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An outdoors-loving couple DIY’d a 180-square-foot retreat in the woods where they plan to eventually put a primary residence.
Lauren Bell and Joey Parent were persistent. When they first considered buying land in Fayette County, West Virginia, they were set on building a home from scratch in the woods somewhere between where they both grew up. They had a lot of details in mind for the kind of land they wanted, but in order to narrow down their search, they agreed on one in particular: There had to be running water. "As it turns out, finding a place where running water intersects a paved road in a rural county is not easy," Lauren says.
Lauren Bell and Joey Parent built a 180-square-foot cabin in West Virginia where they could escape the city and eventually build a primary home. "In the winter, the cabin feels like it’s in a snow globe," Lauren says.
Photo by Alyssa Mullins Wilkinson
They began sifting through prospects in 2017, but after years of coming up short, the couple reintroduced themselves to a man who owned a lot they had originally passed on. He told them about another option he owned nearby, which hadn’t been listed. "It had the water we wanted, a creek on the backside of a mountain," Lauren says.
A shed-style, standing-seam metal roof extends over the porch. In the summer, friends taking advantage of the rafting season are happy to sleep outside. A Twin Oaks hammock on the porch provides a playful place to sit.
Photo by Alyssa Mullins Wilkinson
They bought it from him in 2023 for $72,000, but the sale ended up being delayed for two years due to circumstances on the part of the seller. An upside, if you can call it that, was that this gave the couple time to imagine their future there. "The land is shaped almost like a Christmas stocking, and we pictured our eventual home on the heel, facing a rock wall and the deep pool of the creek," Lauren says. "But we knew building it would likely take another 10 years financially."
| $8,787 Structural | $919 Decking | $2,038 Wall Finishes |
| $3,489 Exterior Painting | $1,856 Flooring | $1,957 Roofing |
| $330 Hardware | $643 Electrical | $635 Portable Power Station |
| $630 Plumbing | $1,590 HVAC Equipment | $915 Kitchen & Bath Fixtures |
| $1,252 Lighting | $3,484 Cabinetry | $854 Countertops |
| $210 Appliances | $3,293 Windows & Glazing | $2,004 Door |
| $189 Tilework | $2,751 Furnishings & Decor | $1,100 Site Work |
| $600 Foundation | ||
| Grand Total: $39,526 | ||
All of the wood in the cabin is locally sourced cherry, which the couple carried to the site by hand. "I literally spent two full days just carrying the lumber for the walls," Lauren says. Their two dogs, Amigo and Woods, join them when they stay at the cabin.
Photo by Alyssa Mullins Wilkinson
See the full story on Dwell.com: Budget Breakdown: Their Dream Home Can Come Later—First, They Built a Tiny Cabin for $40K
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By: Kelly Dawson
Title: Budget Breakdown: Their Dream Home Can Come Later—First, They Built a Tiny Cabin for $40K
Sourced From: www.dwell.com/article/budget-breakdown-cabin-hint-spaces-outdoors-tiny-home-11f9869b
Published Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:58:00 GMT
