A Love Letter to Vintage A-Frames

By: Pamela Daniele (@heypamcakes)

 A vintage home is something to be treasured. The love and care that goes into maintaining an old home is hard work. I wanted to take this time to highlight the vintage A-Frame, a beacon of midcentury architecture and the folks doing the hard work to keep them alive. I believe we need to give them a pat on the back and an attaboy/girl/them. There is no shortage of love and affection for an old home, look around any bookstore or the internet for five minutes and you’ll see how deep the love runs. That doesn’t mean the lovely people restoring and maintaining these relics don’t feel the pressure of capitalism and the need for everything new & shiny.

I was listening to a recent episode of the Cabin Culture Podcast (Vintage Cabins | Monique & Jason, The Vermont A-Frame) and there was a segment of the interview that really got me thinking. For context here is the bit of the conversation that got my wheels turning, but you should definitely go listen to the full convo here.

Janice: “With a-frames becoming so trendy now you’re seeing a lot of them and you’re seeing a lot of them look very similar. So then you’re faced with this marketing challenge of how do I differentiate mine, how do I tell the story of my
a-frame?”

Monique: “There are times, especially with the increase in people building a-frames and cabins specifically that are going to be meant for short term rentals. I grapple a lot with insecurities around the fact that we didn’t build our house ourselves and that it is an older home and with an older home comes quirks.” 
“Is it luxury? It is not.”

Monique is right about one thing, there is an astonishing amount of new cabins being built with the purpose of becoming a rental. An equally astonishing amount of those are a-frames. On my IG feed alone I have seen at least a dozen new builds of just a-frames in the last few years. Now here is where she is wrong, her quaint and quirky A-frame is luxury. Listen, I know what luxury means to a lot of people, it’s private planes, gold leaf on caviar, chandeliers, yachts, etc. I think I just gave it away that I in fact do not know anything of luxury but whatever, those yuppies can have it. Luxury to me is getting to experience something rare, like a vintage cabin. Stepping foot into such a unique part of design history is like a time machine. A time machine if the people who buy it don’t gut it and give it the old millennial grey makeover.

A note about the millennial grey makeover: You will never read modern architecture slander on this page, I can understand that some people just really love white drywall, you do you boo. HOWEVER, if those house flipping, fab to drab loving, 50 shades of grey paint picking, hard wood hating, fireplace covering upper FOOLS don’t quit ruining unique old houses I think we will have to vote them off the island. As a millennial I felt I was allowed to address the class directly. Moving on.

So, why did these cuties pop off so hard in the middle of the 20th century? A big part was cost, they were “easy” and inexpensive to build. A lot of the A’s were bought as kits out of the Sears catalogue and advertised as an easy “do it yourself” project and primarily under 1,000 sqft. to help with that cost and labor. With the economic and automotive boom between 1946-1955, second homes were relatively common place back in the post WWII landscape. Often called “Leisure Homes” it was clear that the purpose of these modern designs was vacation. All these decades later while some have fallen into disrepair exist only as a reminder of a bygone era, there are plenty that are thriving! Still standing today as a symbol of rest, relaxation and of course leisure time.
To learn more about the history of A’s click here and here.

Old is good, old is wise and old is personality. Any Joe Schmoe can build a new home but I salute the brave few that choose to revitalize a quirky and sometime maddeningly complex construction from the midcentury. These vintage a-frames are diamonds in the rough and in the right hands can shine bright. Luckily for us, the following five a-frames have been found by the right hands and stand today as a testament to the leisure times of old. Tap the photos to book your stay!

Heading up to Vermont for some prime leaf peeping or hitting the slopes on some of the country’s best skiing and snowboarding runs? The Vermont A-Frame is a newly renovated cabin located on the edge of the state’s lush Green Mountains, just minutes from Manchester Center. Boho inspired vibes, a cozy stone fireplace and a new loft office space to make ‘working from home’ more comfortable than ever. Skiing is only minutes away at Bromley, Stratton, & Magic Mountain, meaning apres ski around the outdoor firepit can start even faster! Have a pup? This A-Frame is dog friendly!

Very good indeed, I’d even say great but you will see for yourself when you step into this 1970’s Adirondack a-frame. Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood and shrouded in trees, the interior of this home gives off strong treehouse vibes. Recently finished being lovingly renovated, the perfect balance of modern has been blended with retro. The main room has a gorgeous wood stove for those cold nights or moody, chilly mornings.  Four very cozy bedrooms spread between three floors offer plenty of space for catching up on your reading and multiple living spaces are perfect for catching up with your fellow guests. The outdoors offers two amazing, relaxing fireside options. The bird song paired with the rustling of the leaves will serenade you and leave you feeling truly blissed out. Located very close to skiing, hiking and endless activities to make for an action packed trip to the mountains.

We absolutely love this A-frame! Perfect for ski season and thank goodness because staying here means you’re only ten minutes away from Okemo Mountain. Also a perfect year round. This stylish cabin welcomes you with a lovely open floor plan and cozy malm fireplace which adds the perfect amount of Mid-Century vibes to the space. The centerpiece spiral staircase leads to two bedrooms and the indoor floor hammock, the best spot to curl up and spend an hour or two. After your long days of exploring and luxuriating you’ll be happy to retreat to the barrel sauna and/or the hot tub.

If simplicity is what you’re looking for, then look no further. This modified a-frame is on a rural, dirt road with ample wildlife and a neighborhood rooster to let you know when to wake up. Created to be as sustainable as possible this off-the-grid home is equipped with a chef's kitchen, soaking tubs and two impossibly comfy bedrooms. Without a TV to be had, it gives you the perfect opportunity to truly relax, inside or outside, you’ll find a place to chill.

A little ways up the mountain and closer to the slopes lives an A-frame waiting to welcome you home. The main room opens up to a beautiful loft that sleeps three and creates an open airiness. The bar cart has everything required for creating classic cocktails and with the addition of the record player you’ll be ready for a great night in. With a fire pit on the back deck and a large front porch, you’ll feel the outdoors even when you’re bundled up on the couch. The game collection seems endless but if you’re up for a throwback, unleash your inner architect with the Lincoln Logs. 

Find more getaways on TheCabinpedia.com!