Houzz Tours
Travel by Design
My Houzz: Tradition Lives On in a Historic Home and Lodge
Tour an eclectic seaside property in Washington state, complete with a residence, vintage trailers for rent and creative gatherings
The Sou'wester Lodge in Seaview, Washington, has a long history of housing creative freethinkers. When friends Thandi Rosenbaum and Anastasia Corya heard the seaside property was up for sale in the summer of 2012, they welcomed the opportunity to continue its tradition of creative expression.
However, the friends didn't realize at first that the lodge came with the eclectic and impressive collection of vintage trailers parked outside. The two devoted themselves to sprucing up the lodge and the 10 trailers outside, restoring a unique set of overnight rentals available to curious visitors who want to linger.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Thandi Rosenbaum and Anastasia Corya
Location: Seaview, Washington, on the Long Beach Peninsula
Size: The 6,000-square-foot lodge has six suites, and there are 10 vintage trailers and four cabins on the property as well.
That's interesting: The lodge was originally built as a vacation home for U.S. senator Henry Winslow Corbett in 1892.
However, the friends didn't realize at first that the lodge came with the eclectic and impressive collection of vintage trailers parked outside. The two devoted themselves to sprucing up the lodge and the 10 trailers outside, restoring a unique set of overnight rentals available to curious visitors who want to linger.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Thandi Rosenbaum and Anastasia Corya
Location: Seaview, Washington, on the Long Beach Peninsula
Size: The 6,000-square-foot lodge has six suites, and there are 10 vintage trailers and four cabins on the property as well.
That's interesting: The lodge was originally built as a vacation home for U.S. senator Henry Winslow Corbett in 1892.
The welcoming front porch is Rosenbaum's favorite spot for a sundowner. Much like the previous owners, who came to Seaview on vacation and never looked back, Rosenbaum — a South African native — arrived with a backpack and still hasn't completely unpacked.
When they moved in, Rosenbaum and Corya blended their personal collections with the lodge's existing style. Both have a similar style and love well-built vintage furnishings and bohemian art. This enclosed wraparound porch on the first floor serves as their sunroom, mudroom, activity space and office.
"There is something in every room that is personal to us and fits in its new space perfectly," says Corya.
"There is something in every room that is personal to us and fits in its new space perfectly," says Corya.
First, the pair cleared out the clutter in the house. "We were peeling an onion, and the furnishings that remain hold the nostalgia of the lodge," describes Rosenbaum.
The first floor has three bedrooms, a shared bathroom, a large living room and the lodge kitchen. "Strangely, the hardest part of remodeling was making curtains. So many windows to cover. We tried to salvage many of the vintage tapestries and curtains, which ultimately slowed the process," says Corya.
The first floor has three bedrooms, a shared bathroom, a large living room and the lodge kitchen. "Strangely, the hardest part of remodeling was making curtains. So many windows to cover. We tried to salvage many of the vintage tapestries and curtains, which ultimately slowed the process," says Corya.
Corya's bedroom is tucked around the corner from the living room and the kitchen. The remnants of a beautiful brick fireplace decorated with her original Mexican folk art serve as a headboard.
"In between meals, the cleaning, planning and managing the day-to-day running of this place all takes place in the kitchen," says Rosenbaum.
The second floor was originally a ballroom, but in the 1940s it was divided into four suites, one of which is the master suite. Each suite includes a large bedroom with a kitchenette and bathroom.
This master suite of the lodge has access to a balcony and also functions as the lodge's living room. After a lively weekend entertaining guests, Corya and Rosenbaum settle in here together to watch movies and fold laundry.
An artist and friend, Grant Olson, custom made the quilt for the two.
Artwork: Joslyn Fry
An artist and friend, Grant Olson, custom made the quilt for the two.
Artwork: Joslyn Fry
On the third floor are two suites built in the 1940s. The larger suite has two rooms and is often referred to as the "band room," since it houses entertainers for Saturday-night music events. This third-floor kitchen serves as a communal kitchen for guests.
The two friends often host wellness and restorative retreats on the property. "We would like to support the local economy and showcase the peninsula's creative bounty," says Corya. "We currently sell plants for a local horticulturalist as well as local products in our honor-system store, named Starvation Alley: cranberries, preserves, honey, blueberries, greens, garlic and whatever is in season."
The trailers on the property are often the most requested rental units, offering cozy appeal, a sense of adventure and surprising space efficiency.
Rosenbaum and Corya set to work right away sprucing up the 10 trailers. "We had to strip the floors, repair water damage and paint the panels in some cases. We replaced most of the furnishings with our own and chose colors and decor that best enhanced the golden wood panels unique to [each] interior," says Corya.
Rosenbaum and Corya set to work right away sprucing up the 10 trailers. "We had to strip the floors, repair water damage and paint the panels in some cases. We replaced most of the furnishings with our own and chose colors and decor that best enhanced the golden wood panels unique to [each] interior," says Corya.
The two friends are currently working on a couple other trailers, renovating one for accommodation and the other as a thrift store.
"We also have one Airstream named the Potato Bug, and it is very close to Thandi's heart. It is a small and cozy trailer that exemplifies the efficiency of these trailer designs," says Corya.
"We also have one Airstream named the Potato Bug, and it is very close to Thandi's heart. It is a small and cozy trailer that exemplifies the efficiency of these trailer designs," says Corya.
Depending on the holiday, guests can enjoy activities that range from clam digging to pumpkin carving, dine on special fare prepared by a featured chef and then end the evening with live music.
Here, Corya watches Rosenbaum artfully carve a pumpkin on the porch after a local carver presented tips and techniques at the lodge.
Here, Corya watches Rosenbaum artfully carve a pumpkin on the porch after a local carver presented tips and techniques at the lodge.
The property is a five-minute walk from the ocean. "There are rolling dunes as far as the eye can see, covered in long golden beach grass," says Corya.