Inspired By: Theron Humphrey @thiswildidea

Our team partnered with Theron Humphrey (and his dog, Maddie!) from @thiswildidea on a step-by-step guide displaying what it takes to build a small but luxurious home from the ground up in Montana. The entire process is led by Theron and his builder partners Denman Construction in front of 1.3+ million followers. Follow along every step of the way and get the inspiration you need to try out some of these same design strategies in your home.

The Nature of the Design

Have you ever flipped through a magazine only to find designs that you loved in homes that you can’t afford? Well, that was precisely Theron’s inspiration for this home. His design process is “seeing homes online that I absolutely love and then trying to scale it back to reality and what my budget allows.” With a little planning and prioritizing, he found that “it’s totally possible to build economical and still have a dynamic and well laid out space.” In fact, even though his newest build may live large, it is only a 24-foot by 54-foot rectangle with 12-foot ceilings.

Theron says that enjoying luxurious living in the smallest of footprints is “wildly simple” when you learn how to build a small home from the ground up. It all starts with a lovely plot of land along a lake. That picturesque scene becomes the backdrop for an ingenious tiny build that proves cabins can be luxe retreats.

Choosing the Right items

Making the inside of the home as incredible as the view started with a tip Theron took to the Ferguson Showroom. “Visiting the [Ferguson] showroom and connecting with a designer in person was amazing. Getting to bounce ideas back and forth and come up with a plan was a lot of fun.” Browsing bathroom fixtures, kitchen essentials, and lighting options in person helped Theron narrow in on the perfect pieces to complement his design aesthetic.

Minimalist Color Scheme

Choosing a bright, clean, and neutral wall color, and keeping that color consistent throughout the whole home, helps to unify the different spaces. It makes the entire cabin appear larger and more open. The classic white hue used for the walls and major fixtures in this space is complemented by a wood floor in a light finish and industrial black detailing around windows.

Enjoy Scandanavian Sophistication in The Kitchen

Spacious and uncluttered, this kitchen shows how choosing cabinetry and countertops in the same bright and neutral color of the walls helps them blend into the walls for a less-obtrusive look without sacrificing storage space.

 Classic Cabinetry

One of the best ways Theron achieved an open and airy look to this kitchen is by eliminating upper cabinetry and highlighting natural wood shelves with bold black hardware instead. These open shelves keep the items he uses the most within easy reach and help to emphasize natural finishes in the design. The white cabinetry provides plenty of concealed storage and acts as a perfect backdrop for sleek, modern hardware.

Enjoy Full-Sized Appliances

You don’t necessarily have to scale down everything to make a small kitchen appear larger. You can still include full-sized appliances, as Theron proved by showcasing the Bosch 36-Inch Wide, 20.5 Cu. Ft. Energy Star Rated Full Size Refrigerator with Integrated Wine Drawer. This refrigerator doubles as a wine fridge, with a drawer that pulls out to provide storage for up to 17 of your favorite bottles. Using the Bosch 800 Series 30 Inch Wide 4.6 Cu. Ft Combination Electric Oven with Built In Microwave allows for the vertical stacking of two essential appliances, freeing up lower cabinetry space for additional storage.

Create Dual-Purpose Areas

Including an island in the design allows for additional cabinetry, tons of prep space, and a convenient built-in eating area. To keep sight lines unobtrusive, Theron included a pop-up vent that recesses into the cabinetry when it isn’t in use. Even a space you usually use to rinse dishes can serve multiple purposes. Theron featured the Franke Pescara 31" x 17" x 9" Deep 18-Gauge Single Bowl Kitchen Sink, which offers numerous accessories that nestle into the sink, including a cutting board, colander, and sink rack.

Elevating the Bathroom Design

To make the most of the space he had, Theron chose to elevate the look of the bathroom by choosing fixtures that keep the floor free and clear. The use of wall-mounted vanities and cabinets provides valuable concealed storage and organization to the bathroom design. The compact design of the floating vanity is complemented with the Brizo Odin 1.5 GPM Single Hole Bathroom Faucet in a bold black finish. By choosing all bathroom hardware by Brizo, it was easy to achieve a consistent look.

A Full-Body Showering Experience

Using sliding shower doors is absolutely the best choice here, because they don’t need to swing out into the rest of the bathroom. When space is small, you really have an opportunity to make a statement, which is why Theron chose eye-catching shower tiles in a modern vertical arrangement to make the shower an instant focal point of the room.  

Using the space between the studs to create a recessed nook in the shower provides a convenient place to store your shower essentials. But what it really comes down to in this shower is the absolutely indulgent Brizo 2-11/16" Single Function Body Sprays and showerhead that work together to provide a full-body experience.

A Stylish Soak

With smart space-saving features throughout the space, he was able to carve out enough room for a freestanding tub that delivers beautiful curves to break up the straight style lines throughout the rest of the bathroom. With large windows providing a stunning backdrop to the bath, even Maddie can’t resist hopping in for a soak.

A Clean Take on a Small Laundry Room

It doesn’t take much to create a fully functional laundry. Theron’s laundry area utilizes a pocket door that tucks out of the way for easy access without swinging into the room and taking up valuable traffic space. Even the smallest footprints can perform like a full laundry room with proper planning. 

With that pocket door open, he created instant access to a full-size GE Front Loading Washer with WiFi and OdorBlock and GE Electric Dryer with Steam and WiFi arranged stacked to create a minimal footprint. Choosing energy-efficient appliances helps keep the carbon footprint of the home low.

Extending the Living Area with A Spacious Deck

One of the best ways to extend the living space in a small home is to consider outdoor living to be just as important as your indoor living areas. A large deck with a minimalist railing provides a transitional space for Theron and Maddie to relax after a long day while soaking in the sights of the surroundings.

Get Your Free Cabin Plans

Ready to create this retreat for yourself? You can get the actual plans for Theron’s compact cabin build, along with a list of all the supplies purchased from Build with Ferguson to complete the build. Go to build.com/fergusonshowrooms to learn more about the showroom experience.