First Place, South Region
Benjamin Atkins
Pikeville, NC

A Cabin for Nicole

Ben Atkins is a loving grandfather who wants the best for his family. His granddaughter, Nicole, loves camping, hiking, and the mountains. Because of her passion for the outdoors, Ben wanted to give her a lifelong gift: her very own cabin and 1.5 acres of land.

Ben dedicated a year of his life to designing and building Nicole's cabin which is 384 square feet and measures 16' x 24'. With his granddaughter onsite and involved every step of the way, he cut over 7,000 board feet. The majority of the cabin is pine, but he also used sycamore, walnut, and cedar.

Describing the outside of the cabin, Ben explains, "We used 1" x 9' treated pine with a ½" x 2" white painted strip to make it look like chinking. We also cut the post and main beam on the Wood-Mizer." The inside of the cabin is wood from ceiling to floor and has a main bedroom, bathroom, a small room with bunk beds, and a kitchen joining the living area. Hanging on the wall in this quaint cabin is an apron for Nicole and a Wood- Mizer hat for Ben.