Budget Breakdown: Two Couples Turn a Dated Cabin Into a Dreamy Mountain Retreat for $39K

In the summer, the mountain peaks of Colorado flare pink as the sun sets. This breathtaking phenomenon, called alpenglow, is also the namesake of a 1,226-square-foot cabin in Twin Lakes that sits at the base of Independence Pass, nestled against a national forest. Overhauled by two brothers, Daniel and Jon-Marc Kortsch, and their spouses, Christine Bayles Kortsch and Laura Engelman, Alpenglow Cabin offers spectacular views of La Plata Peak and Mt. Elbert—as well as the rosy light it’s named after.

The family had been searching for a cabin in the mountains for years when, in 2019, they came across this run-down property that had been built in 2001. "The interior was dated and dreary, but the bones were good, the structure was sound, and the location couldn't be topped," says Christine.

The two couples, along with Christine and Daniel’s two sons, renovated the entire cabin on their own, saving thousands in labor costs. Every weekend for four months, they drove from Denver to the cabin to work from sunup to sundown, welcoming their first Airbnb guests in fall 2019.

"We are not afraid of hard, physical labor," says Christine, "and we feel a sense of pride in connecting to our family roots and working with our hands."

Though the view and location may have been perfect, almost everything in the cabin needed a makeover. "Universal pine paneling, an awkward kitchen layout, dated bathrooms with clunky Home Depot pine vanities and sad claustrophobic shower stalls, maroon cork floors and dated carpet, a hot tub dominating a bright red deck with green trim: It was time for a change," explains Christine.

Within 24 hours of closing on the house, the couples started to paint the interior pine paneling China White, leaving the window trim and ceiling unfinished to achieve a rustic vibe.