La Cabina provides perfect party place

Great friends have great ideas. When a potting shed behind Rene Peterson’s Glenrose home fell into disrepair, she wasn’t sure what kind of structure she wanted to build in its place.

While brainstorming with a good friend, the idea of a “party room” was born.

“I love to entertain,” says Rene Peterson. “I love to create beautiful environments.”

The Tuscan-style villa that Peterson calls La Cabina nestles at the foot of Browne Mountain. Two old maples flank stone steps that lead up to French doors.

The doors swing open to reveal a large room with an open-beamed ceiling. The scored cement floor has the earthy look of clay, which complements the rustic Italian feel of the room. Wooden chandeliers that resemble wagon wheels are suspended from the ceiling by iron chains.

Peterson can adjust the lighting in the room to fit the mood of the party.

The entertainment room has a fully equipped kitchen. An unusual copper sink is accented with black fixtures.

When she designed her party space, Peterson thought of everything, including a bathroom and laundry room for washing linens.

Hosting a party here doesn’t affect her daily living at all. “I don’t have to clean the whole house to have guests,” she says. “When I’m done, I can just lock the door and leave it.”

Full-length sage green draperies can be pulled shut to make the space cozy on a winter’s night. The patio is fully lighted and has two portable heaters so guests can move outdoors even in chilly weather.

A white picket fence and an old red barn are visible from the kitchen window.

Since the room’s completion in 2005, Peterson has hosted wine tastings, dinner parties and baby showers. As word of her entertaining space spread, what started out as a place for her to hold parties evolved into an event destination.

“I’m a believer in sharing,” Peterson says. “Sharing our stories, our beautiful things … It makes me smile every time I go out there.”