Strictly Modern, Indeed.

Cabin 14 has always been a little bit of a show-off.

She sits about 20 feet from the lake, has a porch people tend to disappear onto for hours, and has always been cute, cozy and in really good shape.

But we stay in all of our cabins ourselves from time to time. It’s the best way to figure out how they actually feel, what works, and what tiny quirks become much less tiny after a few days.

That’s how Cabin 14 got us.

The kitchen looked great. The little sink was adorable.

It was also way too small to be especially useful.

So I mentioned to James that maybe we should fix the sink.

And if we were fixing the sink, maybe we should add a dishwasher.

And if we were adding a dishwasher, maybe the range should move.

And if the range was moving...

You see where this is going.

Then Lou got involved and it was all over.

And by “all over,” I mean Lou and Sandy had the whole thing finished in about a week.

Thank God for Lou.

That is pretty much how projects happen around here.

And suddenly we had a new kitchen.

Cabin 14 now has a much better layout, more counter space, a dishwasher, a new range setup and a kitchen that actually works when you are living in it for a week.

Which, it turns out, is useful in a housekeeping cabin.

We added new banquette seating too, so there’s a better spot for everyone to land. Breakfast. Dinner. Cards. Coffee. Someone pretending to read while actually watching the lake.

And yes, the red refrigerator stayed.

Obviously.

We’re still fussing with a few things because we are incapable of declaring anything completely finished.

There will probably be some thrifting. A few chairs are getting refinished. Something will move three inches because I decide it feels better there. We will almost certainly bring home some object we did not know we needed until we saw it.

But the glow-up is pretty much done.

And she is looking awfully cute.

Strictly Modern

One of my favorite additions isn’t new at all.

We just hung an old Wambolts Camp “Housekeeping Cabins. Strictly Modern.” sign over the bed.

A former Wambolts guest had it and passed it back to us. Even better, that guest is returning to stay with us again next summer.

That feels pretty perfect.

“Strictly Modern” was a familiar resort term back in the day, a way of letting guests know these housekeeping cabins came with the conveniences people were looking for.

Cabin 14 is taking that promise pretty seriously now.

Dishwasher? Check.

More counter space? Check.

Better kitchen layout? Check.

Red fridge still carrying the whole operation? Also check.

Strictly modern, indeed.

The best parts didn’t need fixing.

The logs are still there.

The bedroom is still cozy.

The porch is still ridiculous.

Upper Bottle Lake is still right outside the door.

And Cabin 14 still has that sweet little quality that made us love her in the first place.

She’s just easier to live in now.

Which is really the whole point.

And somehow, Cabin 14 still has July.

This is the surprising part.

Summer 2027 is already looking really good, and most cabins are down to a few openings.

Cabin 14 is the only cabin that still has several July weeks available.

My guess?

Not for long.

So if you are a July person, a porch person, a right-by-the-water person, or perhaps just someone who appreciates a properly sized sink, Cabin 14 might be calling your name.

See Cabin 14 and check the remaining 2027 dates.

Lake Days. Then. Now. Next.