Help me equip a small space/ set up a ski cabin

[Deleted]

We closed escrow this week on our ski cabin. 2/1, 600 sq ft., no closets anywhere. It does, however, have a finished attic, room to put in a shed, and a huge hearth in front of the fire place where ski boots and gloves can be dried. The house is fully furnished. We are primarily using it for ourselves, but we will let friends use it when we don't need it and may rent it out a few times a year.

For the bedrooms, I have bought luggage racks (with bottom shelves) so people can keep clothes in their suitcases. I am going to substitute the bedside tables the house came with with bedside tables that have three drawers so there will be further storage space. And we are hanging hooks on the bedroom doors so if someone happens to have brought a formal outfit to Big Bear (unlikely) those items can be hung there.

In the bathroom, we are having the tub shower replaced with a shower stall and stacking W/D. I am going to have a Dyson DC35 vacuum/mop mounted to the wall (http://www.dyson.com/vacuum-cleaners/cordless/dc56.aspx). Any other cleaning equipment - and I am not sure what will be needed, because we will have a cleaning service that hopefully will bring its own stuff - will have to go to the attic. We are adding a ladder that attaches to the attic door to make attic access easier, I hope. The attic has electricity and lighting.

The television is wall mounted in the living room. I am thinking of adding either a wall mounted television in the back/children's bedroom or mounting an iPad. I am not sure if there is a way to secures no ipad for renters, though,while leaving friends and family free to use it.

So, a few questions:

1. Are there any important small space solutions I am overlooking?

2. Should I get a drying rack (for clothes) to out either by the fireplace or outside?

3. Is it unreasonable to store cleaning supplies in the attic? Would it make more sense to add a shed right now?

4. Do you think a W/D is necessary? The cleaning service will wash the sheets and towels offsite for $10/visit, so the only real need for the W/D is for us and our guests. I am tempted to say we would not use one during short trips, but if we were there for weeks on end (and I never will be, though DH and his friends might) we might want one.

5. Would you out a television in the back bedroom, knowing that room will be primarily used by children? Adults could use the room, it has a queen bed, but the front bedroom is a obviously the master because it has a direct view of the lake. There is nowhere to put a TV in the master, so if we don't put one in the rear/child's bedroom there will just be one TV I the house. Keep in mind it is possible to get snowed in there.

6. We are going to get a gaming system for the house since there's no room for a game table. Should we go with the new Wii? My only reservation is that the Wii won't also work as a DVD player whereas a PS or X-Box would. Is a DVD player necessary if we have Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime? Should we put the system in the living room or kid's room?

7. Is putting an ipad in the rear bedroom (or anywhere else in the house) asking for a disaster if we ever rent the house? Is there a way to secure an ipad with a lock so only friends and family can walk around with it and otherwise it has to be held in bed?


ETA: short version- what would you do for storage in a vacation house with no closets, besides luggage racks and hooks on the doors? Does the house need a second TV in what would be the kids' room?

[joenali]

Lol!! That's huge compared to my 700 square foot house!!!

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2013 10:54:10 GMT -5 joenali said:

Lol!! That's huge compared to my 700 square foot house!!!

My bad! A "1" snuck in. It is 600 square feet, not 1,600!!!!

[janegold]

This only answers a few of your questions but we don't have a w/d in our beach house. It's fine, we use a laundromat as necessary. But, it would be nice to have one if you have the space! We have a drying line of our back deck and use it a lot because, well, it's the beach. I bet you guys would use one too, with wet ski clothes.

We rent our place out probably 6-8 weeks a year and we do not leave valuables there. Things have been stolen before. Is there a closet or safe you could lock, maybe with a combination, that you could give access to friends but not renters?

I think the Wii is most family friendly but I would also have a DVD player. What if the Internet went down?

[speckledfrog]

I would go ahead and do the washer/dryer.  I think it will add some versatility to the cabin and it'll be nice to do it now rather than wait to see if you need it and then get them later.

I think a television is a good idea.  A lot of people like to unwind by watching.  Although, many people travel with laptops, too, so it might not be necessary if you have wifi available at the cabin.  I would look at what the other rentals do to help make your cabin comparable.

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2013 10:59:04 GMT -5 janegold said:

This only answers a few of your questions but we don't have a w/d in our beach house. It's fine, we use a laundromat as necessary. But, it would be nice to have one if you have the space! We have a drying line of our back deck and use it a lot because, well, it's the beach. I bet you guys would use one too, with wet ski clothes.

We rent our place out probably 6-8 weeks a year and we do not leave valuables there. Things have been stolen before. Is there a closet or safe you could lock, maybe with a combination, that you could give access to friends but not renters?

I think the Wii is most family friendly but I would also have a DVD player. What if the Internet went down?

Thank you. Very helpful and very good advice.

[koopa17]

So I'm only answering one of your questions, but I would strongly suggest an Apple TV instead of a DVD player/Wii. As long as the internet connection there is trustworthy (as in, it doesn't go out b/c of snow or whatever) you can watch Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, and rent movies with an iTunes account. It can also slingshot any Apple device, so if you have a movie saved on an iPad that you have with you at the cabin, you can watch it via the Apple TV. They are only $99, small and easy to hook up.

[vanillacourage]

I think the w/d will make your place more attractive to renters, if that's a priority.

If space is tight for a drying rack you could get ones of those retractable clotheslines that mount to two opposing walls.

[Deleted]

This may seem really silly but we rented a cabin a few weeks ago and I've gotten so used to using hotel hair dryers that I almost forgot to put one in. Might be nice to have one available. One less thing to pack.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards

[mushmouse]

I like having a w/d in our country house even though we don't use it all that often. It's especially nice if you plan to rent it because whether people use it or not they want to have one there. I would definitely put a tv in the 'kids' room. When there are kids around it's nice to be able to get rid of them. I'm kind of kidding, but not really. If someone wants to watch a movie it's easier to leave the living room free for conversation and hanging by the fire. We put extra hooks in the main bathroom so there would be places for guests to hang their towels. I think a drying rack might be useful to lay ski pants over and leave the hearth for gators and gloves.

