14 DAY TRIAL // Those who have put “take up more DIY projects” on their list of New Year's resolutions will likely be glad to hear that it is possible to build a house for oneself and not spend more than $500 (roughly €365) on such an initiative.
Those who doubt the truth of these statements need only hear about Nick Olson and Lilah Horwitz's story to be convinced.
Earth 911 reports that this couple's eco-friendly and surprisingly cheap house sits on a piece of private property in West Virginia.
When deciding that they wish to become the proud owners of a brand-new home, most people start contacting architects, designers and contractors.
Nick and Lilah did no such thing. On the contrary, they merely took up the habit of visiting antique shops and estate sales, the same source details.
What's more, they began to pay close attention to discarded items and materials that they chanced to come across, and collected everything that they believed could be used to build a house from scratch.
In just a few months, the couple managed to erect their new home using nothing but their bare hands, and things and materials that people had thought were no longer of any use and had thrown away. The costs for this project amounted to merely $500.
The house, pictured next to this article, has one wall made entirely of old windows. Apparently, the first window that Nick Olson and Lilah Horwitz integrated into their design came from an abandoned barn in Pennsylvania.
It was the discovery of this window that sparked the couple's interest in collecting old items and materials and putting them to better use.
“That kind of started it for us and we collected them on the way,” photographer Nick Olson says. “Each [window] has a bit of a story to it. As an artist, I’ve learned over time that if you have an idea, you can find a way to make it,” he adds.
On the downside, this eco-friendly and surprisingly cheap house has no electricity or running water. Then again, there is no reason why the couple cannot solve these glitches in the years to come.