A visit to Salt Spring Island and the Keva Tiny House, inhabited by Rebecca, is a must for any fan of small dwellings. Rebecca lives in a little house that she planned and helped build on a picturesque island in Canada’s Pacific Northwest. Located in British Columbia, Canada, between the coast of Vancouver and Vancouver Island, lies a little island known as Salt Spring. It’s no surprise that the small house movement is gaining traction there, given the region’s moderate climate and naturally off-grid vibe. The events in Rebecca’s life serve as an example to us all. Her motivation behind constructing this micro-home was threefold: to test the limits of her artistic abilities, to experience a new way of life, and to see what kind of independence she could attain. Her mission was to challenge the status quo and the accepted norm.
As with all of her endeavors, she dove headfirst into the construction of her little house without giving it much thought or setting herself any particular goals. She was simply interested in finding out how things worked. Even though the tiny house is complete, she is still learning and adapting to it. She loves her new little cottage on Salt Spring since it allows her to explore the forest and paddle the waters on a daily basis.
The desire to downsize and save money is a major driving force behind the micro-home trend. Because of the high costs associated with the construction, purchase, and upkeep of larger homes, more individuals are opting for smaller dwellings. Consider the overall cost of a larger home, including the purchase price, monthly mortgage payments, interest, annual property taxes, monthly utility bills (including electric, gas, and water), and any necessary repairs or upkeep. Also, keep in mind the maintenance involved with keeping a space of size clean. Time and resources are being wasted. So what if you scaled back? Isn’t it interesting to consider the possibility of living in a tiny house, either one you constructed yourself or one that you purchased, or even better, one that is also mobile? Most individuals can afford to buy tiny houses outright, and those who do typically pay off their mortgages quickly.
The expense of building a tiny house can be kept to a minimum by creative reuse of existing materials and an active search for bargains. You may set up your tiny house wherever you like if it’s mobile, whether you buy land somewhere or stay with a friend or relative who does. Rebecca accomplished this, and now she pays around $200 CAD in rent plus utilities each month to use their hot water and electricity. Going tiny might mean a lot of various things depending on whether or not you intend to live completely off the grid or merely become less dependent on conventional resources. Avoiding costly repairs and time-consuming upkeep is a major perk of renting. You’ll be able to spend less time working and more time doing the things you enjoy.
Rather than use commercial lumber, which would have been cheaper, Rebecca sourced materials from a nearby tree nursery to construct her little home. The final cost of her tiny house was around $50,000 Canadian, which is higher than the average cost of a tiny house these days, but her goal was not to cut corners on sustainability or to assist small businesses on Salt Spring Island. You can observe how the builders’ methods vary as much as the houses themselves. Rebecca’s Keva Tiny House is featured in an inspirational tale and photo gallery on her personal website.
