A Cozy, Maximalist 1963 A-Frame Cabin Is Captivatingly Charming
Name: Sarah Reid and husband
Location: Deering, New Hampshire
Type of home: A-Frame Cabin
Size: 1000 square feet
Years lived in: 2.5 years, owned
Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Our home was built by my grandparents in 1963. It was a summer retreat for them and completely off the grid, a real rustic forest experience. I inherited it in 2011 and have slowly added utilities over the years. When Covid hit, we were in Oakland and very quickly asked my dad, a builder, if he could winterize the cabin and make it a year-round home so that we could relocate for the duration of Covid. Two and a half years later and we’re still here and will be for the foreseeable future!
I am an interior designer on sabbatical (not much designing to do in the woods of southern New Hampshire) and Matthew is a creative director for a tech company in San Francisco that is not asking its workers to come back into the office.
I identify as an interior designer/stylist/artist, and not because that’s how I’ve made my living. Interior spaces are what I go to bed thinking about and what I wake up to. If I am having anxiety I close my eyes and conjure up a new space to design in my head — not kidding. It is my art. So, yes, [my identity] is reflected in my home, everywhere. I am an avid collector of things and my own history so there are stories all over my home.
Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Maximalist Sentimental Cozy Accidental Charming
What is your favorite room and why? The living room — it’s the bulk of the “A” of the A-frame, so the unique shape never fails to delight me. We have a beautiful Malm gas fireplace, which is lovely in the winter. Large sliding glass doors let in a lot of light. I fit in a lot of plants and books, our two favorite things. It feels finished too. Some rooms tell you when they are done and it has spoken.
What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I am thrifting nonstop; I recently found some vintage wicker stools for our small kitchen bar. They were exactly what I had in mind and I found them tucked away at the back of a consignment shop.
Any advice for creating a home you love? Take your time. Spaces that were designed all at once feel soulless (to me). Don’t worry if something goes with another thing; your love of them both is the unifying element they need. Get into family collections and archives if you can. There’s nothing better than a rug that belonged to your artist-aunt or a pitcher passed down from your great-grandmother. Buy used and vintage when you can — things were built better back then and have more character when they have had a life.
This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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