An Upstate Hideaway

We recently added this delightful ebony cabin to the BoutiqueHomes collection, and we couldn't be more pleased to welcome it on board. The Night Fox A-Frame is tucked deep into the woods of the Catskills, and it's home-from-home for Caroline McKay, owner of boutique creative agency Caro in New York. We sat down with her to find out how she found it, what inspired its interior design, and a few of her inside tips for guests.

We have a huge soft spot for cabins at BoutiqueHomes. They always elicit such emotional responses. What is it that you love about them?

I have always been fascinated by different architectural homes, their design and how they evoke such a feeling of excitement when you get to experience them in person. To me, cabins in particular were always top of the list. They offer an intimate escape into nature and a sense of coziness upon wandering in, that really allows you to feel as though you are escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.

A-frame cabins are particularly interesting because, although they all follow a similar exterior style and shape, the interiors of each home are so different. It is incredible to see the unique nooks created by the triangle structure allowing room for a lot of creativity when it comes to designing the interiors of the space.

"Cabins offer an intimate escape into nature that really allows you to feel as though you are escaping the hustle and bustle of city life."

How did you fall for this particular cabin?

I have been known to stalk Zillow before bed at night! Before finding the cabin, I had spent a month working remotely on an island in Mexico with friends and my dog. Upon returning to city life, I quickly realized I was craving being outdoors and the access to nature. One night, I stumbled upon this home and contacted the owner immediately. It looked like such a special place, dropped in the middle of a mountain in nature but with close access to the nearby town. The perfect combo.

The home was built in the 60s, but it had recently been redone and was a clean slate, allowing me to imagine what the interiors could look like, even before buying it. The unique shape, including the fact that the triangle of the A-frame started all the way at the bottom of the home, created a fun challenge from a design perspective, making it all the more interesting to me.

What were your inspirations for the interiors?

The all-black exterior of the home fits so well with the surrounding nature, I wanted the interiors to be in contrast with that and flip the outside darkness to indoor lightness. The triangle windows and skylights in the space make the light pour in during the day, so I focused on harnessing that light through a mixture of warm, natural tones with pops of color to add bright touches to the space. I like to describe the space as 70s mod with hints of Scandinavian coziness and neutrals.

What were the highs and lows of bringing it to life?

Highs were definitely seeing the transformation from the sparse space at the start to creating a cozy home that truly feels like an escape. The lows were a few supply chain issues, waiting on furniture and textiles to come in. But along with that were the lessons about having a home in nature. Things like: bears love to dig through your trash. With my life centered around city living for so long, I had forgotten about these types of things.

What do you like to do when you're staying at the cabin?

I love to hike so I have been trying to explore all the different trails in the area. Also, I have been trying to check out all the amazing restaurants and breweries in the area. They are so incredible and really utilize all the amazing produce that the area has to offer. Some of my personal favorites are The Debruce for a fancier night, The Kaatskeller for pizza, Sunshine Colony for natural wine, and The Smoke Joint for barbecue, but I could go on! Finally, fly fishing is really big in the area, I personally haven’t gotten out on the river yet, but it’s very high on my list!

Discover the Night Fox A-Frame for yourself here.