When you have a mountain cabin with the main floor all windows, the space should feel light and airy — not dark and cramped. Over time, wood finishes change; Alder in particular tends to warm toward orange. Against forest-green counters and furnishings, the cabinets were starting to read too orange, so we adjusted the paint to neutralize that warmth. Yes — changing paint color can do that.

I loved the original green accents, so I kept the green but moved it to the walls as a wrap-around backsplash, then brightened the counters with a light grey quartz. We also added a small coffee bar to ease congestion in the kitchen — a simple solution that works beautifully when multiple families are staying together.

Plumbing fixtures were updated to matte black, and we added an RO tap specifically for filling the coffee pot and even the dog’s water bowl. The sofa got a second life: it was a custom-built, very solid piece in excellent condition, and because a replacement would have required another custom order and long lead time, we reupholstered it. It’s refreshed and ready for many more memories.