Living off great never seemed so wonderful before. I know most people would never pick this lifestyle, but some wouldn’t wish it any different. Stephanie and Joel started their journey a decade and a half ago all they had was a blank space.
It took them all these years to come where they are today: in their own, off-grid, fully sustainable home.
Sustainability is something we all strive for, but rarely some of us succeed at it. We can all learn from this couple who exchanged their modern life for an unpredictable, yet wonderful off-grid fairytale.
Upcycling A New Home
The cabin is full of lovely, rustic details, things that once served as something completely different. A store-bought fence around the deck would never be this pretty!
The Place Where We Have Fun
This sunlit haven feels like a blend of an artist’s studio and a cozy game retreat, complete with a barrel-turned-chess table and a retro orange chair that screams, “Sit here and ponder life.”
The patchwork floor tiles add a touch of whimsy, as if they’re daring you to play hopscotch while you sip on iced tea. Outside, a rustic barn and parked trucks add to the charm, grounding the room in its idyllic countryside surroundings.
It’s the kind of space where inspiration and relaxation collide—perfect for a checkmate or a masterpiece.
As Natural As It Gets
Inside the cabin, the couple managed to create lots of space to move around and store things. They have two bedrooms, lots of family areas, a full kitchen, and even a bathroom inside!
Wood is omnipresent, in every corner, on every wall, under every step.
Raw!
It’s raw. It’s old-fashioned. It’s country chic and I love it!
Oh, That’s Cool!
There are a lot of smart solutions throughout the house. Such as the clothesline hanging under the ceiling to save space and dry clothes when it’s freezing outside.
I believe this is a terrific idea to use all that extra space that you can’t use for anything else.
They Have… Electricity?
The first thing I saw in this corner of the house wasn’t the beautiful kitchen island with shelves. It wasn’t the dresser with shelves above it either. It was a computer. I know, pretty unusual for me since I’m always such a sucker for details (professional deformation, right?).
But, do you know why was I stunned by a computer in the corner? It means they have electricity too!
After installing solar panels (5 of them), along with four lithium batteries and a generator, the family no longer relies on sunlight and fire burning stoves. They have the ability to use the good ol’ Tesla’s invention anytime they need, and that really makes things easier around the house.
Living Sustainably Like No One Else
Another smart solution that helps to keep the house an oasis of sustainability is the toilet, divided from the rest of the house by a glass bottle wall. How neat!
For starters, all the water in the house comes from the nearby pond. The couple installed a water pump and they have running water inside the house. Then, we have their compost toilet. I know, with running water, a normal toilet is possible, but they decided to keep it more… natural.
And, as for the drinking water, it comes from the well on their land. I have to say, Stephanie and Joel were truly blessed to have such a rewarding land. All their hard work finally pays off.
Spaces With Soul
It’s a real blessing having a home that you built with your own hands, having a safe place for your kids where they can grow up safely, and eat fresh produce. Stephanie and Joel’s cabin teaches us all true values.
Take their kid’s room for example. I see no sad beige, no generic decorations, no trends that have become suffocating. I see expression, clutter, colors, and coziness. Although I love seeing beautiful spaces, there’s something I love even more: seeing spaces that have a soul.
Next time you hear someone say that only neatly decorated houses are pretty, you show them this cabin and shut their mouth. Beauty comes in all forms, and this one right here is pure, raw beauty.