Excerpt – Dwell Magazine: No Small Plans: 10 A-Frame Floor Plans That Deserve an A Plus.

December 12, 2025
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“All roof, no wall” homes are not easy to augment, but these designs show it’s possible to add extensions, sleep nooks, and storage without sacrificing simplicity.

Pine Hill A-Frame by Studio Bunkley

When Kenard and Jennifer Bunkley bought their A-frame in March 2021, they thought the home would only need a few cosmetic upgrades. But during the five years the home remained vacant, raccoons had settled in and the insulation had deteriorated past salvaging. The pandemic made finding the right contractor to come up to Pine Hill, NY almost impossible, so the couple and their three children mostly undertook the gut renovation themselves. They only outsourced or enlisted professional help for things like plumbing and electrical.

The family wanted to retain as much of the A-frame’s character as possible, but preserving or mimicking features like the live-edge wood that lined the walls would have meant going way over budget. They opted for plywood instead, which was still unexpectedly expensive during the pandemic. The veneer conveys a similar warmth as the exposed solid wood they had fallen in love with. | Photo: Winona Barton-Ballentine
The gut renovation cost close to $77K, three times the family’s target of $25K. Apart from using the opportunity to enlarge some windows or remove some closets, the structure and the floor plan were left untouched. Unlike other A-frames we’ve featured on this list, the second story spans the length of the home. | Photo: Winona Barton-Ballentine

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