The Story of How the Nook Came To Be
By Isaac French
Friday was a big day: after 8 months of patience, I finally announced the completion of my art studio / office / guest house which has been christened "the Nook".
I posted a thread on X, and 5.5 million people saw it — at least a handful more than I expected!
Today, I want to share the story of how this all came together. As promised, I'm giving away 5 sets of the building plans, so read until the end. If you're not interested in the behind-the-scenes details of this build, feel free to skip this week. But this is a special edition.
It all started one year ago exactly, when I decided to embark on an ambitious tree clearing project of the jungle behind our home.
It's impossible for me to sufficiently describe just how thick the thicket was, but in three years of living here, I'd never once been able to venture more than five feet into them. It was bramble and briars, with huge vines up to 6" in diameter snaking every tree such that they were unrecognizable as trees.
Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a "before" photo. But I do have the photo below, which is after a week of intensive mulching with machinery. The trees behind the skid steer give a sense for what every square inch resembled.
With the clearing of the 3 acres well underway, I began scheming a new project: a dream workspace in the woods.
After a full week of intensive scribbling on my iPad, I finally had a plan I felt good about: equal parts office, art studio and guest quarters.
I sent these sketches to a freelancer I found on Fiverr, and a few days later had a loose set of construction blueprints and some glossy renderings. That's when I made this post.
A few days later, with the encouragement of Twitter, my friend and local contractor Daniel arrived with truck and trailer, air compressors, nail guns, and other sounds of progress. With his help, the foundation was underway.
The structure went up in a couple days, and then came the "boring" part: mechanical, electrical and plumbing rough-in, insulation, waterproofing, etc. We went with mini-splits for the heating/cooling, which another friend and contractor, Josh, helped me source and install.
We were able to tie both septic and water into the existing systems for our house, which is just 200 feet away. We did need a new power meter, though.
I designed scores of details as we went, and stressed over every finish. My friend Hans received a lot of calls and texts from me, and was more than gracious in his constant stream of advice and suggestions.
(I can't stress enough the value of having a trusted sounding board during the design process of a space like this, even if you're designing it yourself. I have plenty of ideas, but Hans brings another perspective and a wealth of experience that differs from mine.)
I chose a spot for the Nook just a few feet away from a 30-foot deep creek bed. As construction progressed inside, I began planning a "floating" deck outside that would cantilever over the creek. We wrapped the deck around a couple of big beautiful trees, creating a natural "umbrella" of sorts.
For one of the feature finishes, we debated various tiles but ultimately chose rustic limestone as the key element to connect the interior and exterior. I spent hours visiting stone yards and consulting with masons before finding the perfect color and type, the perfect masonry style, and the perfect mason for the job.
The variety I settled on came from a local quarry, and each piece had to be chiseled and chipped to fit with the others and appear "dry stacked." It took ten days, and my mason Israel did a fantastic job!
There were all kinds of fun details — the white oak casework tying together with the window jambs inside, a hidden gutter all along the front, and all the recessed lights throughout, to name just a few.
We had a few setbacks of course, and the budget was modified more than once (you just can't compromise on the important things on a project like this!).
All the while, we persevered out on the clearing project. It was brutal. Every single tree had to be climbed, or visited with a mobile lift, to remove the vines and prune. It was painstaking and tedious and took months longer than I thought it would. But it was so worth it.
And then, just shy of four months after we broke ground, the Nook was substantially complete! The loud noises ceased, the dust settled, and the tools were taken home.
As my friend Sean has pointed out, the last 10% of a construction project can be so incredibly difficult. Some of the contractors we used on the main part of the build were not accustomed to this architectural style, nor to my exacting standards.
I am hyper-detail-oriented, and the punch list was indeed lengthy:) So I spent about a week full-time there at the end wrapping up loose ends and finessing fussy details with a caulk gun, paint brush, etc.
And, I spent dozens of hours scouring the internet to locate the perfect sofa, bed, chairs, rug, tables, lamps, light fixtures, planters, desktop accessories, studio easel, painting supplies, etc, etc.
We ended up having to send back multiple pieces of furniture that simply didn't fit with all the rest.
It truly is an art — and one I now respect even more — to harmonize a whole array of furnishings and furniture so they all work together yet still retain their personality and character. Hans is a savant. And my wife Helen knocked it out of the park arranging all the shelves and surfaces.
Seeing it all come together was magical.
—
When I was small, I spent countless afternoons “inventing” things in my grandpa Byron's office on his farm, just down the road from ours. While he studied plans or talked with clients and contractors over the phone, I built miniature vehicles and structures with K'nex under the big, green desk.
I tried to be as quiet as I could, but sometimes he’d have to clear his throat, roll back the chair just a tad, and remind me. (Now, having a son playing in my office, I understand fondly).
His office was always perfect: a wonderful aroma of peppermint and other herbs wafted from the back where my grandma made and stored her handmade soaps. Classical music played softly in the background, and the lights were set just right.
My grandfather was a fine homebuilder and a true master of his craft. Whatever he did, he did well.
It is impossible to calculate the impact he had on me and my siblings growing up, but it is profound. He was a perfectionist, but the most patient, kind and caring one you ever met. A man of utmost integrity and care.
He left us last spring.
My grandpa never did anything loudly, but his legacy resounds.
I have a lot to live up to, but building The Nook felt like a small step towards making him proud. The greatest compliment I've received about it came from someone who remembered visiting his office. They told me The Nook reminds them of it.
It reminds me of it, too. And it reminds me of him.
Building this is truly a dream come true. I now have a space that endlessly inspires me to do my very best work, both creative and analytical. It's a joy to have a spot for my friends to drop by and work alongside me. Helen and our 1-year-old Lucas spend plenty of time there, too <3.
And yes, living in rural Texas is a luxury many don't have, both in terms of available land and ease of building.
But this unit, being modular and with such a simple footprint and roofline, is one of the easiest tiny homes to build anywhere. Of course, there's hardly a limit to the level of luxury or uniqueness you could achieve, depending on your budget and what you want.
Speaking of budget, I would plan on $100k-$150k plus furnishings. This will depend, of course, on your specific jurisdiction and what level of finishes you choose. Mine was on the upper end.
This unit would make an amazing unique stay, office, studio, personal residence, or all of the above!
If I were to rent my Nook on Airbnb, without even building an instagram following or taking direct bookings, I have no doubt it would bring in $500/night+, and pay for itself in 1-2 years. The space is that good.
If you want a set of building plans for a tiny fraction of what an architect would charge to design it, you can purchase here and save ~70% retail price today only.
A screenshot from the comprehensive plan set:
Hope you enjoyed reading how the Nook came to be. I enjoyed writing it, though the story has been thoroughly summarized:)
—Isaac