‘We Built Our Dream Home for Just $68,000—by Transforming a 770-Square-Foot Shed Into a Stunning Tiny House’

A mother of four who set out on a journey to create a comfortable and loving home for her family of six—without spiraling into significant debt—has revealed the unique solution she and her husband devised for their housing conundrum: moving into a shed.

Less than a year ago, Natalie and Jordan Holland were living in Houston with their four sons, aged 1 to 11, when they began searching for a home that would provide their family with more space—and more simplicity, away from busy city life.

The couple began searching for a location where their boys could have room to run around and play, and where they could see themselves living for years to come. That is how they came across a parcel of land in South Carolina.

They knew that they wanted to build a home that would provide them with a long-term base—and they weren’t interested in renting a space while saving up funds for a newly built property.

Reluctant to amass debt to make that dream a reality, they began thinking outside the box. They came up with a unique alternative to a traditional home: transforming a simple shed into a 768-square-foot house, a dream that they were able to realize in just three months.

“We found out that you can live in a smaller home that’s beautiful and full of things you love without going into debt,” Natalie tells Realtor.com®.

The couple ordered a customized 16-by-48-foot, pre-fab shed, which was delivered straight to their property. It would serve as the focal point for their family home.

Their plan was to live in the shed for however long it took for them to save up enough money to build a bigger home.

They chose a shed as the foundation for their property because it can be easily transported if and when they decide to move, Natalie explains.

It could also bring in income if they decide to rent it out as a short-term vacation property.

“We opted for the shed because it can be moved,” Natalie says. “As long as you don’t go bigger than 16 feet wide, it can be relocated.

“It can go to another family when our other home is ready, or we can rent it out as an Airbnb. Either way, we come out ahead.”

At the time, Natalie was working as a stylist for weddings and food and product photo shoots. She had no professional interior design experience.

Jordan had a day job in customer merchant processing, but he also had some handy skills that he learned from his mother.

Despite having no professional construction experience, Natalie and Jordan were determined to do as much of the work themselves to save on costs.

Her husband watched YouTube videos to learn the skills he needed to transform their property, the mother of four explains.

While they waited for the shed to arrive, they cleared a pad and built a raised foundation supported by blocks. They added a deck for the front of the house.

The unit that was delivered consisted of four walls with windows and doors built in, plus a sturdy roof, two lofts, and a floor. It was up to the Hollands to figure out where the interior walls would be added, as well as the plumbing and electricity.

The Hollands were able to come up with an ingenious floor plan that made use of every last inch of the 768 square feet of space.

The shed was delivered with two lofts, one over the kitchen and the other over the bedroom. The Hollands eliminated the loft over the kitchen and living room, opting to raise the ceiling to its full height of 11.5 feet.

“It makes the area feel so much bigger and brighter,” explains Natalie. The extra clerestory windows they added brought in lots of light.

They built a staircase to the loft above the home’s single bedroom—that’s where the older boys sleep now. Natalie says the boys are thrilled with the space, which they consider their private fort.

“They sit on the floor and build with Legos, and since I’m not up there a lot, they get to leave them out.”

The younger ones sleep in the parents’ bedroom, which has space for a crib, king-size bed, dresser, and closet. The adjacent bathroom has a double vanity, toilet, and shower/tub combo.

But the kitchen is Natalie’s pride and joy.

“We love how large the space is. In other homes of this size, the kitchen is kind of an afterthought. But we knew that everything revolves around the kitchen, so we knew we needed to prioritize it,” she says.

In images and videos, the kitchen appears spacious and luxurious, filled with natural light and all of the amenities that one might want in a cooking space.

It has a dining island, prep space, full-sized appliances, a farmhouse sink, and even a pantry.

The dining nook, which accommodates the whole family, features a built-in bench with storage space. It’s also where Natalie homeschools the kids.

Other creative storage spaces in the home include the staircase, under which is a nook for the washer and dryer.

The living room has a built-in wall unit, with kitchen uppers installed as lower cupboards, where school supplies, toys, and books are kept.

There’s even an entry closet right when you walk in the front door.

“This is such a nice extra space,” says Natalie. “We keep our printer, our router, jackets, hats, and extra things in the dresser. It’s an invaluable drop zone.”

The Hollands shared their housing adventure on social media—and attracted a growing audience of fans. Their YouTube videos went viral, and podcasters invited Natalie to share her story.

Young couples just starting out, seniors who are downsizing, and those whose homes have been ravaged by hurricanes or fires are among the people making their way to Natalie’s social media pages and website. They want to know how they can achieve their own little American dream, even in these seemingly impossible times.

“My husband has a helping heart,” says Natalie. “He’s been assisting people in the area figure out how to build their own charming, cost-effective homes.”

After being overwhelmed with requests to share their floor plan, the couple decided to upload the specifics to Natalie’s website, JadeMagnolia.com.

They also offer whatever zoning and permitting advice they can, with Natalie stressing that they differ in every county across America. In some areas that have been hit hard by natural disasters, some zoning restrictions have been lifted, making it easier to rebuild quickly.

“Living in a home you love is the American dream,” says Natalie. “It may not be as difficult or expensive as people think.”