Are you sure you want to keep a queen bed in the only guest room? We have a full size in one and twin beds in the other. If I had to get rid of one I would keep the twin beds because it makes it possible to have guests that aren't a couple.

[Deleted]

I would skip the w/d and iPad and definitely put an additional TV in the kids room. Will wifi be available? Most people will bring their own iPad/kindle/smart phone/laptop, so as long as there is wifi, you are good.

[Ruby Gloom]

I think the w/d is a great idea, as well as drying racks.

Your extra storage solutions sound great!

I would for sure do a TV in the kids room, and a PS4 or 3 would be my choice over a Wii or an XBox. I like that we can stream anything from Amazon to Hulu, Netflix, etc. on ours. We also can connect H or DS1's laptops to it and play any stored movies and computer games on the TV. Also it is our blue-ray player. The most versatile electronic device we own.

I would keep random cleaning products there, especially if kids will be using it.

[speckledfrog]

Nov 10, 2013 11:38:39 GMT -5 pagas said:

I would want a W/D. With kids, you never now what can happen. That being said, with kids you also usually want a bath tub. If you take out the one tub, is there another tub somewhere?

It sounds like it's either a tub or a washer or dryer for the space elle has.  Which would you rather?

I'm not skiing with my toddler, but I know I could put him in the shower with me in a pinch.

[icechalk]

I would definitely get a secondTV w a DVD player if you can. I am not very familiar w hulu or wii or anything so I can't comment there.

Put additional hooks by the entry way for coats / etc and be sure there are several in the bath for towels etc.

I'd try to store cleaning stuff under sinks if possible.

I would also put a shed in ASAP - there are undoubtedly things you're going to want / need to store.

Do you have a spot in the living area for a few board games, some books and magazines, and a few decks of cards? Don't forget some really snuggly, warm throws for the den as well. Will you have an extra spot in the luggage racks for additional blankets / extra sheets / pillows for each bedroom? If possible I would even consider a small, quality inflatable mattress. Like someone else pointed out, if your extra bedroom only has a queen you are limiting that bedroom to couples or kids only. If you have space to blow up a mattress in the guest room or den it may come in handy.

I would rather a W/D than a tub. Even with small children - we can shower with them (and often do on vacation). If a kid wets the bed or you run out of clean dish towels or whatever you don't want to have to wait for a laundromat to open or certainly for a cleaning service.

If you have some folding racks or like someone else mentioned, a retractable clothesline even - that would be great. Everything is always soaked In the snow. Another reason for a dryer as well.

[chickadee77]

Sounds like you've made some good progress! I second having a DVD player, and another TV in the second bedroom. If people want an ipad, they'll likely bring their own, I would think.

My only mild concern would be eliminating the tub. It's so nice, after a day of skiing, to have a hot soak (will you have a hot tub? If so, forget the bathtub, lol). Also, I don't have kids, so I don't know how necessary a tub is on that end. I know I love having access to a w/d, not only for laundry, but if people don't feel like building a fire, they can just toss wet stuff in to dry if needed.

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2013 11:17:52 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

I think the w/d will make your place more attractive to renters, if that's a priority.

If space is tight for a drying rack you could get ones of those retractable clotheslines that mount to two opposing walls.

Good suggestion. Thank you.

[Deleted]

Make the coffee table or entertainment center the throw blanket / board game storage area, by getting a chest or something with lots of drawers. Get a chest you can use for storage and seating at the table?

[Deleted]

Get bed frames with drawers underneath?

[SusanBAnthony]

I would want a w/d if you are going to be there with kids. They barf/poop/spill all over everything, and you don't want to have to lug enough changes of clothes to be sure they don't run through them all.

I would put a tv in the back bedroom, and skip the iPad idea.

I don't know anything about keeping a wii or iPad secure for renters. My inclination would be to put a lock box of some kind in the master bedroom, and lock up anything you are worried about when there are renters.

I would get a folding drying rack. They take up very little a space when folded, and are a lifesaver when you need one.

I would put a few cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink (like to wipe down the occasional mess), but I think heavy duty cleaning supplies can go in the attic if a service will be handling stuff most of the time.

[Deleted]

There is a sleeper sofa in the living room, I should have mentioned that. But we are going to be very strict about not letting more than 4 adults, or one family, stay there. A hard stop on 4 adults, perhaps we would rent to grandparents, parents, and two kids, but no way would we allow more than 4 adults. There is only one bathroom and I don't want my house getting trashed. And we don't need to have it rented out at all, the mortgage payment is tiny (less than renting a hotel room from Friday-Monday once/month)

We are going huge on board games - the house already has Scrabble, Yahtzee, and Shoots and Ladders, and we are going to bring up Risk, Monopoly, checkers and chess, plus some adult games. We have lots of games accumulated over the years that we never play here, and they are all going to the cabin. If anyone has any ideas for particular games, though, happy to hear them.

It sounds like we for sure will be going with a second TV. We have an extra Wii and an extra PS3, so we will just move them both to the cabin. We won't buy the newer generation yet, though that might change if we really love the new PS4.

We will put storage containers under the bed with extra blankets and towels. I am off to order the containers now.

The drying line is a good idea. I will put that on my shopping list as well.

The house will definitely have wifi.

[ohiowan]

You need to have it fully equipped with hot chocolate, peppermint schnapps, and whip cream. Nothing else really matters.

[mushmouse]

Bananagrams, Uno and puzzles.