A quiet guide for those considering life here
If you’re reading this, it likely means you’ve already visited East Hollow, walked the land, and spent time getting a feel for the place. This page exists to answer the next natural question:
What does a “cabin model” actually mean at East Hollow — and what should I expect if I choose one?
This is not a sales page.
It’s an orientation.
What a Cabin “Model” Means Here
At East Hollow, a cabin model is not a floor plan.
It’s not a catalog option, a style choice, or a starting point for endless customization. Instead, a model is a set of intentional limits — boundaries designed to protect the quiet, simplicity, and long-term livability of the community.
Each model answers a few essential questions in advance:
- How much space is enough?
- What systems belong outside the cabin?
- What level of complexity are we intentionally avoiding?
- What kind of daily life does this space support?
The goal isn’t to restrict you.
The goal is to make sure the place you’re stepping into remains the place you visited.
What All East Hollow Models Have in Common
Regardless of size, every East Hollow cabin model is built around the same core ideas:
- Modest interior scale
Cabins are designed to feel sufficient, not expansive. - Externalized systems
Toileting, firewood storage, and power generation are handled outside the cabin through a dedicated Hearth and generator house. - Simple interior layouts
Fewer walls, fewer systems, fewer things to manage. - Durability over novelty
These cabins are built to be lived in quietly for years, not showcased. - Long-term living in mind
Nothing here is designed for short-term stays or high turnover.
These shared choices are what allow East Hollow to stay coherent as a place — not just as a collection of structures.
The Three Models — How They Differ in Real Life
The three East Hollow models differ primarily in how much interior breathing room they offer, not in their underlying philosophy.
The Threshold Model (12×16)
This is the simplest expression of East Hollow living.
The Threshold is best suited for:
- One person
- Someone comfortable living lightly
- A resident who values clarity over flexibility
It supports a daily rhythm that is quiet, focused, and intentional. Many people are surprised by how complete it feels once they settle in.
The Homestead Model (12×20 or 12×24)
The Homestead offers more interior room without adding complexity.
This model is well suited for:
- Long-term solo living with more space
- A couple comfortable with modest living
- Someone who wants more room to breathe without shifting the lifestyle
The experience remains simple, but less compressed.
The Long View Model (14×28 or 16×24)
The Long View is for those who know they are settling in for the long haul.
It provides:
- The most interior flexibility
- More room for daily living to unfold
- A slower build process and higher level of commitment
Even here, simplicity remains central. This is not a step toward conventional housing — it’s a deeper step into intentional living.
What Is Intentionally Not Included
This is important to understand clearly.
East Hollow cabin models do not include:
- Interior bathrooms as a default
- Full residential kitchens as a standard
- Complex mechanical systems
- One-off custom designs
- Short-term rental adaptations
These absences are intentional.
They keep costs down, maintenance low, and daily life more connected to the land and seasons. They also help ensure that everyone living here is choosing the same general way of life — even though each person’s experience will still be their own.
About the Hearth and Generator House
Every East Hollow cabin includes two standard external structures:
- The Hearth
A 4×6 outdoor structure that houses a composting toilet and integrated firewood storage. - The Generator House
A dedicated structure that safely contains power generation equipment.
These are not add-ons or upgrades.
They are part of how life here works.
Keeping these systems outside the cabin preserves interior simplicity, reduces noise and risk, and reinforces a slower, more intentional daily rhythm.
How Customization Actually Works
Customization at East Hollow is limited and thoughtful.
Changes are considered when they:
- Improve long-term livability
- Preserve the character of the model
- Do not introduce additional complexity
- Do not disrupt the surrounding community
Customization is not about expression or novelty.
It’s about fit.
Final decisions about details happen after approval, and always through conversation. Some things remain flexible. Many things do not — and that clarity is what makes East Hollow work.
A Final Word on Fit
East Hollow is not designed to accommodate every preference or lifestyle — and that’s intentional.
If reading this page feels grounding and clarifying, you’re likely a good fit.
If it feels restrictive or frustrating, it may be a sign that another kind of place would serve you better — and that’s okay.
Our goal is not to persuade anyone.
It’s to make sure the people who choose East Hollow feel genuinely at home here.
If you have questions after reading this, we’re glad to talk.
— Richard
Oak Hollow Cabins 