do this, we removed and relocated the existing kitchen (before photo above) to the newly enclosed porch. There was enough space to also include a separate bar area and convenient pass-through to the kitchen.
8. REDECORATED: FOYER & FRONT PORCH
We furnished and decorated the existing foyer (before photo above) and 40×10 front porch with style-appropriate furnishings with the right scale. For the porch, we added separate seating and dining areas with lots of furnishings in a style close to the rest of the interior.
For the foyer, we took the original entry area (photo above) and created a distinct, proper foyer using small scale furnishings and lighting.
9. REDESIGNED: EXISTING BEDROOMS
We redesigned the exiting bedrooms to allow for more sleep space for family and hunters. We carved space out of one bedroom (top left) for a hallway to the new dormer bedroom (top right) but left enough space for a queen bed. The main bedroom (top center) was furnished with a king bed and small scale furnishings.
The snug bedroom (at bottom) was furnished with two full-size vintage beds, each against the wall, in an arrangment that also allows space for a seating area.