Designing and building a modern cabin from scratch can feel overwhelming—but with the right cabin floor plans and a strong creative vision, it's entirely achievable. Erica Jobe proved just that when she relocated from North Carolina to a wooded plot in Cairo, New York, and used a set of DEN A‑Frame house plans to craft her own small, stylish escape. Her journey offers a perfect blueprint for anyone looking to build a modern home using pre-designed cabin plans.
Erica's project features a clean, Scandinavian-inspired aesthetic layered with personality and warmth. Her A‑Frame cabin design includes an open loft, bold interior details, and clever small-space solutions. From the glass-paneled loft railing to the moody, tiled bathroom, the result is a home that's as functional as it is visually striking—proof that great modern cabin floor plans can support both beauty and efficiency.
In this customer spotlight, you'll learn how Erica selected the right cabin plans, project-managed the build herself, and turned a raw piece of land into a uniquely expressive, livable space. Whether you're searching for modern A‑Frame inspiration, small home design ideas, or real-world feedback on using DEN cabin plans, Erica's story delivers valuable insights at every stage of the process.
Meet Erica: Modern Cabin Builder, Dog Mom & DEN Floor Plan Powerhouse
Mike: We can start with an intro. Who's the special guest?
Erica: This is Jimmy Dean sausage.
Mike: Amazing. And Jimmy Dean is what kind of dog?
Erica: He's a 12-pound long-haired English cream dachshund. That's a tongue twister — say it five times fast. But the name's fitting: Jimmy Dean sausage. Get it?
Mike: Well done. Well done.
Erica: You gotta run with it. Maybe there'll be a Nathan's in the future. But he's the guard dog. He was pretty much project manager. Jimmy Dean. Yeah.
From DJ to Modern Cabin Builder Using DEN A‑Frame House Plans
Mike: For folks who are going to listen to this — what's really cool about this interview is that Erica and I have known each other for years. When DEN first got off the ground, before she had property, when this was just a pipe dream. Now, several years later, we're checking back in. So — can you introduce yourself, tell us which DEN design you built, and where you built it?
Erica: Originally from North Carolina. Greensboro, North Carolina. Grew up with a family of builders — everyone's a builder on the Jobe side of the family, and I guess it runs in the blood. After 15-plus years of DJ'ing, I wanted to transition into building and remodeling. I'd already remodeled a home, Airbnb'd it, and sold it — that helped fund this project.
I grew up in the country in North Carolina and wanted to go back to my roots. But I also wanted New York City to be reachable — two hours by train from Hudson. So I found four and a half acres near Cairo, New York, took the proceeds from selling my house, and dove right in. Probably the scariest thing I've ever done — so much uncertainty. But you know when you really want something? Even when I first spoke to you, I'd already seen this house. I'd already decorated it. I knew where the couch was going to go. I knew, like I lived in it. It even had a smell. I guess that's manifesting. I believed, even through the challenges, that it was going to happen.
"Even when I first spoke to you, I'd already seen this house. I'd already decorated it. I knew where the couch was going to go. It even had a smell." — Erica Jobe
Erica: And the plan I picked — a 1,000 sq ft A-Frame. What's the exact model?
Mike: I think it's the A-Frame House.
Erica: One of the OG plans. The reason I wanted the 1,000 sq ft A-Frame is just not a lot of maintenance. Really easy to clean and take care of. The energy bill has been awesome. You don't need a big house — it's just me and Jimmy Dean. And it would be great for a couple with a kid too.
Why Erica Built New Instead of Renovating an Existing House
Mike: You've renovated a house before, and you come from a family of builders. As you approached this project, what made you decide to build from the ground up versus buying another renovation?
Erica: Great question. The house I'd previously purchased was built in 1880 and needed a lot of work. It was fun to gut-renovate, but I felt like I was constantly fixing someone else's problems. I wanted something brand new that I created. I know where the septic tank is. I know where the well is. If anything goes wrong in my house, I was there from day one. I got the lights turned on. I know my land, my property, my house inside and out — literally.
And I really enjoy interior design, so I could make it my own — the floors, the furniture, the tile. Once I got inside the house, I was like, "heck yeah, man, party on." Picking out the wallpaper, all of it. Not all of it's fun, but it's rewarding.
Mike: What drew you to the A-Frame besides its size?
Erica: I love all the windows. There's constant light coming in. I'm inside but I feel connected — I've got four and a half acres and I feel like I'm connected to all of it. There are always deer walking around. Also, my grandparents had an A-Frame guest house at their beach home, so I grew up loving that open design. Even though it's small, it feels like there's so much space. And the pitch is amazing — you'll never worry about leaks with the snow.
Mike: What's your favorite room in the house?
Erica: Probably my bedroom — it's up in the loft and I chose to do tempered glass. When I lay in bed, I look out over these fields behind my house and there's always deer, always animals. There's just no obstruction between lying in your warm, cozy bed with a cup of coffee in the morning and nature taking place. It's really cool.
Mike: How did the plans help you find a builder and understand project costs?
Erica: I had a general contractor from the very beginning who followed the plans for the most part. Let's just say it didn't work out, and you're going to die when I tell you this — I went to Mexico and came back to find he'd added a master bathroom in my loft. My head exploded. I called it a tumor. I said, "rip that off my house." Plus, it wouldn't have passed code. So I got another contractor, and at that point I became the project manager and the GC.
The plans really helped guide my subcontractors. They'd want to go rogue or do their own thing, and I'd say, "I need you to follow the plans exactly." I changed a couple of things I thought would work better for me — especially for the northeast winter — but the plans were drawn out very directly. This is what I want. Do this. And I also loved that DEN recommended good hardwood floors, appliances, mini splits. There was a lot of guidance on the interior finish side. I actually ended up with a conduit-outside forced-air heat pump all-in-one system — it came out less expensive than mini splits.
