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A SOLO woman has shown off her DIY tiny home build that began with just $3,000.
The bathroom is outside, but what the house lacks in creature comforts, it makes up in storage space.
Sophie started her tiny home project with just $2,000Credit: Youtube/livingbigDespite measuring just 160 square feet, it has plenty of storageCredit: Youtube/livingbig
Sophie is a weaver who decided to build her own tiny house in her hometown of Bryon Bay, New South Wales, Australia.
Her initial interest in tiny homes came about due to the lack of affordable housing options in her area.
“Prices for rent and to purchase land and a house were becoming out of reach,” she said in a tour of her home for the YouTube channel, Living Big in a Tiny House.
Sophie’s tiny house journey began with hand-drawn blueprints and an initial fund of $3,000 (AUD), equivalent to $2,000 (USD).
To keep costs low, she learned woodwork herself and recruited friends and family to help with the build.
But the project took a lot longer and lot more money than she initially anticipated.
“I thought it would all be done in a year, but the reality was, I was saving and working on it as the money came in.”
What is a tiny home?
Technically, a tiny home is any house measuring under 400 square feet.
Many tiny homes are built on trailers so they can be towed anywhere, and some are converted from old school buses or vans.
Each state has its own rules about tiny homes, but, generally, they are not subject to the same taxes as regular homes.
However, Alaska, Iowa, Louisiana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, and West Virginia have made tiny homes illegal as permanent dwellings.
Sophie spent a total of $80,000 (AUD) on her tiny home by the time it was complete, but has now been living there for over three years.
UNIQUE SPACE
Measuring just 160 square feet, the interior is full of quirky features like windows from Gumtree, recycled materials, and homemade pillows and throws.
Her bedroom is in the loft, accessed by a ladder that Sophie’s mom found on the side of the road.
Living in One of the World’s Smallest Apartments
Sophie’s home is fully off-grid, but she is still able to power a full-sized oven and stovetop in the kitchen.
“It was important for me to live with nature and to have the sun provide power for my house,” she said.
Despite its small size, the home is full of storage including hidden soft-close cabinets, drawers under the stairs, and custom-made shelves.
Outdoors, there is a spacious deck with a vegetable garden, and her outdoor bathroom.
Where to buy a tiny home
THE tiny home phenomenon found new heights as an alternative living solution for consumers concerned with ballooning homebuying costs and sustainability concerns.
*If you click on a link in this boxout, we may earn affiliate revenue.
You can buy ‘tiny homes’ online in a few places, including:
You can also check out our full tiny home guides here:
Sophie’s bathroom is outsideCredit: Youtube/livingbig
“Initially I had wanted to have a bathroom inside,” she said.
“However, once I started building, I realized I didn’t want to be cramped into such a small space.”
Fortunately, the subtropical climate of Byron Bay makes a relaxing environment for Sophie to enjoy an outdoor bath or shower.
Although the lack of creature comforts might not be for everyone, Sophie has no intentions of leaving her tiny home or moving to an indoor bathroom.
See how one couple converted a bus into a luxury beach house for $35,000.
And check out the new tiny home community where rent is free for those who meet the eligibility criteria.
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This article was originally published by a www.the-sun.com . Read the Original article here. .