The Ridge is looking pretty sharp so far.
It’s hard to believe how much has changed at Hens & Honey Ridge since our last update in August. After months of watching walls go up, wiring get run, and construction slowly take shape, we’ve finally reached the really exciting part — the cabin is starting to feel like a home.
And I have to say, this is the part I’ve been waiting for.
Inside, It’s All Coming Together
Since our last update, I got the entire inside painted, and we laid the flooring.
And what a difference that made.
The flooring has completely changed the feel of the space. Paired with the warm walls, and all the other finishes we’ve been choosing along the way, I can finally see the vision we had when this was nothing more than a plan on paper.
The bathroom has also come a long way. We installed the bathroom fixtures and tiled the shower, which was another one of those milestones that makes it feel like we’re actually getting somewhere.
There are still plenty of little finishing touches to do, but the big pieces are starting to fall into place.
Proof that we actually have a bathroom now.
The Sauna Is Built!
One of the things I’ve been especially excited about is the sauna.
We got it built and stained, and it is looking so good.
It’s been really fun watching this little corner of the Ridge come together. The sauna is going to be such a great addition to the cabin, especially once the surrounding landscape is finished and everything starts to feel tucked away in the trees.
The Great IKEA Kitchen Saga
And then there was the kitchen.
If you’ve been following along, you may remember that we ordered our IKEA kitchen cabinets quite a while ago (June to be exact).
And waited.
And waited.
And waited.
After three months of trying to get IKEA to actually deliver my kitchen, I eventually gave up waiting and drove to Dartmouth myself this week to pick the whole thing up.
So, technically, the kitchen finally arrived (no thanks to IKEA) because I delivered it.
But they are here!
Matt built the cabinets, and I’m so happy with how they look in the space. The blue was a bit of a leap when we first chose it, but seeing it against the flooring and walls has made me even more confident that it was the right choice.
Now I just need countertops, and the kitchen will be ready for its final transformation.
It was like pulling teeth trying to get these 4 cabinets here…
What’s Left?
The next jobs on the list are:
Finish the back steps
Install the kitchen countertops
Install the shower door
Get everything cleaned up
Start moving furniture and supplies in
Install our beautiful new signs that Pinpoint Metal Art made for us
And, most importantly, get the power hooked up!
We’re still waiting on NS Power to get themselves sorted and come install the power pole and connect the cabin.
Hopefully, that will happen within the next week.
Hopefully.
I have learned throughout this build that the word hopefully is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
The amazing signs we had made by locals, Kelly & Greg Gillis of Pinpoint Metal Art
Could We Actually Open This Fall?
If everything goes according to plan, we may still be able to welcome our first guests for at least some of the Fall season.
Fingers crossed!
It would be pretty amazing to have someone actually stay in the cabin this year after watching it go from a patch of trees and an idea in our heads to a real little getaway.
There is still a lot to do, but we’re close enough now that I can actually picture that first check-in.
And that feels pretty exciting.
The Landscaping Will Have to Wait
Some things that definitely won’t be finished this year are the landscaping and the apitherapy hut.
The weather is turning quickly here in Cape Breton, and by the time we get everything else finished, it just won’t make sense to try to tackle the big outdoor plans.
But that’s okay.
I already have the plan.
And honestly, I think waiting until Spring will make it even better.
The goal is to turn the area around the cabin and sauna into a cozy, natural outdoor space with plenty of greenery, rock, and places to stop and smell the flowers. I’ve been collecting ideas throughout the build, and I’m very excited to finally start putting that plan into action when the snow disappears.
For now, I’m happy to leave the landscaping to next year and concentrate on getting the cabin finished.
My Vision board for the back landscaping. Coming next Spring.
Almost There
There have been plenty of moments during this build where it felt like there was always another delay, another problem, or another thing that needed to be figured out.
But standing inside the cabin now, with the floors down, the walls painted, the bathroom coming together, the kitchen cabinets installed and the sauna sitting outside, it finally feels like we’re at the finish line.
There are still a few hurdles to get over — looking at you, NS Power — but we're getting there.
And soon, Hens & Honey Ridge will go from a construction site to a place where people can actually come, stay, relax and enjoy the little piece of Cape Breton we’re lucky enough to call home.
Fall 2026, probably. Spring 2027, definitely.
Either way, we can't wait to share it with you.
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