An Ikea Kitchen for our A-Frame Cabin

Let’s talk about the kitchen renovation at our A-frame cabin!

When we purchased the cabin, the kitchen took up nearly half of the first floor. It felt wildly out of scale for such a cozy space and featured three 1970s avocado green appliances (including a trash compactor), all lined up along one wall, with a small bank of cabinets across the back. The floor was covered in not one, but two layers of linoleum—very much a time capsule moment. Take a look at these listing photos for the full effect!

We reimagined the kitchen as a smaller, more efficient space that better suited cabin life. Our goal was functionality without excess: apartment-size appliances, a dedicated pantry to keep clutter at bay, and finishes that felt light and minimal. The flooring would seamlessly continue the light oak LVP we installed throughout the rest of the cabin. This is the layout, although we ended up moving the dishwasher to the left side of the sink and adding a bookcase on the end which isn’t shown in the diagram.

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First up was building a pantry closet. We framed out a 3 foot wide by 8 foot long closet behind the stove and fridge, and created an entry to the pantry from the hallway.

Adding the pantry, shortened the length of the kitchen by 3 feet – square footage we were willing to sacrifice with a new, more efficient layout.

While Mr. HomeSpunStyle worked on installing the vinyl plank flooring throughout the first floor, I worked on the kitchen cabinet layout. Choosing IKEA for this renovation was a no-brainer. IKEA excels at small-space design, offers great style at an accessible price point, and aligns perfectly with our cabin’s midcentury Scandi vibe. We’ve installed IKEA kitchens and baths in our last two homes, so we were already comfortable with the planning, assembly, and installation process.

While I genuinely loved the midcentury vibes of the avocado green refrigerator and stove (the trash compactor… not so much), the full-size appliances took up valuable real estate. For a vacation home, we simply didn’t need them. We opted for IKEA’s apartment size 18” Villkorlig dishwasher and 24” Cirkulera electric range.

For the refrigerator, I wanted something skinny and tall with a retro feel. A Smeg would have been amazing, but the price tag wasn’t. Instead, we found a great 24″ knock-off version called Conserv at Home Depot for about a third of the cost.

We chose to do only base cabinets in a shaker style light oak finish called Vedhamn, which keeps the kitchen feeling open and airy. The Pinnarp butcher block countertops, along with the sink, are also from IKEA.

The back wall is the only flat wall in the kitchen, and I knew immediately that I wanted to use it for open shelving. It’s more intuitive for guests and creates a welcoming visual moment—especially since the kitchen is visible right from the front door. I opted for one long floating shelf. Because the shelf runs above the stove, wood wasn’t an option due to code restrictions. I found PonomaSteel, an Etsy seller who specializes in custom-length floating stainless steel shelves, and it ended up being the perfect solution. Delivery was fast and the shelf was securely packaged. Installation was easy, and we couldn’t be happier with the quality or the look. We also did a vertical tile backsplash, the same as the tile that we used in the bathroom.

Styling the kitchen was one of my favorite parts of the project. I pulled from my stash of recently thrifted green pieces—the original avocado appliances actually inspired the mossy green color palette throughout the cabin. I mixed in serving pieces, drinkware, baskets, and wood accents for warmth and texture. Nearly everything on the shelf is thrifted, with the exception of five soup bowls left behind by the previous owner and four small wood appetizer plates from Target. Thrift stores really are the best source for affordable, unique décor!

I took this photo before replacing the blue painter’s tape with a proper 3m command strip. Oops. Ultimately, I may add a rail below the shelf for additional kitchen tools.

Lighting was another IKEA win. We installed two Hektar pendants above the peninsula and added a section of track lighting along the stove side of the kitchen. And of course everything is on dimmers!

At the end of the peninsula, we used an upper IKEA cabinet turned sideways to create open shelving. Mr. HomeSpunStyle added an electrical outlet, and we found a microwave that fits the space perfectly. I still need to find a large basket for the bottom shelf to hide our board games. On the dining side of the peninsula we installed inexpensive beadboard.

My makeshift coffee station lives along one wall and consists of a mug rack and a small cabinet left behind by the seller. The cabinet is just a placeholder until I find something taller, but for now I painted it a mustardy yellow to give it a little personality. Mr. HomeSpunStyle built the mug rack from some old wood we’ve collected over the years, and I love the live edge—it adds a touch of rusticity to the otherwise fairly modern kitchen. The oversized green mugs were a recent Target clearance find, and an old Longaberger basket neatly hides the coffee pods. And the rug was thrifted from Good Will.

My decorative tea towel is an upcycled men’s shirt. I wanted to add a bit of masculine plaid to the space, but couldn’t find anything I liked. Enter: a Goodwill button-down. I used an existing dish towel as a template, hemmed three sides, and added a small ruffle at the bottom.

The pantry closet pulls double duty for now—it’s large enough to neatly store our ski gear (complete with another custom rack made by my husband), along with our renovation tools and supplies. Eventually, the tools will get moved out and food storage and small appliances will move in. Because a traditional door would have interfered with the back entrance, we opted for a curtain instead. I hemmed a 6′ x 9′ drop cloth to size and hung it using clip-on rings.

In the dining area, Mr. HomeSpunStyle refinished the table left behind by the seller. We believe it’s from This End Up, a popular furniture brand from the 1980s. The upholstered bench on wheels was thrifted a few years ago and the black chairs came from our primary home (originally a Facebook Marketplace find), . Above the table, we installed a swing-arm wall lamp I found at our local Goodwill. It extends outward when we need more light—perfect for game nights.

I’ve been enjoying the new kitchen this past week during our winter break from school—cooking breakfasts, packing ski lunches, making batches of homemade hot chocolate, and prepping après-ski snacks and cocktails. I’m keeping a running list of a few utensils and serving pieces we still need, along with a handful of small tweaks I’d like to make!

Happy New Year! Debra