A DIY Cabin Transformation in the Catskill Mountains Gets Interesting
But alas! The cabin’s state resembled what Wood called “a house mullet” thanks to its many additions over the years: Though it looked like a traditional cottage in the front, the backside resembled a Bavarian log cabin. The charm alone couldn’t carry their new abode into 21st century. The space needed a significant amount of work. While a contractor would tackle the biggest jobs, Wood was banking on doing some of the work herself. She didn’t let the fact that her DIY experience failed to go much further than changing a lightbulb, painting some furniture, and reupholstering things—very badly. “For realz,” Wood says. “Whenever my mom visits me in Brooklyn to help with apartment stuff, she shakes her head and says, ‘I had no idea I raised such a helpless daughter,’” Wood recalls of her home-maintenance projects.
To transform the space into her dream “1920s grandpa cabin,” Wood began to take stock of all the work that needed to be completed. With Cox’s home-reno expertise and advice, the duo kicked off in the summer. “We worked together on getting the grounds under control, which is second nature to me since I own a landscaping design business,” Cox says. “Also we pulled out some carpet and nails together. It was fun to get into the work, and it helped Regan gain some more confidence around some of the projects that she’s doing on her own.”
Previously seasonal, the home would need to be winterized. The only heating system was an old wood stove and an old propane heater. There was no insulation or even interior walls, just the backside of the exterior siding. To do the heavy lifting, Wood recruited a contractor that was recommended by a friend and prepared to start renovations in March of 2021. He did some demolition work, but after about four months he stopped responding to texts and emails. “And then he ended up disappearing with our money,” Wood says.
Realizing they were back at square one, it took another six months to find a new contractor. Wood and Cox obtained a renovation mortgage to pay for most of the work, but by the time they found the new contractor, the labor and materials costs had tripled, forcing them to refinance. During that period, the house sat empty. The dining room was filled with stuff Wood had optimistically brought to the house, thinking they would be able to use it by the summer of 2021. Now, there were mouse droppings and dead bugs everywhere. Before they could do anything, the entire space needed to be cleaned and emptied out, which Wood says was “quite an undertaking.”
The duo is still optimistic, nonetheless. “I find restoring old houses gratifying,” Cox says. “I’m looking forward to seeing this old girl shine once she’s done.”
Over the next couple months, Wood and Cox will be tackling several of the renovations projects, including:
- Updating the windows
- Painting and staining the original beadboard in two bedrooms and the kitchen
- Reglazing the original cast-iron tub
- Painting the kitchen cabinetry
- Sanding-and-staining the custom-milled floors (installed by a contractor)
- Sourcing furnishings and decorating the interiors
Thus far, Wood says, “not a lot has been completed.” She painted the newly-cleaned dining room, as well as one upstairs bedroom that had already been repaneled and fitted with insulation. But then had to halt. Another challenge surfaced when the water and power went out for three weeks, rendering the contractor unable to get any work done. The constant hold ups have forced Wood and Cox to be a bit more lax with the expected completion timeline.
“It was supposed to be done by the end of July. Well, it’s September, and I’d say we’re halfway done,” Wood explains. “That’s been the aspect that I constantly struggle with. On my best days, I have a very loose grip. On my worst days, I’m pulling my hair out.”
See what happens as the Catskills cabin reno continues in the upcoming DIY Diary installment.
