Living life on the move! Meet the couple who quit their jobs to travel across the US in a $30,000 wooden house on wheels
A couple from the US have quit their jobs to go travelling around North America in their very own house on wheels. Jenna Spesard, 28, and Guillaume Dutilh, 30, decided to ditch the daily grind to build their mobile house so they could take in all the sights the US and Canada have to offer. The couple, who previously lived in Los Angeles, spent around $30,000 (approximately £20,000) kitting out their 20-ft long house - which boasts a double bedroom, living area and a small bathroom. Scroll down for video
+9 Jenna Spesard and Guillaume Dutilh get to take in spectacular sights like this of New Brunswick in Canada after quitting their jobs
It may be limited in amenities, but the kitchen area (left) is sufficient, while the stairs in the house (right) are unconventional, yet artistic Couple travel across the US in a wooden house on wheels Jenna, previously an executive assistant, and Guillaume, a former industrial engineer, have racked up more than 12,000 miles in the tiny house and are hoping to raise more funds through writing and photography to keep them on the move. Guillaume said: 'Living in the tiny house is liberating - the whole experience is so unique and life changing. 'I never thought we could quit our jobs to pursue travel journalism, yet we made it happen and it seems to work. 'It's partially thanks to the tiny house but not only that, it also changed our life for the better.'
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+9 Despite having no building experience the couple completed the project and showed it off in places such as New York City (right)
+9 Guillaume Dutilh and Jenna Spesard, pictured with their dog Salies, decided to ditch the daily grind and build their mobile house Guillaume added: 'We use less water, less electricity, less propane and we own fewer clothes. 'We eat healthier, we go outside more often, we stay in more often - our carbon footprint is half of the one from the average American couple. 'We offset it even more by opening our house to thousands of visitors and promoting minimal living online and through workshops.' He said the tiny house has changed their lives in many ways and they believe they are better off living life on the move. The couple initially hoped to build the mini house in three months but ended up taking a whole year. Despite the delay, the pair are thrilled with their creation and feel it has completely changed their lives.
+9 The framing and sheathing process for the house took longer than the three months the couple originally scheduled it for Guillaume said: 'We felt both excited when we started the project. 'I tend to make a decision without thinking too much about the consequences, which is both good and bad, so I never felt stressed about our decision. 'We had put a lot of thought into the project and figured it had good chances at being successful. 'The build process was a steep learning curve - I thought it would take us three or four months to complete but in the end it took a year of work. 'Looking back at it though, we feel it's still a pretty good achievement for two people with no build experience. Despite the delay on the construction of the house, the pair are thrilled with their creation and feel it has completely changed their lives 'Getting the house on the road for the first time was a little nerve-wracking. 'We knew it was built solidly, but still, we built it and we knew nothing when we started. 'But any doubts disappeared very quickly as we started accumulating the miles. 'Now we are six months into our trip and have covered over 12,000 miles.'
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Tired of the high cost of rent and determined to live mortgage-free, web designer Alek Lisefski turned his attention away from cyber space to build his very own solution. The 31-year-old has constructed a trailer home at an upfront cost of just $30,000 but with it measuring just 8ft by 20ft, he has needed all his creative abilities to maximise the limited space. Aptly naming it The Tiny Project, Alek set about building the home in Iowa before towing it all the way to Sebastopol in California, where he now lives with his girlfriend Anjali Krystofiak and their dog Anya. Scroll Down for Video
+19 Small, but mighty: Web designer Alek Lisefski has built his very own trailer home that measures 8ft by 20ft for just $30,000... and now doesn't have a mortgage
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+19 On the move: Alek Lisefski with girlfriend Anjali Krystofiak and their dog Anya (left) outside their home which he constructed on a flatbed trailer to avoid building rules
+19 Resourceful: Alek said he used a trailer to avoid maximum square footage requirements that most municipalities have in place for permanent structures
+19 Enjoying the great outdoors: With no rent or mortgage to pay, Alek says he will be able to prioritise his funds on health, leisure and travel 'I think tiny houses are one way in which the next generation will be able to overcome our country's current economic disparity and ever-rising housing and land costs,' Alek said. Finance is another critical aspect of home-owning and without having to pay rent Alek will be able to prioritise his funds on health, leisure and travel. 'I'll be forced to spend more time outdoors, in nature and engaging with my community. 'But I also couldn't possibly spend $100 a month to heat the place, like I do with my apartment now. He explained that although tiny houses can be built on a foundation, most people choose to build on a flatbed trailer to make the house mobile and to avoid maximum square footage requirements that most municipalities have in place for permanent structures. Alek is not alone is his idea - smaller sustainable housing is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States and around the world as a means of affordable living.
