Most small cabin kits make you choose. You can have a tiny footprint, or you can have room to breathe inside. The Haven ULTRA Bunkie from Bunkie Life tries to give you both, and it does it in a smart way: it builds up instead of out.
On the ground, it takes up about the same space as a garden shed. Inside, there’s a full loft overhead, and it’s tall enough that you don’t have to crawl around up there like you’re in an attic. That’s a bigger deal than it sounds, and I’ll explain why below.
Here’s the full picture: what you get, what it costs, what’s left for you to do, and who this little cabin really suits.
The Short Version
The Haven ULTRA is a pre-cut wooden cabin kit made in Rockwood, Ontario. The main floor is roughly 10 by 10 feet (104.6 sq ft), and the loft adds another 120 sq ft on top. That brings the total usable space to about 224 square feet from a footprint smaller than many backyard sheds.
It sells for $16,995, and Bunkie Life ships it across Canada and the US.
Why the Loft Is the Whole Point
Lots of small cabins have a “loft.” Usually, that means a low shelf under the roof where you can lay a mattress and bump your head every morning.
The Haven ULTRA is different. Bunkie Life lists the loft at 82 inches tall at its highest point, which is just under 7 feet. Most adults can stand up straight in the middle of it. That changes how you use the space. You can get dressed up there, make the bed without contorting yourself, or even set up a small reading nook with a chair.
The loft is also rated to hold up to 2,500 pounds, so a queen mattress, a dresser, and a couple of grown adults are no problem at all. You reach it with a wooden ladder at the back of the cabin, which keeps the front of the main floor open.
Because the loft is a little larger than the main floor (120 sq ft vs. 104.6 sq ft), it really feels like a second room rather than an afterthought.
Full Specs at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $16,995 |
| Footprint | 10’2¾” W x 10’2¾” D |
| Main floor | 104.6 sq ft |
| Loft | 120 sq ft |
| Loft height (floor to peak) | 6’11 11/16″ |
| Overall exterior height | 15’5 5/16″ |
| Door | Single, 34½” W x 79 3/16″ H, keyed knob |
| Windows | 5 total |
| Wood | Kiln-dried Northern Spruce |
| Loft capacity | Up to 2,500 lbs |
| Skill rating | “Novice Plus” |
The Five Windows
Light is one of this cabin’s strong points. Here’s how the windows break down:
- Two tall standard windows on the front (22⅛” x 59 15/16″)
- One double window (48⅛” x 30 13/16″)
- One double window in the loft (48⅛” x 21 3/16″)
- One fixed window in the door (23⅛” x 29⅛”)
If you want even more light up top, Bunkie Life sells extra windows separately. You can add them to the side or back walls. A back-wall loft window is a popular upgrade, because it gives you cross-breeze on warm nights.
What Comes in the Box
This is where people often get confused, so let’s be clear. The kit includes:
- Pre-cut, notched, interlocking spruce walls
- Pressure-treated floor sleepers
- Tongue-and-groove floorboards and roof deck boards
- The loft ladder
- Window and door hardware, including a lockable door knob
- All the screws and nails you need
The wood is pre-cut and notched to interlock, a bit like a grown-up version of Lincoln Logs. You’re not measuring and cutting lumber. You’re following a manual and stacking pieces in the right order.
What You’ll Still Need to Buy
This part matters for your budget. The $16,995 doesn’t cover everything. You’ll also need:
- A foundation. Bunkie Life provides foundation plans, but you build it (or hire someone).
- Roofing. Metal or shingles go over the roof deck boards.
- Stain or sealant. Bare spruce needs protection from the weather.
- Delivery. It’s quoted by location. Pickup at the factory is also possible.
- Insulation and heat, if you want to use it in winter.
A covered porch also isn’t part of the kit. Some photos online show one, but you’d add it yourself.
A realistic plan is to set aside a few thousand dollars on top of the kit price for these extras, depending on your location and how much work you do yourself.
Can You Really Build It Yourself?
Probably, yes. Bunkie Life rates kits on a 1-to-5 hammer scale, and the Haven ULTRA sits at “Novice Plus.” That means it’s very doable for a regular person with basic tool skills, but it’s a step up from the simplest models because of the loft.
The company says about 80% of buyers build their bunkie themselves, using printed manuals and video guides. Non-loft models usually go up in a weekend. Lofted ones like this can take a bit longer, so plan for two to three days with a couple of friends helping. And give yourself a spare day. Rain happens.
One practical tip: the full kit weighs roughly 3,850 to 4,100 pounds. Even unloading it is a team job.
If you’d rather not swing a hammer, Bunkie Life keeps a list of contractors who have installed their cabins before.
Is It Good for Winter?
Out of the box, it’s a three-season cabin. Bunkie Life says it works well for about 3 to 3.5 seasons without any changes.
To use it in the cold months, you’ll want to insulate under the floor and in the roof while you’re building (it’s much easier to do it then than later), and add a heat source. A small wood stove, an electric heater, or a mini-split all work, depending on whether you have power on site.
The good news is that the structure itself is tough. It’s rated for snow loads in the far north of Ontario, which is about as harsh as Canadian winters get.
Do You Need a Permit?
It depends on where you live, and this one deserves your attention before you order.
The footprint is just over 104 square feet. In many parts of Ontario, buildings under 10 square meters (about 108 sq ft) don’t need a permit, so this cabin was clearly designed to slip under that line. But rules vary a lot between towns, provinces, and US states. Height limits and property setbacks can also apply, and at over 15 feet tall, height is worth checking.
Call your local building department first. If they do ask for a permit, Bunkie Life can supply engineered drawings for a small fee.
Who This Cabin Is Best For
The Haven ULTRA works well for a lot of different situations:
The cottage with too many guests. Put the guests in the loft and let them have their own little place. Everyone sleeps better, and nobody’s on the pull-out couch.
The home office escape. The main floor fits a desk, a chair, and a bookshelf, and the windows give you plenty of daylight. Walking 30 steps across the yard to “go to work” is a surprisingly nice way to separate your job from your home.
A rental cabin. With a sleeping loft and a sitting area below, it’s a natural fit for a small short-term rental, as long as your local rules allow it.
A creative studio. Painters, musicians, and writers love having a door they can close. The loft can hold supplies or a daybed for breaks.
A kids’ hangout. Children tend to go wild for a ladder and a loft. Just remember that the loft height is a real fall risk for little ones.
The Things to Think About
No cabin is perfect, and here’s what I’d keep in mind:
- The ladder. It saves space, but it’s not great for anyone with knee trouble or for climbing down half-asleep at night.
- No plumbing. This is a bunkie, not a house. You’d add a bathroom separately or use an off-grid toilet.
- Extra costs add up. Foundation, roof, stain, and delivery can push the final total well past the sticker price.
- The height. At 15’5″, it’s taller than most sheds, so check local height limits.
Final Thoughts
The Haven ULTRA Bunkie isn’t trying to be a full tiny home. It’s something simpler and, for many people, more useful: a solid wooden room with a real loft that you can put together yourself in a few days.
The stand-up loft is what makes it special. It turns a 10×10 cabin into something that genuinely feels like two rooms. Add the bright windows and the sturdy Northern Spruce build, and you’ve got a small cabin that punches above its size.
If you’ve got a flat spot in the yard or at the cottage, and you’ve been dreaming of a little hideaway, this one is worth a serious look. Just check your local building rules and budget for the extras before you hit “order.”
Source: Bunkie Life