When you first arrive, you might think the place looks too small from the outside. But inside, it’s quite cozy with a kitchen and a big living room that has a wood stove.
Right on the main floor, there’s a sliding staircase that goes up to a spacious loft. You can easily walk around up there because of the large windows. As soon as you enter through the main doors, you’ll notice the exposed beams and rafters which really show off the cabin’s triangular shape.
Next to the door, there’s a large wood stove and a rack above it where you can store firewood. This stove is the main way to heat the entire place.
The kitchen has a little area for preparing food, a sink, and a simple pump to get water. Right now, they bring in water as needed, but they plan to collect rainwater soon.
The cabin gets its power from a solar setup with three solar panels and a big battery. Everything is set up so you can easily connect or disconnect it from the power.
They’re thinking about making the solar system bigger to have a bit more power. Simple systems like this are good because they don’t cost much, they’re easy to keep up, and they make you use less energy and water. This is really important when you live off-grid and resources are limited.
The living room is made to be a relaxing spot with a big three-seater sofa that can turn into a bed and a comfortable chair next to the stove. This makes it a great place to enjoy the fire and relax.
The outdoor shower at the cabin is enclosed by wooden walls for privacy. It’s nice because it’s close to the cabin, so you don’t have to walk far when it’s cold outside.
There’s also an outhouse behind the cabin. Not everyone likes using an outhouse, but in a small cabin, it’s handy to have a separate place to go.
If someone plans to live in the cabin for a long time, they could add an indoor shower and a composting toilet later on.
This cabin was finished in 2021, and it cost about 20,000 Canadian dollars. More than half of that was just for the materials.
The family built most of the cabin themselves to save money, but they did hire professionals for some parts of the construction. The cabin’s main floor is 16 feet wide and 12 feet deep, and it rests on a concrete foundation.
The A-frame structure is made with sturdy lumber, and the front and back walls use a slightly thinner type of lumber. The walls and floor are insulated with foam, fiberglass, and rock wool.
Many of the materials, like some old wooden windows, were reused from other buildings. Even the front and back steps and the fire pit stones came from an old barn.
The A-frame shape does limit the indoor space, which isn’t great for storage and efficiency, but these buildings are cheaper and simpler to build. They also have a charming, old-fashioned look and are becoming popular again.
