Early 70s A-Frame Minnesota Cabin Gets a Cozy, Stylish Overhaul

Tucked away in the woods of far northern Minnesota, a lakeside A-frame cabin got a hygge overhaul. With stylish, cozy spaces, a gorgeous view and loads of privacy, this cabin is now a dream getaway spot with airy spaces and plenty of natural light.

The Minne Stuga House is located just north of Lake Superior on the shores of Devil Track Lake, a very popular area for fishing and boating.

At 4.5 hours north of Minneapolis, its a world away from the hustle and bustle of life and smack dab in the middle of forests that are 30 minutes from the ski slopes at Lutsen Resort, an hour and 15 minutes from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and just a short hop from hiking, biking, and sightseeing trails along Lake Superior and the Gunflint Trail.

The homeowners are designer and lifestyle blogger Melissa Coleman—The Faux Martha—and her husband, Kevin, a child psychologist. They say the property was a real find and wanted to renovate it for the family for generations to come. They hired Taiga Design+Build to bring new life to the 50-year-old forest chalet.

Taiga’s principal designer Anton Moody retained 90 percent of the original structure, which was originally built in the early 1970s from a kit.

The exterior needed attention because the original cedar siding was in bad shape and had rotted. Instead of cedar, Moody opted to clad the cabin in Kebony modified wood, which requires very little upkeep, even in severe Minnesota winters.

Developed in Norway, Kebony is an environmentally friendly wood treatment process that uses a bio-based fluid to improve the qualities and characteristics of the wood.

“I turned the Colemans on to Kebony, which performs better over time than cedar,” Moody said. “It’s aging and weathering nicely.”

Taiga also replaced the original roof. He added structural insulated panels (SIPs) for insulation and energy-efficiency, and incorporated skylights to bring in more natural light.

New windows from Marvin completed the structure, including a Marvin Skycove, a glass structure that juts out, creating an extension of usable space and letting in light from four different directions.

Inside, the designer chose to finish the whole residence in the original western red cedar paneling. He enlisted Room & Board to furnish the interiors and Loll Designs furniture for the Kebony-decked outdoor living space.

In the kitchen, there’s a professional gas range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and all the small kitchen equipment the family might need for a relaxing meal in their forest hideaway. The green cabinetry gives the space a nod to its 70s origins.

The cabin is equipped with air conditioning, central heating, a wood-burning fireplace and a ceiling fan.

Entirely surrounded by endless forests and recreation, that cabin has plenty of outdoor space to enjoy closer to home: It features three balconies, a dining table, charcoal grill, and Loll lounge chairs. The Colemans currently use the Minne Stuga as a weekend getaway for themselves but also rent it out as a fully appointed vacation property.

Good-sized, tall windows give the bedroom a fabulous view and the cedar walls and ceiling provide lots of warmth and coziness.

This seating area has the perfect spot for snuggling up to the roaring woodstove, whether that’s on a snowy afternoon or a crisp fall evening. Stylish furniture in restrained designs keep the feeling of the room relaxed and casual. Some pieces have a mid-century modern flair about them too.