A‑Frame Construction Problems & Lessons: Hiring Contractors, Managing Subs, and Finishing as Owner-Builder
Mike: What has been your favorite part of the construction journey?
Erica: Definitely being able to choose everything — the floors, the countertops, the tile. I wanted a black metal roof on the A-Frame. I chose LP siding — it's wood but holds up better. I did board and batten in dark charcoal. I enjoyed every decision for the house that was going to be my home.
Mike: What was your least favorite part?
Erica: Finding really good, honest, hardworking people. That was the hardest part. All the really good guys are booked up for two years. So now I'm going to book the top people two years out in advance. They're expensive — doesn't matter. Quality and honesty are what count.
And please share this with everyone: do not give deposits. The number of times I gave nice deposits and people never came back. When I decided to subcontract and finish the house myself as GC, my rule was no money up front. People would come and say, "I need half up front, and cash is even better." And I'd say, "I bet it is. No. You do the work, you get paid on Fridays." When I found people who were okay with that, I said, "I respect the way you do business." And guess what? The house got built and no more money was taken.
"No money up front. You do the work, you get paid on Fridays." — Erica's rule that finished the house.
Mike: You mentioned you're going to school for interior design. Is that right?
Erica: Yes. All my applications are in. It's funny calling my high school and asking for transcripts when I'm 44 and graduated in '99. I feel like a dinosaur.
Interior Design for Modern Cabins: Erica's Bold Style, Tile Choices & A‑Frame Decor Inspiration
Mike: Outside of DEN, where do you draw inspiration from an architecture or interior perspective?
Erica: I'm obsessed with Martin Brudnizki — probably butchering his name. He's a Swedish designer. He did the Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York. He's so colorful. You'll see a tiger print next to a tribal print and it somehow works. Lots of texture. Very visually stimulating. I also love Kit Kemp — she did the Crosby Street Hotel and the Whitby Hotel. Not afraid of color, drawing outside the lines. And my stepmom — she's always had this country-modern style that I've loved since childhood. Plus 15 years of DJ'ing took me to all seven continents, so I've seen a lot of hotels.
Most of my house is West Elm and Anthropologie. I like Anthropologie Home a lot.
Mike: How have you incorporated that affinity for texture and color into your DEN?
Erica: I kept the walls pretty safe — a beige tone and alabaster white trim — and had a lot of fun in the bathroom. I used RIAD Moroccan tiles and just played with it in there. One of the vanity pieces looks like it came straight out of Bali, which is probably my favorite place in the world. And the wallpaper is a whole story.
It's called "drunken monkey" wallpaper. The designer ended up sending it to me for free from London. It's literally monkeys sitting in trees drinking martinis, smoking cigars, bras hanging in the branches — but it all matches everything in the bathroom. It's just fun.
As far as resale goes, I want to keep things somewhat safe up here. But the basement is where I'll get a little crazy — dark walls, paneling, bold color. My family's always built a house, sold it two years later, built another. You want to keep things tasteful for the market.
Life in a Modern A‑Frame Cabin: Cooking, Wellness & Daily Routines
Mike: How has living in this house changed your day-to-day life?
Erica: Oh, it's great. I lived in the city for 18 years and didn't renew my lease last March to move into this house. I also bought a 2023 Flying Cloud Airstream that's parked on the property — I'm going to Airbnb that too, by the way.
I cook more now. When I lived in New York City, it was always takeout or a meal delivery service. Now I go to farmers markets in Hudson, get fresh ingredients, make salads every day. Trout is super popular here and I'm pescatarian, so I cook all the time. I make the best banana walnut bread.
Time feels like it's slowed down since I got here. I also have an outdoor barrel sauna from Canada, a Peloton in my basement, and Jimmy Dean has his own treadmill — yes, I know. I call it my ma'am cave. Got my DJ equipment down there too. I work out, I feel connected to nature. I feel like an adult.
What Erica Learned Building Her Own A‑Frame Cabin
Mike: If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the whole process, what would it be?
Erica: I would not have given anyone money up front. That's what kicked me in the butt.
But actually — thinking about it more — if that hadn't happened, I wouldn't have seen it all come together. When you're just writing checks to a GC, he's doing the work and asking for your input here and there. But when you're the one doing it, you're the one hiring the spray foam guy for R-49 closed cell. Why do I even know what that means? I know. Crazy. But I learned it because I had to. "Hey kid, can you swim?" Bam — off the diving board into the deep end. And guess what? The kid can swim.
Do I regret it financially? It hurt a little. But I learned more in these past few months than I could have learned in 10 years.
Advice for Future A‑Frame Builders: How to Choose Plans, Find Contractors & Set Yourself Up for Success
Mike: If you had a friend who wanted to build their own DEN home, what words of wisdom would you share?
Erica: Don't rush it. Do your homework. Find a good contractor — they're going to be booked up probably for a year. That's okay. Sit on your land for a bit. But get the right people in and it's going to go seamlessly. It's really going to go well.
Or you can hire me and I'll crack the whip, and Jimmy Dean will bite ankles, and we'll get it done. I just need an LLC first.
Manifesting an A‑Frame: Erica's Reflections on Building Her Dream Cabin
Mike: Is there anything else you'd like to share before we finish?
Erica: I have this little journal — there are drawings of seeds, and you plant your dreams in them, write them down. It was a manifestation journal I'd had for years. As I was packing up my apartment in New York City to move here, I found it. I opened it and started thumbing through it — "oh, that's so cute, little Erica, look at all her little dreams." And I was reading them, thinking, man, this stuff has actually come true.
And then I read one of the seeds: one day I'm gonna have an A-Frame.
Mike: Oh, amazing.
Erica: Bam. Here we are.
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