Written by: Ameena Walker, Photography by: Shelter Upstate | View on the Dwell+ website
In March 2021, Kenard and Jennifer Bunkley stumbled across a seemingly intact A-frame for sale near a campsite that they frequent in Pine Hill, New York. Seeing potential for both a vacation home and a source of passive income, the couple purchased the three-bedroom cabin for $199,000 and set out to make some cosmetic upgrades that they anticipated would run them around $25,000.
“We thought it would be a quick three-month turnaround to complete some enhancements, but it turned into about a year,” explains Jennifer. The live-edge wood siding on the 799-square-foot home was in good condition, however, since the house had been unoccupied for five years raccoons had moved in and the insulation had deteriorated to a virtually nonexistent state. “We ended up having to strip the house down to the studs,” says Kenard.
With a gut renovation now on their hands, Jennifer and Kenard decided to transform the rustic cabin into a contemporary retreat where they could unwind with their three children during their time away from New York City. The pandemic made it difficult to find the right people to bring their vision to life within their budget and time frame, so they did it themselves.
| $22,000 Plywood | $7,000 Electrical & Heat | $4,000 Plumbing |
| $7,000 Framing | $3,000 Windows & Doors | $1,000 Decking |
| $5,500 Subcontractors | $3,000 Insulation | $700 Paint |
| $1,200 Fireplace | $3,000 Appliances | $5,000 Furniture |
| $500 Lighting | $1,060 Tiles | $800 Soaking Tub |
| $1,200 Cabinets/Counters | $4,500 Dumpster | $3,300 Landscaping |
| $1,800 Tools & Supplies | $1,400 Spiral Staircase Kit | |
| Grand Total: $76,960 |
Before: Exterior
The couple, who both work in education, found time during school breaks for the family of five to work together to demolish and rebuild the home, learning construction and design techniques from the internet along the way. They only outsourced electrical and plumbing work, as well as help from a subcontractor for a few days, which ran them around $16,500 combined.
Jennifer and Kenard wanted to maintain as much of the home’s original character as possible while infusing their own style. “We absolutely loved the initial look of the house, and because it was covered in very raw wood, we wanted to sort of duplicate that,” says Jennifer. Their desire for minimalism led them toward a monochromatic color palette that mimics a tree both inside and out while evoking a warm feeling. The original burgundy exterior was repainted a sage green that is complemented by a black deck and stairs.
“We stayed away from live-edge wood because of cost and since it wasn’t as simple, in terms of the process of getting it cut and placing it on the walls,” Jennfier explains. “But we still wanted a raw wood look, so we went with plywood for a similar design with a more modern perspective.” The floors and walls are crafted entirely of maple plywood installed with a wabi-sabi approach, which alone cost the couple nearly all of their initial budget.
“Because of the pandemic, there was a major shortage of plywood and the prices tripled,” says Jennifer. They spent $22,000 to outfit the home in plywood, saving money on delivery costs by picking up the material themselves and transporting it in a U-Haul. The couple also replaced the original interior spiral staircase that connects the two floors using a DIY stair kit that they purchased online for $1,400.
Avid vintage collectors and interior design trade show enthusiasts, Kenard and Jennifer sourced the bulk of their furniture from various marketplaces and thrift shops—like the Brimfield Antique Flea Market in Massachusetts and Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market in Connecticut—even scoring some items for nothing. “Someone was giving away dining room benches by a marina in Long Island, so we were able to get those for free,” Kenard notes. They splurged on a gray low-profile sofa from Rove Concepts and rattan accent chairs from Zara Home, with the grand total for furniture coming close to $5,000.
By foregoing an architect, contractors, and an interior designer, the couple were able to save money on their home renovation, though they still ended up going way over their $25,000 budget. Ultimately, the renovation cost roughly $77,000, largely due to the price of plywood jumping from $20 per sheet to around $60 per sheet during the pandemic.
“It was a lot more expensive than we expected, but that’s because we wanted to make sure that it was right,” said Jennifer. The family now spends all of their winter and spring breaks at the A-frame home, making sure not to miss fall foliage and snow tubing seasons.
