top of page

89. Building a Lakeside Container House w/ Rhys & Nicky | Hidden Box House


Oct 21, 2026

Episode Highlights:

  • Rhys and Nicky’s multiple year journey to bring the Hidden Box House to life.

  • Navigating steep hillside topography and working with the right contractors.

  • Short-term rental revenue to offset construction costs.

  • Bryce’s perspective as a designer watching the house’s progress.

  • Managing structural engineering hurdles.

  • The critical importance of on-site walk-throughs.

“We're giving it everything we can and making it really unique in a place we wanna be, which also is going to make it a really cool Airbnb.”


- Nicky Wetzelberger, Hidden Box House Owner

Show Notes:

  • 00:00 - Intro to Ep 89.

  • 01:20 - Intro to Rhys and Nicky’s Hidden Box House!

  • 02:33 - The beautiful private nature site along Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

  • 06:30 - Generating additional revenue with rental properties. 

  • 10:42 - Bryce’s first big design project, and the reward of watching the house come to life.

  • 15:26 - The surreal actualization of the Hidden Box after many years of planning.

  • 18:35 -  Overcoming hardships and challenges along the way.

  • 24:05 - Booking your own stay!

  • 25:08 - Goal for completion.

  • 25:30 - Every design is intentional — designing spaces practically.

  • 26:26 - The planning process for electrical and lighting.

  • 29:37 - Designing a treasured, unique space at your rental.

  • 30:33 - Outro to Ep 89.


Resources:


bottom of page