Canopy Cabin Remodel

Submitted by graphicjake t3_z1uzqc in DIY

All photos: https://imgur.com/a/kiz4Gfq

Kitchen Before

We purchased this 1960’s cabin up in the San Bernardino mountains because it was the cheapest house in all of Southern California. We were renting in Orange County and figured it would be the perfect weekend escape, and once the reno was done in about 3 or 4 months we could rent it out on airbnb (naively optimistic). We first walked into the house and were greeted by lime green walls, a painted brown ceiling, heavily stained carpet and broken tile. But all the faults were easy to ignore looking up at the massive wooden beams, the towering pines that surrounded it and the views that reached the pacific ocean - we were already in love. 

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Installing the plywood accent wall

Over the past year, every weekend has been a new project and on every Sunday, we would dread leaving. After removing everything that was broken or breaking, we were left with 512sqft of blank canvas. Inspired by hygge and Scandinavian design, each detail is warm, cozy, and inviting.

We saved money where we could, building everything ourselves using the generous deck as our workshop. We built the kitchen using Ikea cabinets and made our own plywood fronts. We cut costs by finding scratch and dent appliances including the kitchen range and built-in refrigerator. We saved the bathroom for last knowing it would be the most intense of all the demo work and installed a new-to-us clawfoot tub and raised the ceiling. 

Finished Kitchen

After about a year of back and forth between here and our rental down the hill, we decided to move up here to enjoy this sanctuary full time. We are both graphic designers working from home and we’ve figured out how to make this small space work. Every weekend we still find something new to work on and improve, but each day ends with a cold beer and a warm fire.

Check out the rest of the pics: https://imgur.com/a/kiz4Gfq

Our insta: https://instagram.com/canopy_cabin?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc=

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Comments

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sychosomat t1_ixd7xtc wrote

Are you planning to edge band the unfinished plywood edges? I imagine it could be a design choice to keep it as is, but if you want to give the custom wood work a bit more of a finished look edgebanding is super easy and cheap. You’d only need to buy the banding and use an iron and razor blade.

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graphicjake OP t1_ixd9n4g wrote

We like the look of the raw plywood edge, it was definitely a stylistic choice! I did hand sand and apply a finish to all the exposed edges as well.

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sychosomat t1_ixdb7uy wrote

I figured as much rather than it being an oversight given your professions! It’s an interesting choice as it seems “unfinished” to my eye, which could be just because that’s the way it is typically done. Great job on the project as a whole!

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an0nymouscraftsman t1_ixew23z wrote

Showing off the layers in the birch is pretty common on trendy shit. I'd do it if it weren't birch but birch is tight enough it looks good imo. Edgebanding looks like lipstick on a pig.

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SweetDove t1_ixebxh4 wrote

You did a great job updating! Not going to lie, having grown up in those mountains, I'm a bit sad you didn't sand and stain the ceiling. Stay warm this winter! Keep an eye out for guests that like to sneak in.

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graphicjake OP t1_ixeloy0 wrote

Thanks! I feel you, sanding the layers of paint down would have been just a ton of time, effort, or money we weren't willing to spend.

We've have a momma bear and two cubs like like to knock over our trash just about every other night!

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SweetDove t1_ixeoagw wrote

sometimes it's just not in the cards! It does look lovely though. Get a chain with a bike lock and run it through the can handles, or make a wooden box to plop them in :) that's how we did.

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xqxcpa t1_ixd5jx2 wrote

You did a fantastic job. Can I ask what plywood you bought for the accent walls and how you treated it?

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graphicjake OP t1_ixd77ix wrote

Thanks! It’s 1/4” Baltic birch. I bought it pre-finished from a specialty wood supply spot in Orange County called Austin Hardwoods. It was a little bit more expensive buying it pre-finished, but worth my time savings. -just had to be a bit more careful measuring

All the other plywood (cabinet doors, fridge cabinet, shelves and countertops) was purchased there as well but is 3/4” Baltic birch - double sided pre finished everything except the counter.

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Lucianscall- t1_ixhg8ub wrote

Seeing this takes me back to our cabin at the lake when I was a kid! Looks beautiful!

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CascadiaPolitics t1_ixhr9ou wrote

I like what you've done, it looks great. Question on having the birch 'backsplash' behind the stove: Do you have any issues with grease or liquid splatter from stovetop cooking?

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graphicjake OP t1_ixi2wf3 wrote

Good question! It’s pre-finished, so it has a sorta semigloss finish on it. Little spritz of simple green and a quick wipe cleans it up real fast.

We could always add a stainless steel panel back there if it ever starts breaking down and getting gnarly. That was the backup plan anyway!

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