I’ve been contemplating a backyard chill out spot for a while now. I have a sunny backyard with a big ole’ rectangular zone that doesn’t get much use that would be excellent for a permanent-ish structure for guests, hanging out in the yard, sleeping in when the wilderness is not an option. I’ve considered canvas wall tents, canvas bell tents, or even a yurt.
Now I’m considering this mini cabin from Elevated Spaces.
They swear you can build it for roughly $2,500, in January 2022 money. They’re famous for building cabins in Santa Cruz, California, so we assume that cost is gonna be at the high end since prices for everything here are fairly high.
They also say you don’t need serious building experience here, that big sheets of plywood do lots of heavy lifting, eliminating difficult cuts, and that it should take a couple weekends to git er done.
$60 gets you the plans that include hundreds of photos of the steps involved, a list of every tool, screw, nail, etc., that you will need, and of course a list of specific materials. No special tools, they say, though I’m not certain what “special” means here.
$2,500 (plus $60 for the plans, another $50 in beer, of course), for a 10×12 A-frame that shouldn’t require a permit in most places? Sign us up.
If I decide to pull the trigger on the plans, we’ll run a little series showing the build. I’m not a carpenter, but I do own tools and hands.
You can buy the plans here, if you’re interested. At $60, it’s worth taking a flyer just to see how it would work. We’ll keep you posted.
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Weekend Cabin isn’t necessarily about the weekend, or cabins. It’s about the longing for a sense of place, for shelter set in a landscape…for something that speaks to refuge and distance from the everyday. Nostalgic and wistful, it’s about how people create structure in ways to consider the earth and sky and their place in them. It’s not concerned with ownership or real estate, but what people build to fulfill their dreams of escape. The very time-shortened notion of “weekend” reminds that it’s a temporary respite.
1 comment
You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.