How to Transform Your Home into a Cozy Rustic Lodge

Winter holidays may not be the same this year, but that doesn't mean you have to skip the picturesque rustic lodge getaway altogether. In the spirit of bookmarking future travel destinations and satisfying your wanderlust for cozy spaces and recognizing that you'll probably be spending a lot of this winter in your living room and giving you fresh holiday shopping ideas, here are four beautiful upstate New York lodges to visit one day (let it be soon!) — and ways to recreate them in your own home.

Eastwind Hotel & Bar

You'll get a pinch of Scandinavian charm in the cozy town of Windham at Eastwind Hotel & Bar. A group of friends converted this 1920s-era bunkhouse into a boutique hotel that offers design and decor details that exude the hygge spirit. "The design draws on the property's history as a bunkhouse for hunters, fly fishermen, and outdoor enthusiasts dating back to the 1920s, fused with Scandinavian inspiration," says creative director and co-owner Julija Stoliarova. "I approached the design of the property with the sentiment of lagom, the Swedish word meaning 'just the right amount.' The bunkhouse and hill house boast a mid-century-inspired eclectic look, with clean urban touches energized by the hotel's backcountry. The lushna cabins and suites embody a Scandinavian notion of camping without sacrificing comforts." As for the decorative accents, "the rooms mix new Scandinavian-inspired furnishings and one-of-a-kind vintage decor — antique books, binoculars, and sporting equipment like tennis rackets, fly fishing rods, skis, snowshoes, and sleds," she says. "The spaces are distinct,as we've incorporated many handcrafted pieces including bedside tables, coffee tables, ottomans and lounge chairs from Masaya & Co. Vintage Turkish carpets were hand-selected for each room." Smells, sounds, and tastes imbue the experience at Eastwind. "Guests will take in notes of cedar and pine with crisp Catskill Mountain air and crackling bonfires in the distance," Stoliarova notes. "Currently, in lieu of indoor salon and bar service, we are offering text-in-order breakfast baskets and cocktail deliveries anywhere on the property, in addition to delicious s'mores and grilling kits with wood, so guests can create memories by experiencing our on-property firepits."

Bring the Essence of Eastwind Home

Masaya Rocking Chair ($1025)

Article Leap Lamp ($69)

Fireplace Tools ($595)

Snowshoes ($462)

Vintage Brass Bookends ($85)

Hasbrouck House

Nestled in the historic hamlet of Stone Ridge, New York, Hasbrouck House is an 18th-century Dutch colonial stone mansion that's been converted into a boutique hotel. "Hasbrouck House was lovingly restored in 2016 with a playful mix of antique, vintage, and new furnishings and decor," says marketing director Ashley Ruprecht. "Thoughtfully sourced vintage Persian rugs are a vibrant and rich highlight in each room, along with pieces of Stickley Mission furniture that have been reupholstered in our Hasbrouck House blue and green velvet." Other highlights include reupholstered vintage settee sofas and buttery soft caramel-colored club chairs, statement wallpaper from Cole & Sons, soft Alpaca pillows and throws, Frette bedding, original brick and bluestone fireplace facades, and free-standing soaking tubs.

Scent is a key component at Hasbrouck House, particularly because they boast a farm-to-table restaurant. "Our executive chef Jesse Frederick makes use of our historic smokehouse year round, creating house-smoked short ribs, lamb shanks, and trout. Our menu highlights the bounty of the Hudson Valley and the surrounding farms, rotating weekly and seasonally," she shares. "The scent of Hasbrouck House changes with each season. In winter the giant pines that surround the grounds are the first scents you will notice when arriving." The hotel's smokehouse and club room lend a smoky, cozy fragrance, and signature candles created in collaboration with Upstate Stock blend notes of cedar, tobacco, and lavender. "Guests awaken to the smell of brewing coffee and fresh cinnamon-dusted cider donuts," she adds. "Fresh cut floral arrangements add seasonal scents to the hotel's atmosphere, from sweet roses, lavender, and lilies in spring and summer to pine and fresh cedar garlands in winter."

