Building the Large Modern Cabin in Arlington Vermont

A retired couple — a furniture maker and an interior decorator who founded a solar company together — built this two-bedroom cabin in the Green Mountain Forest as a second home between rural Vermont and Astoria, Queens. What they found was a plan that delivered exactly what they were looking for: the feeling of being outdoors, even from inside.

Their Story

Who are you, and what drew you to Vermont?

My husband grew up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and I grew up in Brooklyn. We decided to raise our two daughters in Vermont and moved there full time in 1988. Bill made custom furniture and I was an interior decorator for many years. We were both environmentally conscious so we switched career paths and founded a solar company called Grassroots Solar, supplying the local area with rooftop and ground solar installation and backup battery systems for homes, farms, and businesses. We sold the company and retired in November 2023.

What was the dream behind this project?

After retiring, we decided to split our time between New York City (Astoria, Queens) and Vermont. We have a lot of family in Astoria, including our youngest daughter, her husband, and our two granddaughters. Luckily, we found a parcel of land in the Green Mountain Forest in Arlington — just three hours and fifteen minutes away.

Owning a second home in Vermont provides an investment, a family gathering place for holidays and summers, and a chance to reconnect with the friends we made over the years living here. The two lifestyles are so different. When in Astoria, we fill our calendars with cultural events, city strolls, and ethnic food. Back in Vermont, we embrace the relaxing atmosphere of living among nature — and of course, time in the sauna.

How did you find Design With Frank?

Initially, we pursued building with a well-known modular home builder in Northern Vermont and even designed a home that would have been built into a hill. But something wasn't sitting right with us. So we researched online, looking at floor plans, and luckily found your website. We took a deep dive on your website, social media, and YouTube channel — and the two-bedroom plan we selected was a perfect fit. We saw right away that your designs are a rethinking of how modern families live today.

The Build

Walk us through the building process.

Woodard Construction started clearing the land in Spring 2024 to make way for the foundation. The foundation was installed in May and the well drilled in June. Our builder Tom worked through an unusually dry and pleasant summer to frame the house and get it sealed in by fall. Cabinetry was installed by January 2025 and we were moving furniture in by March. We don't know why — and it has never happened to us before — but everything seemed to go smoothly with no surprises. I think the dry weather made a huge difference. Oh, and the magic of Tom!

Who was your builder?

We called up Tom Hon, who had always helped with interior design client renovations. We asked if he would build our house, and were surprised he said yes — he mostly took on smaller jobs. We knew we could put our full trust in him. One of the advantages of living in a rural state like Vermont is that your neighbors, friends, and business owners are intertwined in a vast network of connections. We hired an engineer and friend, Alan Benoit, who helped us locate the house on the land, and we reached out to subcontractors we've known for years. It felt like a lifetime of connections came together, and it was so fun to work with all of these amazing people.

Did you make any customizations to the plan?

We made a few changes. We eliminated the cathedral ceiling in the living space and went with a flat ceiling, keeping the 10′ height. We custom-sized the interior doors to 96″ and the exterior doors to 98″ to play with the scale in relationship to the ceiling. We eliminated the wall in the mechanical room to fit the water softener tanks and battery backup for our solar. We added pocket sliding doors in three areas: the mechanical room, office, and primary bath between the vanity room and shower room. The exterior siding is pine installed vertically and painted a deep blue — a nice contrast to the stained pine details in the bump-ins and to the surrounding woods.

Other than that, whenever we got the urge to tinker with the plans… we would say to each other: Chloe and team designed everything for a reason — let's not second-guess it.

Was there a particularly challenging moment?

Our most challenging part was figuring out the landscaping. We wanted it to be as low-maintenance as possible, so we worked with Nate and Greg from Woodard Construction to devise a plan that incorporated stone around the perimeter of the house. They installed three large sculptural stones beyond the deck and we spread wildflower seeds on the driveway hillsides and clover around the house. We're hoping the wildflowers take — it was the driest summer on record — but we're optimistic.

The Result

What do you love most about the cabin?

We wanted a house that would give you the feeling of being outdoors in the landscape even when you were inside. Your plan was perfect — you can be anywhere in the house, in any room, and feel like you are outside among the trees. It is absolute magic.

"On the surface, it is not a large house — but the ceiling height and all of the perfectly placed windows and doors give a feeling of expansiveness and airiness. When it is just us, we feel like we have traveled to the most relaxing zen spa retreat."

How does the open floor plan work day to day?

The layout is brilliant in its simplicity and elegance. We've had many guests visit — and return over and over again — because of their private wing and all the fun times we share in the main space and outdoor areas. The ceiling height and perfectly placed windows and doors give a feeling of expansiveness rare in a home this size.

Anything you'd do differently?

Honestly, we wouldn't change a thing. One thought: do you design stand-alone garages to match the modern aesthetic of the house?

Advice for Future Clients

What's the one piece of advice you'd give someone considering building from a DWF plan?

Design With Frank provides such extensive information on the plans that if you hire a seasoned contractor, it will go smoothly. And trust the design — there is a well-thought-out reason for everything.

One example: the large window in the kitchen is installed quite high on the wall. A few visitors commented during the build that it looked too high. We trusted the design — and sure enough, it is the perfect height. When we're at the kitchen sink, we look up into the treetops rather than out at the driveway. Brilliant.

"We would say: call us and we will convince you to go with Design With Frank. You will be so happy you did."