Cozy Cabin Chic: Transforming Our Log Cabin Rental with Style Part 2: Let’s Build Our Own Fire Pit. How Hard Can it Be? A series of blog posts showcasing DIY projects at by your Hemlock Hill Cabin hosts, Rachel + Peter. We aim to enhance the rustic charm of our log cabin while providing renters […]
by Rachel White
Cozy Cabin Chic: Transforming Our Log Cabin Rental with Style Part 1: From Overgrown and Overlooked to Renter Ready in Three Days A series of blog posts showcasing DIY projects at by your Hemlock Hill Cabin hosts, Rachel + Peter. We aim to enhance the rustic charm of our log cabin while providing renters a […]
by Rachel White
Part 1: From Overgrown and Overlooked to Renter Ready in Three Days
A series of blog posts showcasing DIY projects at by your Hemlock Hill Cabin hosts, Rachel + Peter. We aim to enhance the rustic charm of our log cabin while providing renters a home away from home while they visit the scenic mountains of Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
Hemlock Hill Cabin was born out of tough times, but over the last few years it has only changed our lives for the better at it provides a constant source of inspiration and creativity. Our first DIY project was getting the cabin renter ready within three days of closing. It all started in August 2020, nearly five months into the global pandemic, when I (Rachel) was feeling burnt out by many challenges - working in healthcare during the pandemic, living in high-paced Washington, DC and balancing out the work/home schedule while raising two toddlers. During this stressful, uncertain time, I was searching for something more.
Amidst the chaos, my mind wandered to a glimmer of hope – a shared dream with Peter of owning a cozy rental cabin in the mountains. Motivated and reenergized by this vision, we did what any adventurous duo would do - we started browsing Zillow for a bit of daydreaming.
Little did we know, a hidden gem was waiting to be discovered in Blowing Rock, North Carolina just a few minutes from my hometown of Boone. With excited hearts and imaginations, we signed on the dotted line, sight unseen.
It would be another two weeks before we could eagerly make the journey from DC to North Carolina to see our newfound treasure. One view at that overlooked cabin and we were smitten.
Sure, it needed some TLC, but despite the neglect, we saw potential and a future retreat brimming with love and laughter. We were the perfect new owners to breathe some life back into this forgotten haven.
With hopes of welcoming rental guests at the cabin as soon as possible, we had a tight schedule to make it all work. We loaded all our cabin goodies onto a 28 ft moving trailer that was to be delivered one week later, the day after closing. The truck company was skeptical that the large truck could navigate the winding roads and sloped driveway. But alas; it worked out.
We hired three Appalachian State University students off Craigslist to help us unpack all of our furnishings.
We then spent three days unpacking, assembling furniture, and bringing our vision to life.
The result was a cozy haven ready to welcome guests from far and wide.
What started as a simple dream has blossomed into a cherished retreat, filled with stories waiting to be told. This was just the beginning of Hemlock Hill Cabin - a place that will become full of laughter, love, and unforgettable memories, and plenty of cozy cabin vibes!
We can’t wait to welcome you to Hemlock Hill Cabin!
xo - Rachel + Peter
Our next blog post will be about our DIY fire pit project
