Photography by Alise O'Brien
Meghan and James Reed live in St. Charles in an Italianate house dating to 1865. Over time, many of its original features have been removed and replaced with elements of Greek Revival architecture, like the tall windows with simple surrounds and a front porch with round columns. A log cabin on the property is 30 years older than the house. Built by Fidelis and Euphrosine Schwendeman on their farm in St. Peters, like the main house, it’s undergone its own aesthetic transformations. In the late 19th century, frame additions were built onto the cabin as the Schwendeman clan grew, eventually enclosing it. It wasn’t until the St. Peters house was torn down, in 1997, that the little log cabin was discovered inside. The previous property owner labeled each log and moved the cabin to its current location, on Morgan, updating it with new insulation, electrical, and plumbing. In 2020, the Reeds embarked on a renovation of their own, turning the cabin into an Airbnb and propelling it into the modern age.
The Reeds moved into their house, located a few blocks from their former residence—(the Midtown St. Charles home featured in DesignSTL's Most Beautiful Homes 2020)—in April 2020. Just one month later—as retail shops closed, reports of shipping delays were widespread, and the travel industry all but ground to a halt—they began work on the cabin, not knowing whether it would attract guests during a pandemic or serve as a space for their own family. “It was one of those moments of ‘If you build it they will come,’ which turned out to be true. We got flooded with bookings the moment we opened,” says Meghan.
An architecture buff, she reveled in the chance to design the cabin in her own style. The couple started from the ground up and made their way around the space, taking inspiration from the old-fashioned camping lodges of the Catskills. They refinished the stenciled wood floors and stained them dark walnut to enhance the look of the original pine grain. A nonfunctional cast-iron stove was removed to make more elbow room in the living area, which they furnished with a yellow-gold sofa, a red-patterned rug, a TV, and a vintage record player. The kitchenette is decorated with a mint green 1950s-inspired refrigerator, metal shelves bracketed against the logs, and on-trend forest green cabinets. The Reeds agree that the kitchen presented them with the biggest challenge as they worked to modernize it and maintain its historic character. Imbuing the cabin with that fun glamping feel took time and patience. “I fought Meghan tooth and nail with the green-on-green in the kitchenette,” says James. “I thought, There’s no way it’s going to look good—and it looks so cool.”
“We take the summer camp theme very seriously,” says Meghan. “I never got to go to camp as a kid, so this is the adult camp of my dreams.”
Upstairs, a loft-like space provides ample room to spread out in the bedroom or take a bath in the sunken tub. A metal Grumman canoe, a gift from Meghan’s grandfather, hangs in the back of the cabin. Grumman’s legacy as a manufacturer of military aircraft resonated with James, an airline pilot. “James and I are sensitive about our environments,” says Meghan. “We believe that through good design you can be inspired to work a little harder or relax a little harder.”
1 of 3
Photography by Alise O'Brien
2 of 3
Photography by Alise O'Brien
3 of 3
Photography by Alise O'Brien
Bookings at the cabin have been in demand from the start, and so the Reeds have yet to enjoy the space themselves. Managing the Airbnb has allowed Meghan to quit her job in marketing and launch her own consulting firm while she takes on day-to-day operations. “It’s unlocked some doors for us,” she says. “I have so much gratitude for the cabin, even when I’m in there cleaning between guests.”
Judging from reviews, they’ve struck the right tone between modern comfort and nostalgic wonder. We spent our evening relaxing, playing Uno, listening to records, wrote a summertime guest, who left the Reeds a vinyl of The Beach Boys’ hit “Don’t Worry Baby.”
“We’re stewards of this cabin,” says Meghan. “It’s about preserving the past and giving people an experience.”