Channel the Spirit of Hasbrouck House at Home

Cole & Son Macchine Volanti Wallpaper ($418 per roll)

Stickley Park City Wing Chair (Price upon request)

Brass Candle Sconce ($300)

Athena Calderone x The Wooden Palate Ritual Bath Tray ($325)

Blue Parakeet Rugs Antique Persian Hamadan Rug ($925)

Spruceton Inn

Spruceton Inn is a bed and breakfast in the middle of the wild Catskills with nine rooms and one bar. Oh, and a bonfire, too. "Each room has a big, wide window that looks out onto the meadow, creek, and mountains, so feeling like you're outside when you're actually all warm and snuggly inside is definitely the coziest part of staying here," shares head innkeeper Casey Scieszka. "The paintings of local landscapes and fish that my husband Steven Weinberg paints are definitely unique to the Inn. They are all views of the area, fish he's caught — quite literally in the backyard, each one of them painted right here on site," she adds. "We also built the bar plus all the tables and shelves in the rooms using wood from our old barn, which adds to the rustic feel of the place."

The campfire at Spruceton Inn is a feast for the senses. "We've got fire pits dotted all around the property for stargazing and s'mores time," says Scieszka. "Our local shop, Clove & Creek, sells a campfire candle that's a close second to the real thing. She also recommends recreating Spruceton Inn's signature cocktail at home this winter. "It's a hearty pour of bourbon, a big squeeze of lemon, and an overflowing spoonful of locally made maple syrup, shaken and served over ice with a lemon wedge."

Spruceton Inn-Inspired Style

wndrmde's ATLS Candle ($68)

Steven Weinberg's Pale Yellow Brookie ($450)

Parachute Cloud Cotton Duvet Set ($259)

Clove & Creek Hawkins Mug ($18)

Dims. Cleo Bar Stool by Stine Aas ($475)

Urban Cowboy

Urban Cowboy is an American heritage hotel collective with locations in Nashville, Brooklyn, and The Catskills. The upstate lodge is a mountain escape nestled on 68 acres in the Big Indian Wilderness — it's as idyllic as it sounds. "Urban Cowboy Lodge's rustic luxury accommodations date back to 1898 and have been artfully revived," says Urban Cowboy founder and designer Lyon Porter. "Bold patterns, repurposed structures, and hand-picked Americana antiques solidify a commitment to elemental experiences inspired by the power of nature. The lodge features a hand-built Estonian sauna, a 75-foot spring-fed pool, nightly communal bonfires, and miles of mountain trails. The Esopus Creek runs through the property for fishing or a cold plunge."

The reigning theme here is bringing nature indoors. "We accomplished this by using two legendary woodworkers who hand-bent black willow and red cedar trees and rebuilt them in the common areas and the penthouse," Porter shares. "We also used a very simple design principal: When in doubt, green it out. Hunter green was a baseline in all rooms and wherever there wasn't wallpaper." For wallpaper, Urban Cowboy used Clint VanGemert of Printsburgh in almost every room. "His wallpaper makes any room feel cozy. The hand-pressed rectangles are all a bit irregular, bringing a wabi sabi approach to wallpaper," he adds.

The shining star of the property is, without a doubt, a hand-built, massive stone hearth made from river stone from the property. "It is anchored by two local red cedar trees that were rebuilt in Adirondack style by local legend Judd Weissburg," Porter says. "Guests can relax by the fire while reclining on refinished mid-century wooden couches original to the property that have been reupholstered with rich leather and red saddle blankets."

Bring Urban Cowboy's Outdoor Vibe Home

Striped Alpaca Throw ($159)

Vintage Deer Skull and Antlers ($118)

Rejuvenation's Balter Flatweave Rug ($719)

Vintage English Maritime Lantern ($479)

L.L. Bean Beavertail Canoe Paddle ($100)

Get Excited for Winter

A Covid-Safe Ski Season Update for 2020
7 Ideas for Winter Fun in the USA
Ice Fishing: A Boozy NYC Weekend Alternative