Tiny houses, although not a new concept, gained significant momentum around 2000.
This surge in popularity can be attributed to a pivotal moment when Jay Shafer’s tiny house was featured in the Des Moines Register.
Shafer, often called the „godfather“ of modern tiny houses, sparked a national trend of moving into these picturesque and compact dwellings.
Gary Johnson, co-founder of the Tiny House movement, reflects: „The article was the beginning of what we call the modern Tiny House movement – something that looked like a small version of traditional houses.
He lived in what seemed like a cute garden cottage.“
Now, fast forward to September 2020, and we meet Katy and Michael Zientek, a young couple who decided to embrace this minimalist lifestyle.
They inherited a lavish property in Fayetteville, Texas, from Michael’s grandparents.
This property included a large house and an old 280-square-meter shed built in the ’80s.
After renting a house for seven years, the couple was thrilled at the prospect of finally owning their own home.
However, the main house on their new property needed renovations, requiring Katy and Michael to find a temporary housing solution.
Coincidentally, Katy had always been fascinated by tiny house living, a dream she shared with Michael during their rental period.
It’s hard to believe that this dream came true much sooner than expected.
The solution to their housing problem was just fifty meters from the main house, in the old shed.
This 280-square-meter space had to be transformed into Katy’s much-desired Tiny House.
Michael, although experienced in construction, faced a new challenge since this was his first project to build a fully habitable structure.
The couple was deeply involved in the construction process, completing 90% of the work themselves.
They still called in experts to help with the interior walls.
Creativity was the key to their project, reusing materials from a barn on their property for the ceiling and giving their Tiny House a personal touch.
In this compact space, they managed to create a multifunctional studio home.
It featured a small but complete kitchen, a living area that also served as a dining room and bedroom for their seven-year-old daughter, Carolina.
Their bedroom was cozy and had space for a double bed for them and their two-year-old daughter, Harper, along with a spacious dresser and a bathroom that also functioned as a closet.
An essential feature of many tiny houses, a porch, was also added by Michael.
This outdoor space provided a perfect spot for the family to enjoy pleasant spring and summer days.
The entire transformation took nine months and cost $16,000.
Once they moved into the renovated main house, the Zienteks plan to keep their charming Tiny House and offer it as a vacation home.
This transition from renters to homeowners and eventually landlords is a remarkable journey in the real estate sector.
For those curious to see how this 40-year-old shed was transformed into a cozy home for four, there’s a video showcasing the entire process.
It’s a testament to the inventiveness and determination of a family joining the Tiny House movement.
Watch the entire process in the video here!
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