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The homeowners came to us mid-build, after a relationship with their original builder had stalled, carrying a dream they'd been dreaming for decades: to live full-time in a genuine 19th century log cabin on a piece of family land they'd held since the 80s. The cabin itself, originally built in Kentucky in 1853, had served as a residence, a hotel, a stage stop, and a post office before being deconstructed, reconditioned in West Virginia, and rebuilt on the homeowners' Colorado land. We picked up the project, brought structure to the chaos, and helped them finally cross the finish line.
Stalled Build, Shaken Confidence: The homeowners had lost trust in their original builder, and the project had slowed to a halt before drying in.
Missing Information at Every Turn: A loose preconstruction process meant unresolved details across architecture, engineering, and code compliance.
A Site That Pushes Back: At 9,500 feet in a Coal Creek Canyon, the build had to contend with rocky soils, high wind loads, large temperature swings, and wildfire mitigation requirements.
Old Cabin Meets Modern Code: Marrying a salvaged 1853 hand-hewn log structure to a modern foundation, fire suppression system, solar roof, and full mechanical systems had to happen without losing the cabin’s soul.
We partnered closely with the architect and the homeowners to resolve outstanding design questions and bring a more rigorous preconstruction process to the project. The plan tucks the original cabin inside a larger custom-built structure, adding roughly 1,800 square feet of finished living space across two levels while preserving the cabin's character. Because the home sits at 9,500 feet in a Coal Creek Canyon, the design also accounted for wildland fire mitigation, high wind loads, and the temperature swings that come with the elevation.
The original old-growth hardwood logs were preserved and reinstalled so the family is surrounded daily by the texture and patina of nearly 170-year-old timber.
The original cabin sits inside a larger custom-built structure with stone chimneys, board-and-batten siding, and a Tesla solar roof, giving the homeowners modern square footage without losing the cabin's silhouette.
A salvaged wood cabinet was rebuilt into the run as the sink base, paired with deep blue cabinetry and real soapstone counters so the kitchen feels collected rather than catalog-ordered.
Hand-laid stone fireplaces anchored by rough-hewn timber mantels give each main living space a warm focal point true to the cabin's 19th century roots.
Interior finishes pulled from barns across the country, including drying sticks from old tobacco barns, were collected over years and woven into ceilings, walls, and details.
Engineered to handle the rocky canyon site and extreme temperature swings.
Renewable power suited to a remote, off-the-beaten-path location.
Built-in protection appropriate for a high-elevation, wildfire-prone setting.
A modern comfort layer in the primary bathroom, paired with reclaimed hardwood flooring throughout the home.
Full modern infrastructure threaded carefully through a 19th century shell.
Roughly 1,800 square feet of finished space across a main level and upstairs, integrated with the original log structure.
Including a reclaimed wood vanity paired with a black vessel sink in the bath.
What started as a stalled build became a finished home, certificate of occupancy in hand, with the family now living full-time on land that has belonged to them for more than 40 years. The home holds onto everything the homeowners loved about the original cabin while quietly delivering every comfort modern mountain living asks for.
Bunn & Sons
If you’re carrying a dream that feels too unique, too complicated, or too stuck to finish, we’d love to hear about it.