+19 Compact: Alek's design background is evident and due to its tiny size he had to be incredibly resourceful with materials throughout the house
+19 Tiny and tidy: Alek believes living in such a small space will force him to live in a simpler and more organised way
+19 Creative: The house is sustainable with all the necessary features and appliances you'd find in a standard home
+19 Proud: Alek named his idea the Tiny Project, an innovative design allowing him to live a simpler and debt-free life because he was able to fund all the costs upfront
+19 Growing trend: Smaller sustainable housing is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States and around the world as a means of affordable living
+19 Labour of love: The house took Alek seven months to build and he worked most evenings and weekends entirely by himself 'Building on a trailer means the house is considered more like an RV and does not need to adhere to the same permits, codes, and rules associated with building a normal home,' added Alek. 'I hope this little house can inspire others to choose a similar way of living.' He has moved into his new home permanently with his 25-year-old Anjali and their pet dog. 'I live with my beautiful girlfriend, Anjali, and our angel of a dog, Anya. Go ahead and say it: that's a lot of "A" names.' The house is furnished with sustainable blue-stain beetle-kill ponderosa pine throughout the ceiling, walls and loft floor.
+19 Age of austerity: Alek estimates that he spent $30,000 on the house including all of the tools, materials, stainless appliances and furnishings
+19 Space-saving: He utilised every opportunity for storage, building shelves and fold-away cupboards above windows and doors
+19 Alek used high-end stainless appliances including a marine-style propane range, propane on-demand hot water heater and compact combo washer and dryer unit
+19 A birds-eye view of the bathroom: Alek says he has a passion for the visual arts, the great outdoors, architecture and all things natural and beautiful The Tiny Project is a sleek, efficiently designed, sustainable house on wheels with all the necessary features and appliances of a normal house. The house took Alek seven months to build and he worked most evenings and weekends entirely by himself. 'I had more help towards the end with interior finish work, in order to speed things up to get it done before winter. The total process, including all of the research, planning and design took about a year, he added. The house has a passive solar design with 10 windows and a glass front door to ensure that optimum light can shine through. 'I'm a web designer by trade and have a passion for the visual arts, the great outdoors, architecture and all things natural and beautiful.'
+19 Charming: The house is furnished with sustainable blue-stain beetle-kill ponderosa pine throughout the ceiling, walls and loft floor
+19 Smart: Alek said he had help towards the end of the project with interior finish work in order to speed things up to get it done before winter
+19 Home comforts: Once the house is parked in permanent location, he plans to add solar panels and water collection to make is as self-sustaining as possible Without the added costs of labour, Alek estimates that he spent $30,000 on the house including all of the tools, building materials, finishing materials, nice stainless appliances and furnishings. Alek's design background is evident and due to its tiny size he had to be incredibly resourceful with materials. He explained: 'All it needs to operate is an extension cord and water hose from the main house on the property where it's parked.' Once the house is parked in permanent location, he plans to add solar panels and water collection to make is as self-sustaining as possible.
+19 Alek said: 'All the home needs to operate is an extension cord and water hose from the main house on the property where it's parked' Alek's main priority was to build a tiny and practical house. He believes living in such a small space will force him to live in a simpler and more organised way. He utilised every opportunity for storage, building shelves and fold-away cupboards above windows and doors. To maximise space, Alek used high-end stainless appliances including a two-burner marine-style propane range, propane on-demand hot water heater and compact combo washer and dryer unit.
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1 comment:
This is really interesting. Thanks for sharing.
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