Nora and Doug OLeary admit they had ulterior motives when they bought their lakeside cabin in Cable, Wisconsin, seven years ago. They were fishing for a way to lure their three grown children to visit. For decades, the Twin Citiesbased couple and their kids Annie, Kat, and Bear vacationed a few times a year with extended family in the north woods of Wisconsin. I didnt think wed ever buy our own cabin, Nora says. But the couple soon realized it would be a way to keep the tradition going. When their real estate agent tipped them to a 1930s resort that was soon hitting the market, the couple headed up to Lake Owen that day. We walked down the hill to the cabin, and I was like, This is it! Nora says. They put in a bid that night.JOSH GRUBBSThe OLearys play bocce with daughter Kat and son Bear. (Dont let the smiles fool you. It gets competitive.)The 10.5-acres included more than 500 feet of lakeshore, a natural bog, and several smaller cabins and outbuildings. The main cottage had retained many of its nostalgic notes: low ceilings, pine walls, and quirky nooks and crannies. It was important, Nora says, to seamlessly weave those features into their cabins new chapter. The home had to live new and look old, says interior designer Lucy Penfield. After the renovation, it was time for recreation. The OLearys, after all, are no strangers to fun. Nora is president and CEO of toy company Manhattan Toy, and Doug has been known to establish playful cabin traditions, including bocce tournaments complete with team uniforms stored in a fish-cleaning-house-turned-locker-room. That unfussy approach is what draws in as many as 40 family members at a time. We wanted to maintain that humble fishing-camp vibe, which keeps us grounded to the history here, Nora says. Were lucky to be passing through and to care for and share this magical place. Keep reading to tour these beautiful rustic-meets-refined, old-meets-new family cabin: More Cozy Country Cabins to Explore:Nostalgic TouchesJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonBuilt in the 1930s, this property was once part of a Lake Owen resort known as Island View, which the OLearys were lucky enough to learn about the fishing camps history from its previous owners and a local antiques stores black-and-white photos of families sunbathing on the floating wooden raft and rowboats tied to a nearby dock. The resorts original dining hutch was moved here in the entry as a place to store keys, flashlights, and other sundries. Vintage Island View photos and vases picked up at the towns antique shops fill out the shelves. Built-in, wrap-around benches provide a place to drop bags or grab Scouts leash on the way out the door. The glass ceiling lights have iron strapping, which emulates hammered hardware common on cabin cabinetry from years gone by. RELATED: The Best Cabin Decorating Ideas Thatll Turn Your Home Into a Cozy, Collected EscapeKnotty Pine WallsJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonWhen I walk in here, it reminds me of the great lodges I visited as a kid, says Doug of the original pine walls that cast a golden glow. Low pine-paneled ceilings reinforce the cozy feel. So often when people redo cabins, they go right to a 9- or 10-foot ceiling, but we didnt want to do that, says architectural designer Sara Whicher. We tried to keep the intimacy. The living rooms original wood-burning fireplace, made of Wisconsin fieldstone, and the cozy leather sofa, layered with a vintage trading blanket, draw the family indoors after a day of hiking the Nordic ski trails.What Is It? What Is It Worth?Vintage SnowshoesDoug found these vintage snowshoes, handcrafted of wood and animal hide, from a Canadian dealer on eBay. Some intricately woven Native American examples are valued at more than $2,500 a set.Help-Yourself Open ShelvingJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonWhile Doug flips hotcakes on the range, a dozen more family members can weave in and out of the kitchen, helping themselves to dishes from the open cabinets. The idea was to avoid people asking where things are, Nora says. Its all right there. Beadboard cabinets, soapstone countertops, and handmade terra-cotta tiles set on the diagonal add to the vintage cottage vibe. The moody blue color of the cabinetry helps break up the natural wood throughout.Get the Look:Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color: Philipsburg Blue by Benjamin MooreRELATED: 30+ Beautiful Blue Kitchen Cabinet Ideas to Elevate Your HomeGather-Round SpacesJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonA pair of old logs from Island View resort frame the grain-sack-covered banquette where Nora and her sisters like to slide into to play dominoes or a game of hearts. (Board games are stashed underneath the seats.) A jagged-edge sign thats also original to the resort hangs above. Doug, who retired a year ago from marketing, hopes to use it to inspire a logo for the property. RELATED: 45+ Breakfast Nook Design Ideas for a Stylish Start to Every DayHappy Hour HideawaysJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonAs the official family bartender, Doug is known to concoct signature cocktails like Whiskey Cider, a fall favorite. The sunshine-yellow Smeg stays stocked with craft beers. You can come in from the boathouse, whiz through here, grab a beer, and head out to the bocce court on the other side of the house, says Sara of the pass-through dining space.Laid-Back SeatingJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa Evidon Conversations and snacks also flow from the bar area to the sitting room, where the sofa doubles as a guest bed. Spool chairs covered in tartan plaid and layers rugs pick up on the classic cabin look. New casement windows with pocket hinges swing into the room, a detail that picks up on the original architecture. This room had to live new and look old, says Lucy. and lets crisp breezes blow through.Quiet, Get-Away SpacesJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonAlthough the cabin went through a renovation, much of the original floorplan was preserved, including this area. Its now the game room and a quiet spot to pull out a laptop and work if necessary. Furnished simply with a game table and pull-up benches, the floor is layered with Navajo rugs. Wrap-around windows let the fall foliage colors seep inside. It was a strange little room that had no real purpose, so it became the quiet room and now its one of the familys favorites, says Lucy. Airy Sleeping QuartersAlyssa LeeWith all of the activity happening downstairs, quiet quarters for napping and sleeping were a must. (Between Nora and Dougs families, there are 10 nieces and nephews, plus other visiting relatives ranging in ages from 6 weeks to 81 years.) Part of the renovation meant carving out more sleeping space in the 10-by-7-foot attic, which Sara expanded by adding dormers to both sides of the house and tucking beds under the eaves. A fresh coat of white paint refreshed much of the space. When we first crawled up there, it was dark and dank and woody and icky, says Lucy. We needed to open it up and lighten it but also bring the spirit of the cabin vibe from downstairs. Get the Look: Wall Paint: Cloud White by Benjamin MooreAlyssa LeeAlyssa LeeThe team also tucked in cozy bed nooks throughout. In the guest room, branch cutouts (a nod to the birch trees that surround the cabin) frame one of the new built-in bunks. In another area, they added a scallop frame to the original v-groove paneling surrounding the new bunk. Underneath, drawers hold extra bedding. RELATED: 35+ Cozy Reading Nook Ideas for Whiling Away the AfternoonStunning Lake ViewsAlyssa LeeIn the upstairs hall bath thats built into the original window dormer, a small mirror is tucked inside the vintage medicine cabinet to maximize lake views. There are hooks everywhere, so there are plenty of places to hang your towel or bathing suit, says Sara.RELATED: 30+ Rustic Bathroom Ideas To Give Your Space Lots of Cozy CharacterHumble MaterialsJosh Grubbs, styling by Lisa EvidonAll of the homes exterior elements, such as the roofs green shingles and galvanized metal, look like what would have been used to originally build the 1930s cabin. Doug and Nora wanted it to look like everything came from Rondeaus, says Sara, referring to the local hardware store. We tried to replicate what was here before. When they built these cabins 85 years ago, they were practical and straight- forward. There was nothing fancy about them, says Nora. One thing that did change slightly was a new, wider back porch that provides more lounging options but maintains a low profile with the rest of the cabin.Tour More Cozy Cabins: