A Frame Cabin Tours

Who dreams of a cabin in the woods? (Me, raising hand.) I’ve spent a few vacations in an A frame cabin 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 with charm. The upstairs rooms (or loft) open to the lower level below encouraging 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 or 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!