Budget Breakdown: A Family of Five Gut Their Rustic A-Frame Themselves—for $77K

Ameena Walker
·2 min read

Jennifer and Kenard Bunkley brave resident wildlife and the soaring cost of plywood as they demolish and rebuild their vacation home in upstate New York.

Jennifer and Kenard Bunkley braved resident wildlife and the soaring cost of plywood as they demolished and rbuilt their vacation home in upstate New York.
Jennifer and Kenard Bunkley braved resident wildlife and the soaring cost of plywood as they demolished and rbuilt their vacation home in upstate New York.

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.

The couple’s three children were involved in the renovation process and particularly enjoyed the demolition process.
The couple’s three children were involved in the renovation process and particularly enjoyed the demolition process.

"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.

The children’s bedroom features access to the refinished outdoor deck
The children’s bedroom features access to the refinished outdoor deck

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

Before: The exterior was originally a burgundy color with white windows and door framing.
Before: The exterior was originally a burgundy color with white windows and door framing.

See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: A Family of Five Gut Their Rustic A-Frame Themselves—for $77K
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