From City to Countryside: Family's Pandemic Move Leads to a Dream Bunkie Build, Transforming Their Property & Redefining Their Lifestyle
When Chris Fox moved from Toronto to a 35-acre property in Northumberland County mid-pandemic, he soon discovered he needed more space. “We were inundated with people wanting to come visit us,” he says, “but we quickly realized that having a primary bedroom in an open loft makes for some intimate house guests, so we decided we needed a separate space for guests.”
Fox began looking online for Canadian made Bunkie companies. “That was important to us,” he says. At first he considered purchasing a wooden stacked kit, but after much consideration, Fox felt that style of Bunkie was more of a shed with a bed than an inviting space for friends and family. He wanted something special. That’s when, he says, “We came across the Bunkie Company’s glass palaces! They’re so beautifully designed, our mouths dropped when we first saw one. It was beyond anything we thought we could build.”
Fox uses his Bunkie as a guest sleeping space, as well as a private office space, and vinyl listening booth. “We are building a beautiful outdoor space around it,” he says. “It has converted an unused area of our property into a whole new living area. You can go from the firepit to your bed in a few steps! It’s now such a wonderful part of our property, we’ve started talking about turning it into a glamping rental, which is something we never considered before.”
Fox’s building journey was not without its pitfalls. “One word of warning from us novices,” he says, “if you don’t have good enough building skills, you shouldn’t build your Bunkie yourself. You do need to have a contractor so that you don’t risk messing up such a beautiful design with amateur construction.”
Despite a few bumps along the way, Fox says, “The personal care from the Bunkie team has been wonderful. We know each sales person by name, and we even know your hobbies! It’s true that we did experience a few contractor delays and we’ve had to replace vents that we broke, but it was all handled with ease by the Bunkie team.”
As a last word of advice to aspiring Bunkie purchasers, Fox says, “Plan, plan, plan. We imagined an instant install, but it has taken a lot longer with contractor delays, and our own DIY limitations. We even decided to change our build location, so taking your time to work out a realistic work plan is essential. Plus, listen to the guys at the Bunkie Company – they know what they’re doing and will steer you straight.”
Ed. Note: Most of our Bunkie’s are built quickly and efficiently thanks to the skills of their purchasers and/or the work of reliable contractors. We’re sharing Chris’ experience because it’s important to know one’s limitations and plan accordingly. Get in touch, we’re here to help!