Meet ‘n’ Greet #6 – People in Tiny Houses in Europe

It’s tiny for an exceptionally beautiful Tiny house in Romania. Time to get excited!

Next up in the Meet ‘n’ Greet series, which features interviews and stories from people living in Tiny Houses in Europe is:

Gabriela, who built her own Tiny House in Romania to feel more free and is now loving the reduced monthly expenses. 

Click here for more information on Tiny Houses in Europe

Where are you from and which country was the Tiny House built?

The TH was built in Romania, in a TH atelier in Transylvania.

What inspired you to build a Tiny House?

I wanted a home. A place I could come and go as I please and as I love nature and living outside, I knew a flat was not an option for me.

When I decided to build a tiny house, I didn’t have any land, nor prospects of one. But I knew the house has wheels and can move where I choose to go and stay and that things would turn out somehow.

So I built the house, moved in in august 2017 and asked friends if they knew a spot of land where I could park it for a couple of months. I received many offers. Somewhere very far away from where I wanted to settle, so I took one that was closer to my dream place.

In a village in Transylvania, where the clock ticks slower.

What kind of building experience did you have before your Tiny Build started? How did you design/order your Tiny House??

I had no previous experience. I am a photographer. Just a big dream and all I did was to read all that I could find on the subject. Books, articles, youtube videos, Pinterest images.

I have designed my tiny house with a pen and paper at first, then Sketchup. I had about 15 models I came up with and the hard part was deciding which one. Every single model was a combo of all of the Tiny Houses I have liked in the past.

So one morning, I had to pick one and I did. The entire build took 3 weeks. After that, I could move in and arrange the house from the inside.

What challenges did you run into?

First of all, being on the construction site and seeing the house grow under my feet, made me realize, the project looked different on paper than in reality. A bit different.

I stepped inside the house when the frame of the walls was mounted and I could feel the space. So I decided to change small things, like moving a wall, to offer me better comfort.

Another challenge was making the building team understand and have the vision of a tiny house which needs to move and be flexible. It is not just another wooden hut. Or fitting the kitchenware perfectly into the spaces they were designed for.

Building the off-grid system with a plumber that has never done that before and answering all his questions, I did know the answer for. Building the technical box, outside the house and insulating it for winter and protect it against the frost.

Keeping the TH under the 3.5 tons which is the maximum weight. There was stress connected to the weight during the build because, back then, all the calculations were estimations, not an exact science.

What was the total cost of building your Tiny Home?

I stopped calculating after 15.000. euro. So it is around that price, without floor heating, appliances.

Did you hit the price you were budgeting for?

No. I was 8000 euro above.

What are your monthly living costs in the Tiny House?

Much less than before. I pay 35 euros, per month, for electricity in winter, considering that all my house is heated electrically. The water costs are also smaller as I live in the countryside.

I do not buy veggies from anywhere, as I cultivate them myself. I also do not need to visit the grocery store in the city very often, as I buy almost all my food supplies from the locals. 

Expenses you are surprised about now living in the tiny house. 

None. The life in the TH is low cost. It keeps me warm in winter and cool in summer and is so low cost, as I have ever before lived. 

How have your living costs changed compared to before?

I used to pay monthly rent, plus costs for heating an apartment I came at 19.00 to, just to shower, eat and sleep in. I had neighbours which not always smiled when they saw me with my dog.

I had to live in a block with multiple flats, where there is no connection with nature, sunsets and sunrises, moonshine or clear skies. I felt drained.

Now I live free. So do my 2 dogs and my cat. They run free, sleep under the sun and we have the freedom to just sit and enjoy the moment.

It is a luxury, I did not have before, except for bits of time on holidays. My life is a holiday.

What would you have done differently if you had to start a Tiny House project over again?

I would dare to build it myself with the help of a carpenter, without fearing the faults. 

Were there and aspects you have thought of afterwards that would have helped with the building process?

Be there when it is built. See it as it grows. It is the only moment you can change something. 

Has your Tiny House had the impact on your life as you were hoping it would?

Yes and hundred times more. 

Best tip for someone wanting to live a Tiny House but not sure if it’s something for them?

Visit one. Spend one night or more in one you can rent. Feel it, then decide.

Thanks to Gabriela for sharing her story and lovely Tiny House in Romania. Quite an inspirational read for myself and hopefully for you readers wondering whether to start your own Tiny House adventure. 

As always, is you would like to be featured and share your story, write an email to me and we’ll figure something out.

 
Love books? 
Looking for the Top Tiny House Books to read? Check out this post for more. 

More interviews with Tiny House owners and enthusiasts lined up. Add your email for a reminder when the next interview is live. 

Read more on Tiny Houses in Europe here.