about

I grew up on a farm in central Texas, homeschooled alongside nine siblings in a traditional faith-rooted community.

Best childhood ever.

It was my Grandma Jan who first sparked my love for art with her weekly kitchen table art classes. And I’ve been dreaming up businesses for as long as I can remember: from home-brew soda to antique typewriter repair, and plenty in between.

At 24, with $20k of savings and a whole lot of help, I turned a 5-acre patch of swampy land into a modern village of lakeside cabins. Just ten months after breaking ground, Live Oak Lake​ welcomed its first guests.

But two weeks later, disaster struck.

Airbnb suspended our account. No warning, no explanation.

With a large loan payment looming and no income, I prayed. And tried to think outside the box.

I found a local influencer who was willing to share our property with her audience. Then I spun up a website with a calendar and payment link, and an Instagram account, and within days, we had $40,000 in bookings and thousands of followers.

A lifeline. And a goldmine.

We went all-in on telling our own story and creating content to showcase our little world to the world.

Within a year, we built an audience of over 100,000 and drove more than 80% of bookings directly—keeping the place nearly full, year-round.

People came for the design, the peace, the place. And they came back. Again and again.

The world is hungry for authentic experiences. For spaces with soul, that tell a story. And here’s the truth: anyone with a dream and some good old-fashioned work can create these kind of places.

That’s what I’m here for, why I share my story. Not just to help you build beautiful businesses, but to inspire a way of life.

Beauty matters, and we can all make a better world.

It starts by focusing on the little things. A backyard. A street corner. A bedroom closet. Make it a little better, and those ripples can change the world.

Today, Helen and I live on the same farm where I grew up. We’re striving to raise our boys, Lucas & Ezra, the same way we were raised. Rooted in faith, with a deep love for nature, and for building stuff that matters.

If you want to follow along — or start your own journey — join the newsletter.

Thanks for stopping by.

—Isaac