Tour Chip Wade's Next-Level Rustic Wood Cabin

Although designer Chip Wade has done more than 2,000 renovations, he’d never tackled a log cabin before buying this one in Milledgeville, Georgia, with his wife, Pauli. “I am not one to shy away from a challenge, but I did have some things to learn about log walls!” says Chip. The 2,300-square-foot house, built in 1988, needed updating; Chip replaced the roof, flooring, windows and doors, doing most of the labor himself, with help from his dad. And then, he rethought rustic. Instead of going all-out wood-tastic, he stained the exterior logs charcoal gray. Inside, he contrasted rough-hewn cabin elements with color and pattern. The couple named their place Misty Mill, after Pauli’s grandmother’s house in the town of Misty Mountain in North Carolina (“Mill” is short for Milledgeville). “The overall feel is a little whimsical and a little ’50s sleepaway camp,” says Chip. What better combo for a lakeside family getaway?

The original western hemlock logs that make up the house vary in size — some are more than 40 continuous feet long! With sanding and staining, they look as good as new.

Fireplaces surrounded by stone can sometimes look dark and heavy. This hex tile by Daltile has the opposite effect — and it adds a fun pattern.

The wall is the star here. Before, the chinking — the material that fills the gaps between the logs — was light brown. Redoing it in white created a crisp contrast. A console from Wayfair hides extra seating (by Arhaus) in plain sight. Chip’s sister Dena made the art.

In the mornings, this section of the living room is where Chip and Pauli have coffee while the kids sip their own version — hot chocolate with a splash of coffee. At night, it’s card game territory. The cabinetry under the TV holds art supplies, books and Chip’s miscellaneous hardware. He paired cozy armchairs by Arhaus with Windsor-style chairs that are easy to move around. A starburst light fixture made of weathered oak by Generation Lighting has rustic cred.

Exposed beams and candelabra-esque chandeliers by St. James Lighting are pure cabin — but the gorgeous green island (painted Foxhall Green by Sherwin-Williams) and one-of-a-kind backsplash pattern by Daltile stand out as fresh and modern. The counter stools bring together the wood and metal elements in the space.

“When I was refinishing the western hemlock beams on the ceiling, I noticed the crossties were spaced at the exact length of a king bed and thought, Here’s my chance to have a hanging bed,” says Chip. “It feels light and airy.” Instead of matching nightstands (too formal), he did stacked trunks from an Army Navy store on one side and an open shelf unit on the other.

Red, white and blue reign in this patriotic guest room. The Wades couldn’t resist having a Misty Mill flag made in the same dimensions as the American flag also on display. The galvanized pendant is by Generation Lighting and the woodland animal wallpaper is by Timeless Decorations on Etsy.

“This bathroom is a guest favorite,” says Chip. “People really take their time in that shower!” The industrial-style door, by Coastal Shower Doors, is made of aluminum so it won’t rust. Black sinks by Kohler are another cool touch: “Black is an underused aesthetic decision — it has the potential to bring instant sophistication to a space,” he says. The rug in front of the vanity is a T.J. Maxx find.

“I love bunk beds, but you can’t use them as extra sleeping space for adults,” says Chip. So he put in full beds by Birch Lane, with quilts by Pendleton. Since the kids are into comics, Chip hung vintage superhero art he found at an antiques shop — they bring ka-pow! to the space.

Chip got a firepit from American Fyre Designs and clad it in the same stone and pavers he used on the retaining walls, from Belgard. With chairs from Frontgate, this spot is s’mores central.