Natalie and Jordan Holland wanted to build a home for their four children without falling into debt.
So the South Carolina couple bought a $68,000 shed and turned it into their dream home.
Living in Houston, Texas, they had longed for more space where their boys could play outside.
The couple purchased a 16-by-48-foot shed and a parcel of land in South Carolina.
‘We found out that you can live in a smaller home that’s beautiful and full of things you love without going into debt,’ Natalie, a wedding hair stylist and food photographer, told Realtor.com.
To save money, they moved into the shed while continuing construction. One key reason they chose a shed as their foundation was its portability.
‘We opted for the shed because it can be moved,’ Natalie told Realtor.com. ‘As long as you don’t go bigger than 16 feet wide, it can be relocated.’
The shed came with four walls, built-in windows and doors, a sturdy roof, and flooring. Inside, two lofts sat above the kitchen and living room.
Natalie Holland wanted to build a home for her four children without spiralling into debt
The Hollands handled the interior layout themselves, installing walls, plumbing, and electricity — despite having no prior construction or design experience. Determined to save money, they did much of the work themselves.
The Hollands had to work out where the interior walls should go and add the plumbing and electricity.
One of their first changes was removing the loft above the kitchen, raising the ceiling to its maximum height of 11.5 feet.
‘It makes the area feel so much bigger and brighter,’ Natalie said.
They also built a staircase leading to the lofted bedroom where their two eldest boys sleep.
First, they decided to eliminate the loft over the kitchen raising the shed’s ceiling to its maximum height of 11.5 feet.
‘They sit on the floor and build with Legos, and since I’m not up there a lot, they get to leave them out,’ she said of the boys’ bedroom.
The two younger boys share a room with their parents, which fits a crib, a king-size bed, a dresser, and a closet.
The family moved from Houston, Texas to South Carolina where they could get more space
The couple raised the ceiling over the the kitchen to its maximum height of 11.5 feet
The living room has cupboards built in to the wall, a hanging chandelier light and a dining table
The couple share the bedroom with their two younger sons
The Hollands built a staircase up to the elder boys bedroom
The bathroom – next to the bedroom – has a toilet, shower and bath combo as well as a double vanity dresser.
But it’s the kitchen that Natalie considers her greatest achievement.
‘We love how large the space is. In other homes of this size, the kitchen is kind of an afterthought,’ she said.
‘But we knew that everything revolves around the kitchen, so we knew we needed to prioritize it.’
The living room features built-in cupboards, a chandelier, and a large dining table.
‘Living in a home you love is the American dream,’ Natalie said of the project.
‘It may not be as difficult or expensive as people think.’
Meanwhile, South Carolina-based YouTube star Chay Denne, 24, converted a 40ft school bus into a livable space for himself and his partner.
The total cost was $57,000, which included $7,000 on the retired vehicle and the rest on the refit.
Amazon is a popular place to buy so-called tiny homes – and they are often less than the price of a used car.
In October, it was selling a two-bedroom mobile home – with an open-plan living room and kitchen, and bathroom including a toilet and shower – for $19,000. It was also equipped with plumbing and electricity, as well as a water heater.
