From first sketch to final walk-through, you work one-on-one with your builder

Hide-A-Way Hills · Hocking County

Taos Lake House

An abandoned hillside lot with a 90-foot drop to the water, becoming one of the best homes on the lake.

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Under Construction · Target Completion September 2027

±0.48 AcreLakefront Lot
±90 ftElevation Change
2,920 Sq FtAcross Two Levels
Sept 2027Target Completion

The Property

Twenty Years Waiting for the Right Vision

A fallen tree destroyed the original home and deck, and this half-acre lake lot sat untouched for nearly two decades.

Everyone could see the view. Nobody had figured out how to build on it.

The location was exceptional. The building conditions were not.

The Challenge

How We Made It Buildable

Move the house a few feet here and everything changes: the excavation, the foundation, the drainage, the view. So the site was mapped and engineered before the design was locked in.

90 ftDrop to the lake
15,000Cubic feet of earth cut
3Foundation revisions
  • Clear the pastAn old staircase, platform, dock, and damaged structures removed.
  • Plan around what’s thereAn existing well and septic system worked into the site plan.

The Design

Designed From the Site Up

Custom Leo Homes, Ohio architectural firm Archfluence, and the homeowners shaped the home around three priorities.

1Work With the TerrainSet into the hillside instead of fighting the grade.
2Capture the LakeLiving spaces, windows, and decks all face the water.
3Make It BuildableAccess, excavation, and deliveries planned during design.

Built to Last

Built for Life on the Lake

  • A sealed, insulated shell2×6 walls, blown-in cellulose, and ZIP System sheathing.
  • A low-maintenance exteriorJames Hardie siding with stone at the foundation.
  • A foundation made for the slopeRetaining walls and a drainage membrane tied to the storm drain.
  • Made for the waterCovered decks and a stair walkway to a lake deck and boat house.

The Build

From Abandoned Lot to Lake House

Foundation work is underway, with a target completion of September 2027.

1Plan & DesignSite study, architecture, engineering, and budgets.
2Clear & ExcavateRemoving the old structures and shaping the hillside.
3FoundationRetaining walls, drainage, and the home’s footprint.
4Framing & EnvelopeStructure, roof, windows, and air sealing.
5Interiors & Move-InSystems, finishes, and the final walkthrough.

See the latest photos from the site on Instagram and Facebook.

The Finished Picture

Where All That Planning Leads

A two-level lake house set into the hillside, with covered decks and a path straight down to the water.

Rendering of the finished Taos Lake House from Hide-A-Way Hills Lake
From the lake
Rendering of the finished Taos Lake House from the driveway
From the drive

Latest From the Build

Updates & Guides

New progress updates from the Taos Lake House land here first, along with our latest guides to planning a custom home in Central Ohio.

See more of the build on Instagram and Facebook.

Have a Tricky Lot?

Thinking About Building on a Lake or Hillside Lot?

These are the questions people ask us most, answered with what we’ve learned on Taos Lane.

Is a steep lakefront lot actually buildable?
Usually, yes, with the right plan. The Taos Lake House lot in Hide-A-Way Hills drops about 90 feet to the lake. Custom Leo Homes and architect Archfluence studied the elevation, soil, drainage, utilities, and equipment access first, then set a two-level home into the hillside instead of fighting the grade.
Why does a hillside lot cost more to build on?
Because more of the work happens below ground. Steep lots usually need more excavation, retaining foundation walls, careful drainage, and extra planning for getting crews and materials to the site. On Taos Lane, roughly 15,000 cubic feet of earth is being cut from the house area alone. We plan those costs during design so they’re in the budget from day one.
Should I tear down the old house or build around it?
It depends on what’s there. On Taos Lane, a fallen tree had wrecked the original home and deck and the lot sat for nearly 20 years, so clearing the remaining structures, an old staircase, and a platform came first. We’ll walk your property and give you an honest recommendation.
How do you keep a lake house from getting damp?
It starts with the walls and foundation. This home uses 2×6 walls filled with blown-in cellulose, ZIP System sheathing sealed at every opening, James Hardie siding, R-49 attic insulation, and a DELTA-MS drainage membrane on the foundation tied into the storm drain. More on our high-performance homes.
Can you build on a lot I already own?
Yes. We build custom homes on our clients’ own land across Central Ohio, including lake, hillside, and wooded lots. Learn more about building on your lot.

Lake Lots · Hillsides · Tricky Terrain

Have a Lot
Others Passed On?

Tell us about your property and we’ll give you an honest take on what it will take to build there.

Talk About Your Lot →Next project: The Orient Family Compound →