Budget Breakdown: An Architect Revives a 1963 Cabin in the Californian Sierras for $50K
San Francisco–based couple Tom McElroy and Scott Turco breathe new life into a dated retreat in the forests of Arnold, California.
San Francisco–based couple Tom McElroy and Scott Turco breathe new life into a dated retreat in the forests of Arnold, California.
Architect Tom McElroy, founder of San Francisco–based McElroy Architecture, and his partner, stylist Scott Turco, had been renting their San Francisco apartment for 14 years—but had long dreamed of creating their own getaway. Itching for a place they could put their own stamp on, the couple set their sights on a charming—albeit dated—cabin in Arnold, California. About three hours outside of San Francisco and midway between Yosemite and Lake Tahoe the quaint mountain town had been a frequent escape for Tom and Scott over the years.
| $1,079 Bath Tub, Sink & Toilet | $680 Bathroom Fixtures | $1,182 Bathroom Tile |
| $1,225 Bathroom Framing, Plumbing & Fan | $366 Kitchen Sink | $302 Kitchen Faucet |
| $2,248 Kitchen Appliances & Fan | $839 Kitchen Lights | $444 Kitchen Tile |
| $340 Concrete Counter | $123 Kitchen Cabinet Paint | $1,675 Steel Divider |
| $208 New Electrical | $170 Solid Core Doors | $1,222 Framing & Siding |
| $1,135 Front Door & Hardware | $2,937 Wood & Tile Flooring | $878 Interior Trim & Paint |
| $11,122 Front & Rear Decks | $479 Exterior Lights | $408 Gutters & Downspouts |
| $924 Shed Window & Roof | $4,500 General Supplies | |
| Grand Total: $50,710 | ||
Tom and Scott were eager to expand the cabin’s windows and doors with Western Window Systems—an integral part of the home’s overall transformation. A new trapezoid window was added directly below the roofline; its installation was one of the few things Tom and Scott received help with.
Photo by Paul Dyer
The cabin was in vintage condition, largely untouched for nearly six decades—a big part of the home’s appeal. "We mainly liked that the house had not been majorly updated, and that its scale was reminiscent of cozy mountain cabins," says Tom. "We were looking for a fixer-upper where we could do more than rearrange our furniture."
The 800-square-foot cabin’s exterior, originally pastel yellow, was modernized with fresh paint from Benjamin Moore in Blackforest Green, a rich and earthy hue perfect for the wooded context. The front door, from Simpson Door Company, and its Emtek hardware cost $1,135.
Photo by Paul Dyer
The shed, accessed via a new exterior walkway, received new windows salvaged from Urban Ore in Berkeley, California ($273) and a new corrugated metal roof from ASC ($651). The quaint accessory structure is now a guest sleeping space and flexible yoga room.
Photo by Paul Dyer
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