Centsational Style

Who dreams of a cabin in the woods? (Me, raising hand.) I’ve spent a few vacations in an A frame chalet in Lake Tahoe, so this style of cabin has always appealed to me.

A frame cabins were extremely popular from the 1950s to the 1970s as vacation getaways that allowed informal entertaining and an easygoing lifestyle. The A frame’s basic design made it more economical to build. It has a distinctive peaked roof that stretches from the rafters to the ground and horizontal cross beams that stabilize the structure and support the second story.

By design, it does have a few disadvantages: minimal wall space, restrictive window placement, and fewer closets. But what it lacks in layout, it makes up for in charm. The upstairs rooms (or loft) open to the lower level below creating relaxed communal living. In the A-frame there is less opportunity for privacy, so the residents must gather around the fireplace or play outside, encouraging an open shared lifestyle.

Any A frame remodel must accept the dramatic slanted roof and never disrupt the pure triangular lines. Some renovators bring in an abundance of light paint to give the cabins a Scandinavian vibe, others allow the wood tones of the walls or ceilings and beams to shine. I gathered a group of updated and well decorated A frame cabins across North America for your enjoyment, and note some are available to rent!

Heber City, Utah

Big Bear Lake, California

Lake Menominee, Ontario

Big Bear, California

Maurice River, New Jersey

Hood River, Oregon

Big Bear, California

Harbor Springs, Michigan

Who else out there is a fan of the A frame cabin? Have you stayed in one? Did a friend or relative own one? What memories do you have of time spent in an A frame cabin?

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