Couple with no building experience finish off-grid cabin in Canada: 'We actually pulled it off'

Framing and roofing became hands-on lessons for two novice builders as they turned a patch of Canadian woodland into a cozy off-grid cabin.

After more than a year of work, setbacks, and a cold winter, the couple revealed the finished interior, complete with a kitchen, bedroom, and space-saving storage.

Here's what to know

Colin and Paige (@colinandpaige) shared the cabin reveal in a YouTube video that documented the finishing touches. Building it themselves meant taking on unfamiliar jobs, including wall construction and window installation.

"For a little over a year, we've been building this cabin with no previous construction experience," they explained. "And along the way, we have made plenty of mistakes and learned a thing or two. But somehow, after all the setbacks and frustrations, we actually pulled it off."

The final stretch involved sealing kitchen shelves, adding trim around cupboards, waterproofing the backsplash joint, and installing lights.

The tight space around the bed left no room for their filming tripod unless the door was open. Rather than add a partition, Colin and Paige defined the sleeping area with a painted accent wall that also serves as a visual headboard.

More background

The cabin's everyday conveniences include an 81.4-gallon (308-liter) Solstice 308 refrigerator-freezer from Canadian company SoulFreeze. It runs on 12- or 24-volt systems and offers triple their van fridge's capacity, according to the couple — useful for a couple who say they cook substantial amounts of food.

For bedside reading, they chose rechargeable sconces rather than fixtures requiring individual wiring. The couple expects to use them for roughly 30 minutes at bedtime rather than as the cabin's main lighting.

Beneath the bench seat, a battery station connects to a recessed outlet with three USB ports. Keeping the station out of sight didn't block access to its connections, as Colin and Paige showed by plugging in their filming lights.

Above the coat hooks, baskets store mittens, hats, and dog jackets. Sunglasses and keys can be set on the coffee bar, giving that surface a second use.

What can be done?

Their scrap pile supplied a sturdy backing for the coat hooks: an already-cut, pre-oiled piece that solved the problem left by an inadequate smaller hook.

They found another use for the smaller hook, too, and filled gaps in the kitchen with trim donated by the father of one of Colin's friends.

Airflow for the utility area comes from passive vents they installed beneath the bench and bed.

Keeping diesel storage outdoors is part of the heating plan. The portable diesel heater will also sit outside, connected to the cabin by insulated ducting.

Viewers offered practical suggestions of their own. One commenter recommended a boot tray to catch snowmelt and an outdoor scraper, while another requested exterior shutters for when the couple is away.

Exterior work and utility installation remain on Colin and Paige's to-do list, but the interior reveal drew an enthusiastic response from viewers who had followed the build.

"Congratulations! Job well done. Your cabin turned out great, very cozy and inviting," one commenter wrote.

Where can I learn more?

Colin and Paige's yearlong build, along with many others' experiences, meant learning construction skills and making the most of a small space. 

• In Canada, a DIY builder spent a year raising a 16x20 off-grid cabin on wooded land.

• An off-grid builder faced ill-fitting insulation and worked alone to seal the cabin before winter.

• An off-grid homesteader seeking build-ready plans learned how the site shapes construction.

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