Construction Diary: They’d Never Designed an A-Frame Before—But They Aced the Build

A Nova Scotia couple learn that although triangular homes may look simple, they can be devilishly complex.
Text by

It may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes a lack of funds can work in your favor. Just ask Nova Scotia couple Paula Washington and Peter Mogl, who were looking for land on which to build their first cabin back in 2015. "It was really helpful that we didn’t have any money—that always narrows the decision field down," says Peter. Though they had no prior design-build experience, the couple were keen on spending time together and working outside; plus, there was an emerging platform called Airbnb that would help them recoup their costs.

Join Dwell+ to Continue

Subscribe to Dwell+ to get everything you already love about Dwell, plus exclusive home tours, video features, how-to guides, access to the Dwell archive, and more. You can cancel at any time.

Try Dwell+ for FREE

Already a Dwell+ subscriber? Sign In

Jenny Xie
Dwell Contributor
Jenny Xie is the author of the novel Holding Pattern, a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree. She’s received fellowships from Bread Loaf, Yaddo, and MacDowell, among other organizations.