By Mark McConville
MEET the couple who spent just £10K building their own tiny house complete with a full-feature pizza oven.
Artist Robert (57) and interior designer Rebekah (53) Sofia, from Ocala, Florida, USA, took 20 months to complete the stunning structure after working on it for two days every week.
The slow build helped to ensure no detail was missed as incredible images show the couple sitting on their bed atop a wooden staircase and below a bright white ceiling with strong wooden beams running across it.
The pair explained how they wanted to simplify their lives and this was the perfect project as they both love to design and create.
“We have four grown children and we have been married 38 years,” said Rebekah.
“We wanted to cut out the nonessentials and devote more time to what’s really important.
“Our plan is to continue living simply be able to have more time for volunteer work and to travel as well as time to enjoy our kids.
“It’s wonderful living in a tiny house you have much less to worry about much less to clean and fewer bills it takes a little bit of planning but it’s wonderful.”
Dubbed The Gypsy Mermaid, this home is constructed largely from recycled materials and when talking about the tiny house’s design, Rebekah often uses the word hygge, a Danish concept referring to the feeling of a space as being cosy, comfortable and special.
Despite the beauty, the design of this home is also remarkably practical, with plenty of storage space which has been wonderfully hidden away.
“The main problem with the build was just continuing to have the energy we only worked on it two days a week and we worked secularly as well, so we just had to not lose patience and just continue on,” added Rebekah.
“For our daily routine I will usually get up I make breakfast and then we either do volunteer work or work secularly. I always pack his lunch and we do dinner at home together.
“We rarely go out to eat, but we do like to spend a lot of time with our friends and we have them over and we like to travel.
“What we love the most is the freedom from a mortgage and the freedom to devote time to what’s most important and it helps that we don’t have to do a lot of cleaning and upkeep.”
Rebekah also does design work for clients, including those who may want to design and build their own tiny house.
“If someone else wants to do this I say go for it,” she said.
“It’s awesome. Don’t be afraid, you’ll love it and you’ll never look back. What you see in the images is what I feel is most important in design and that is the reflection of what you love around you.
“I feel like it’s very important and this is what I try to help my clients to achieve as well. A home needs to enliven you and make you feel warm and loved.
“Of course, the home needs to be well designed as well and practical for all of your needs.”
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