Creating The Den
By now you’ve probably heard that Matt and I opened our third rental property called The Den, located in Running Spring, CA! This project has been in the making for quite some time now, and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out!
For those who are unfamiliar with our properties in Running Springs, we had already owned Deep Creek (our first home) for a while. Shortly after purchasing Deep Creek, Matt started a great relationship with our next-door neighbors, who eventually mentioned to us they want to sell their home, and asked us if we wanted to buy it. We immediately jumped at the opportunity because it was right next door to our Deep Creek property! We knew we couldn’t pass this up, since previous guests at Deep Creek had asked us about nearby properties for their family and friends. With Deep Creek and The Den paired together, our guests would be able to rent both properties simultaneously, opening up endless possibilities for vacationing experiences!
The Renovation Process
From start to finish, renovating The Den took us about six months. We actually made quite a few more changes than we had originally anticipated, but in the end, we couldn’t be happier with the end result! Matt and I demoed and redid the entire interior of the property, removing some wood paneling from the interior walls and flooring. We updated the amazing all-wood ceiling by sandblasting the to bring out the natural appearance of the beams and wood. This part came at a large reno expense, but anyone who stays here will understand how it was well worth it! The natural color of the wood gives the perfect glowing, modern mountain cabin feel to the property! The Den now has new floors, walls, doors, and trim. We painted the interior Simply White by Benjamin Moore (a lot of our guests ask us what paint we use, and we paint all our properties this color because of the bright and clean look it gives!)
In the kitchen, we added all-new cabinets and painted them Caviar by Sherwin Williams (Ouuu fancy, right?). Since this color is so dark, we complemented them with gold hardware. We installed black stainless-steel appliances and open shelving. The kitchen also has butcher block countertops, offset with a simple backsplash featuring matte white tiles, which we ran all the way up to the walls. Finally, we removed the old slider door and added French doors. This way, guests can open the doors when the weather is nice, enjoying the crisp, clean air and admiring the natural beauty of the outdoors. Personally, we are most proud of how this room turned out!
Another cool feature of The Den is its wood-burning fire. This fireplace was red brick, but we repainted it the same Caviar color as in the kitchen. Since the kitchen, dining, and living room have an open floor plan, this color helps to make the entire room harmonize! Open floor plans are our favorite - since we are a family we want everyone to be able to stay together, and not become isolated to certain rooms of the house. Matt and I both feel that this is the best option for couple & family vacations alike!
On the back deck, we didn’t have to do a lot of renovation since it already was in quite a good shape. We did add rocking chairs, heaters, and exterior lighting, so guests can enjoy the nice weather while sitting on the deck in the summer and fall. The lower exterior sure needed a lot of work! We had our painter fix the wood, and then we painted it Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. We also enhanced its appearance with exterior lighting, which in the evenings makes this humble mountain home truly feel like a castle!
Lisa’s Design Inspiration
When designing The Den, I wanted to make it feel different from Deep Creek, especially because the two properties are next to each other. Deep Creek carries a light, bright, open, and clean-looking aesthetic. It’s perfect for guests who are a family, or a group of friends wanting to stay in the mountains for the week. When I think of the Den, however, my inspiration came directly from the beautiful, tall, green trees that swallow the property. When our guests stay at The Den, they’ll feel like they’re still a part of the outdoors while enjoying the warmth of the wood-burning fireplace
I also found an amazing velvet couch in forest green. If you’ve been following me for any time, you’d know that I prefer neutral colors like grey, black, and white, but I knew this couch was the perfect piece for The Den. That couch then created the inspiration for the rest of the property. From there, we added other touches, such as a workstation in a bedroom and a bar cart. There’s even an area with special glasses, recipe books, and a special book about wine. Matt and I dreamt of creating a moody, romantic, practical, and functional space for couples to enjoy a mountain cabin getaway in!
Who Is The Den Designed For?
The Den has two bedrooms, each with a king-sized bed, and one bathroom. This makes it great for a romantic getaway for one or two couples. For Matt and myself, two of our favorite trips are either 1) just us two or 2) with other married friends. Knowing that there are many other couples like us, we wanted The Den to be the perfect flat for a couple(s) to get away for an exciting week wrapped up in the surrounding mountains!
Don’t get us wrong though, The Den also can be a great place for families to bring the kids, or even multiple families to coordinate booking Deep Creek & The Den for the perfect duo-property vacation of a lifetime!
Looking back at renovating The Den, what Matt and I are most proud of is how we stepped out of our comfort zone to create something magical. We have never seen a property like this one, and are already anticipating all of the incredible feedback that our guests will give us (not to mention we dreaming up more features to add this year!) I love how this home came together, sharing similarities but also numerous differences with Deep Creek. We truly feel complete in our hearts now that we have two of the best locations in southern California!