Hytte Posten – Tante Ruth’s Hytte

We’re headed back to Camp Davis this weekend for a chance to slow things down a bit.  Since Natalie returned to work we’ve had some rather hectic weekends, and a few days of being totally disconnected is much needed at this point.

On the topic of Camp Davis, I almost forgot… When we first came home from our Minnesota trip I posted a glimpse into Tante Alice’s cabin.  I’ve also  been meaning to post the photos I took of Ruthie’s namesake’s Hytte since we returned.

Tante Ruth’s Hytte is perhaps 2/3 the square footage of our Hytte at Camp Davis.  However, instead of one large room it is broken down into two.  The first room is something of a combination living room, kitchenette and bedroom (as it has a day bed for extra sleeping arrangements if needed).  From this room you can either enter the bathroom or the master bedroom.

We’ve been inspired with this space for two reasons: First, like Tante Alice’s place, we just love the Scandinavian-inspired decor.  It’s comfortable, but has a sense of history and is tastefully filled with one-of-a-kind items – the type of things that fit our “new” approach to purchases.  Second, having a Hytte that currently under renovation, we realized there is a lot we can learn from Ruth’s Hytte when it comes to the layout of the small space.

Loren is officially too old to know he is in the same room as his parents and still sleep soundly through the night, which means that if we want to continue enjoying our Hytte as our getaway from our getaway, we need to figure out how to change the layout so that it feels like two separate spaces – one for kids and one for adults.  Ruth’s Hytte has accomplished this feat with less space.

The main entrance is behind Loren in the picture above.  To the right is the “living room’s” daybed, the fore left is the kitchenette, to the left out of the picture is the door to the bathroom, and behind you is the master bedroom.

Everywhere you look are little touches worth a second and third glance.  You won’t find these items and decorations at the big box stores.

Just as important, they all fit together.  That doesn’t mean everything is “matchy-matchy.”  Instead, hard or soft, heavy or playful, every piece somehow makes sense together.  And where I’ve learned that it is really, really easy to go nuts and fill spaces like this with every little nik-nak on the planet, Tante Ruth strikes that delicate balance between the space feeling “complete” without it tripping over into the “cluttered” zone.  I’m starting to realize that that balance has just as much to do with tidiness as it does with decor – something I have to work on first I guess…

These same principals are found in the furniture as well.

Like with Tante Alice’s cabin, I need to remind myself that these ladies have had a few extra generations of time to hone their style.  I have a lot of work to, but I shouldn’t expect to be there in a few weeks.

We might get hurricaned out by Monday.  Batten down the hatches and be careful.

Happy weekend folks!