Changing Plans: Why We're No Longer Building An A-Frame

We recently shared the exciting news about our Tower Airbnb project nestled in one of our favorite places on Earth. But what you might find surprising is that our initial dream was to build an A-frame cabin. Ah, A-frames – they carry such nostalgia and charm, don't they?

A-frame architecture first became popular in the post-World War II era of the 1950s when people were seeking affordable vacation homes. The A-frame design offered a simple and cost-effective solution, captivating the hearts of those yearning for a modern and stylish getaway. Over the years, A-frames have experienced cycles of popularity, and they've made a striking comeback in recent times. So, today, we want to take you on a journey through the A-frame we almost built, share some insights if you're considering building one, and reveal why we ultimately chose a different path.

building vs. covid.

When we started this venture, an A-frame was all we could think about. We collaborated with two different architects, keeping the budget in mind and working on getting the design we envisioned for our perfect A-frame. The initial plans looked fantastic, and we were eager to see them come to life. However, our excitement soon turned into a reality check when we began seeking quotes from different builders. Keep in mind that this was the peak of the Covid pandemic, and prices for everything were skyrocketing. To add to our challenges, we were building in northern Michigan, where the supply of builders wasn't as abundant as in metropolitan areas. The A-frame design we had in mind came with some unique features that drove up the cost. We wanted to maintain the harmony with our natural surroundings, and this required additional insulation and engineered lumber to withstand the harsh weather conditions – about 150 inches of snow annually.

The numbers were adding up quickly, and we were hit with the realization that an A-frame wasn't as cost-efficient as we initially believed. The roofing alone, with a single standing seam design, was significantly more expensive than a traditional shingle roof. For comparison, the total lumber package for the A-frame was three times that of our current tower project! As we continued to modify the plans and have appraisals done, we slowly realized that an A-frame may not be in the cards for us after all.

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a-frame mania.

The second major reason we decided against the A-frame was the growing popularity of this architectural style, especially in the world of Airbnb. We noticed several A-frames being built or renovated within a 30 to 40-mile radius of our location. With the rising number of A-frames out there, it became clear that we needed to rethink our strategy if we wanted to make an impact. Airbnb's introduction of categories further reinforced the idea of promoting experiential and unique stays, putting added pressure on hosts with more traditional properties. The sudden boom in A-frame popularity also made us think about the increased competition in that category, which would ultimately making it harder to stand out on social media.

Don't get us wrong; we still adore A-frames and definitely plan to build one in the future. However, we feel that when that time comes, we'll have to bring a fresh and innovative perspective to the design to stand out from the crowd. So, for now, we're incredibly excited about the Tower at Glacial Hills. It's a project that aligns perfectly with the beauty of northern Michigan, and we can't wait to share it with our future guests. We'll be documenting every step of this journey, and we're thrilled to have you all along for the ride.

Watch our full youtube video on this here: https://youtu.be/MToYsYtnjuk