EXCLUSIVE: ‘Maine Cabin Masters’ Stars Unveil ‘Campy’ Makeover of Old Shack That Is Turned Into Dream Lakefront Home

A home makeover can easily go off the rails if a design theme isn't done with intention, so when the stars of Magnolia Network hit “Maine Cabin Masters” were tasked with "campifying" a lakefront property—they had to proceed with extra caution to ensure the picturesque dwelling didn't turn into a total train wreck.

Builder Chase Morrill, along with his sister Ashley Morrill-Eldridge and her husband, Ryan Eldridge, have restored dozens of cabins across the Pine Tree State over the course of their hit series, which debuted its 12th season in December. 

The trio also renovated their personal family vacation home in the foothills of Italy on the spinoff series, “Maine Cabin Masters: Building Italy,” where they mastered the challenge of building outside their home state and country.

But all that experience couldn't have prepared the "Maine Cabin Master" stars for their latest challenge: Instead of modernizing an aging cabin, they’re asked to work on what appears to be a recently renovated dwelling to return it to its original cabin roots.

Situated on the waterfront of Threemile Pond in South China, ME, the secluded cabin is located about a dozen miles northeast of Augusta, ME, the state capital. 

The cabin’s owners, Larissa and Michael Skeens, purchased the property using money they inherited from Larissa’s father, who had been the editor of “Model Roadrailer” magazine and a respected figure in the model train community. 

According to Larissa and Michael, the updated multistory lakeside home was originally one of several small shacks in a camp that the previous owner expanded over time.

With its lake view, large yard, and perimeter of mature trees, the cabin naturally possesses a number of desirable features to support the couple’s vision for a vacation home where they can spend quality time with their children. 

Yet, the couple takes issue with the lack of a deck and some of the recent modern upgrades, such as the neutral exterior siding. They call on Chase, Ashley, and Ryan to fix those structural elements and give the overall style a camp-inspired makeover.

In an exclusive clip from the forthcoming episode, titled “Campify This House,” the “Maine Cabin Masters” experts put the finishing touches on their overhaul of the place, including a particularly sentimental design installation they’ve engineered in honor of Larissa’s late father.

Before revealing the changes to Larissa and Michael, the “Maine Cabin Masters” crew is seen hard at work cleaning and staging the cabin.

While one crew member vacuums the wide-plank natural-colored wood floors, others lay out a green leaf-patterned outdoor rug on a deck, hang an animal skull above a single yellow ski, and place a potted live plant on an indoor standing shelf unit.

The plant’s green leaves play nicely off a nearby green lamp base and chair back.

“It’s the final week at the Skeens' camp, and we are getting things all wrapped up,” says Ashley. “You know, they really wanted us to take the place and make it feel like a camp, and that’s exactly what we did.” 

While buzzing from room to room with decor accessories, the crew shows off the home’s new traditional camp aesthetic. 

With the outdoor siding removed, the exterior walls are now painted a deep brown hue with forest green trim and railings.

Inside, natural-colored knotty pine boards cover many of the walls. Some are placed horizontally, while others are vertical. The same wood tone also appears on bed headboards and footboards. The repeated use of the same wood material is an intentional choice for creating the desired camp environment.

“The first thing that you see when you walk in that door is pine, and that is what makes it feel like a camp,” explains Ashley.

Muted greens and blues dominate the nature-inspired color palette used to select the cabin’s accessories, which also include whimsical nods to camp culture.

A side table is accessorized with a bouquet of badminton rackets in a vase. 

The kitchen, which is also covered in pine, incorporates pops of color and fun patterns through a collection of fun dish towels that hang openly on the wall. Built-in cabinets above and below the suite of stainless steel appliances appear freshly painted, helping offset the dark kitchen countertop.

A pair of rackets are hung crossed on the wall inside a small open nook where beanbag chairs, throw pillows, and a checkerboard rug create a casual hangout spot.

As Ashley hangs a neutral piece of art that is framed in the same wood tone, a natural-colored wood nightstand is visible in one of the bedrooms, acting as a preview of the other private quarters that were furnished using much of the couple’s existing collection.

“They had all the furniture, too, which is really nice campy furniture so being able to use that and add that back in really helped my team, and then just added our own little touches to really camp it up,” expounds Ashley.  

Playing into the camp theme also meant incorporating lamps with bases in the shape of trees with climbing bears in one room, while in another area, the lamp bases are fish shaped.

The animal references continue on throw pillows featuring owls and hummingbirds, and the wilderness lifestyle is enhanced by a basket of throw blankets and pillows placed beside an outdoor seating area.

Ashley predicts her clients are “going to be thrilled,” especially when they lay their eyes on a sentimental surprise she’s stationed in the kitchen. Ahead of the official reveal, Ashley tells Chase a joke that hints at the custom design detail.

“Chase, you know why the elephant refused to ride the train? There was no room for his trunk,” teases Ashley as she and Chase check out the thoughtful added touch that pays tribute to Larissa’s late father: a working model train.

Popping out of a tunnel above the refrigerator and running on a track across a shelf full of spices, the little locomotive is just the right vehicle to deliver big camp vibes.

“All right, just keep her in there until they come and then at the end we’ll, ‘Ta-da,’” instructs Ashley as she prepares to bring Larissa and Michael on board. 

“Awesome, let’s go meet them,” she says. “I’m ready.”

“Maine Cabin Masters” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Magnolia Network and streams the next day on discovery+ and HBO Max.