Cloud 9 Cabin: Bedroom Decor Captures Natural Surroundings
by Claudia Johnson, Honest Abe Log Homes
Cloud 9 Cabin is a 5,000-square-foot, three-story 12” D-Log cabin perched above the town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Honest Abe Log Homes custom designed and manufactured the impressive home, which is used as a family retreat for Danny and Tia Suiter as well as a vacation rental for visitors to the breathtaking Smokey Mountains.
The house comfortably accommodates 18 with six bedrooms on three levels.
“I wanted each of the bedrooms to pay tribute to the history and beauty of the cabin’s surroundings,” said Tia, Suiter, who designed all the interiors herself, choosing vintage, antique or handmade furnishings and appointments to enhance each room’s theme. “We named the bedrooms and suites Cade’s Cove, Elkmont, the Great Smoky, The Greenbrier, The Bear’s Den and Mount LeConte to capture the spirit of the mountains.”
Comfortably accommodating 18, all bedrooms have a private patio or balcony accessed through sliding glass doors. Tia has placed comfortable chairs and tables for watching the sunrise over Mount LeConte, Anakeesta, Ober Gatlinburg, Ski Mountain or Clingman’s Dome with a steaming cup of coffee or see the lights of Gatlinburg come to life at sunset with a glass of spirits from one of the dozens of regional distilleries and wineries.
Here are the stunning bedrooms created by Tia.
The Suiters used no drywall in the house, leaving the flat side of the D-log walls as canvases for her creativity. In the Greenbriar En-Suite Tia had natural tree bark affixed to the logs, a nod to Greenbrier, an off-the-beaten-path of Smoky Mountain National Park where hikers and campers can peacefully enjoy spring wildflowers and colorful fall foliage. Visitors are treated like royalty with the custom-built king bed, a cozy sitting area with a 42” television and a private bath with a custom walk-in shower.
Custom twig lighting hangs over the king-sized bed in the Great Smoky Master, an extra-large, handicap accessible suite with its own sitting area. Behind the bed, an accent wall is covered with gold and chocolate cork. The bathroom has a custom natural stone walk-in shower with seating and a make-up vanity with a chandelier.
Cades Cove, a broad, verdant valley surrounded by mountains, contains the widest variety of historic buildings in the Great Smokies. Tia’s decor for the Cades Cove suite includes wood stain and fabrics in shades of browns and tans, with antique pieces repurposed for bedroom furnishings or bathroom fixtures. Located on the walkout basement level of Cloud 9 cabin, the room has a private patio overlooking Gatlinburg.
The Bear’s Den Loft,has Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear beds and a private bath along with chase lounges overlooking Ski Mountain and the slopes of Ober Gatlinburg.
The Mount Le Conte Master has a king-size bed, 48” TV, sitting area and a personal deck. Double glass sliding doors lead to private deck views of Mount Le Conte.
The Elkmont En-suite is an example of how Tia created a distinctive character for each room by combining vintage and handmade pieces with interesting wall treatments. In this suite named for a nearby Appalachian ghost town, Tia stained the log walls in a weathered gray. Above the paneled king-sized bed hangs a pair of ski poles and a bear’s head lamp. Snow art and antique ski pieces are a subtle commemoration of the region’s winter sports possibilities.
