What are most people doing after a divorce? Cry a lot—and look for a way to move on with our lives and begin rebuilding. In the case of one inspiring lady named Michelle de la Vega, it meant literally building a new home—out of an old garage.
Michelle had received a settlement from her divorce. This gave her cash to spend. She bought a house for $288,000 that included a garage.
She knew that she needed to do something in order to be financially stable, so she made an unexpected choice. She decided not to live in the house. She would rent it out. Instead, she would rent it out.
Michelle decided to renovate her garage so it could function as a tiny house. It would be a place where she would feel at home.
She was unable and unwilling to spend the time and expertise necessary to convert the garage. Instead, she contracted the work. The project took nine months to complete.
The functional kitchen is now included in the house, along with the wood-burning fireplace shown in the last picture.
While counter space is not very well-developed, it does have a charming charm that is undeniable.
Many of the materials in the home were salvaged to help keep costs down.
To add a loft to the garage, the framing needed to be raised four feet. This makes the interior larger and opens up the space. It also gives you a place to sleep.
A set of lockers can be used for storage. This is a great idea. It’s amazing that I haven’t seen this elsewhere in tiny house design.
The loft is small but beautifully framed with beautiful wood. There is lots of light coming through the windows.
The bathroom features a large tub, framed by beautiful tiles.
The sink is modernized.
This view shows how you can connect the bathroom to the main living space.
It looks lovely! The entire project cost just $32,000. Michelle is renting the large main home, so it is easy for her to see that it could pay off in just a few short years. Learn more about the project on the New York Times, and visit Michelle de la Vega at her website.
