Designers Kate Van den Bergh and her husband Willem were living in a three-bedroom flat shortly after they got married but quickly realised all of the ‘ridiculous’ extra space was making it difficult to save money.
Kate, who at the time was working for a magazine in Auckland, New Zealand, was working on a feature with a couple who built their tiny house for $27,000 and an idea sparked in her mind.
‘The tiny house lifestyle was in stark contrast to our current lifestyle but it was one that we knew we needed and it would offer us a better life,’ the 36-year-old told FEMAIL.
Designers Kate Van den Bergh and her husband Willem were living in a three-bedroom flat shortly after they got married, but quickly realised all of that ‘ridiculous’ space was making it difficult to save money
‘It’s affordable, movable, liveable, beautifully designed and a fantastic way we saw we could live rent free whilst saving for a section and planning to build a larger family home.’
In 2016 they moved into Kate’s mother’s home and architectural designer Willem, 38, began to piece together ideas for their miniature property, which is based on Waiheke Island.
At 7.6m long and 2.4m wide it met the foundations for a comfortable living space but the couple visited ‘a lot’ of different homes and watched countless YouTube videos to make sure they were creating a feasible area.
Kate (pictured with Willem and Leo), who at the time was working for a sustainability magazine in Auckland, New Zealand, was working on a feature with a couple who built their tiny house for $27,000 and an idea sparked in her mind
In 2016 they moved into Kate’s mother’s home and architectural designer Willem, 38, began to piece together ideas for their miniature property, which is based on Waiheke Island
At 7.6m long and 2.4m wide it met the foundations for a comfortable living space but the couple visited ‘a lot’ of different homes and watched countless YouTube videos to make sure they were creating a feasible area
Their vision, which became a reality almost two years after they started building, saw a trail of steps leading down to the wooden cottage, with an outdoor deck spanning the perimeter.
An outdoor table sits waiting for long summer nights and next to it is an outdoor bath, perfect for cooling off in.
As you enter the front doors you’re led directly into the comfortable lounge room, which gives you the option to climb a wooden staircase to a decked out reading nook.
Walking in the opposite direction will see you in the kitchen and bathroom area, with hidden storage compartments scattered throughout, and upstairs on a loft level is their master bedroom.
Walking in the opposite direction will see you in the kitchen and bathroom area, with hidden storage compartments scattered throughout, and upstairs on a loft level is their master bedroom
The bathroom has a toilet, shower, sink, mirror and storage compartments for toiletries
But at the back of the house is a very special room they had always planned on building, even though they weren’t expecting to use it right away.
‘Having a baby in the tiny house was always a part of our plan,’ Kate said.
‘When we designed the house we made sure there was a downstairs room that we could convert into a nursery if the time came.
‘Having a baby in the tiny house was always a part of our plan,’ Kate said (Leo pictured left on his changing table)
Leo, who is now five months old, appears to love living in their tiny abode, based on pictures on their Instagram page, Building Tiny Auckland
‘We used the room as an office space until we became pregnant. When the house was built, we made sure there was as much sound proof insulation in the walls as possible.’
Leo, who is now five months old, appears to love living in their tiny abode, based on pictures on their Instagram page, Building Tiny Auckland.
He currently bathes in the sink but will be able to upgrade to the shower and outdoor bath as he gets older.
But now he sleeps in his own nursery and Kate has returned to her original bed with Willem upstairs
The total cost of the build was $96,000, plus $80,000 for the site works, septic tanks, services, landscaping, deck and consents
‘We keep the pram in the boot of the car and walk Leo down to the house and back using a frontpack,’ she said.
‘The kitchen bar area doubles as a changing table.’
When he was born Kate slept on the couch with Leo in his basket beside her so she didn’t have to walk up and down the loft stairs with him at night.
But now he sleeps in his own nursery and Kate has returned to her original bed with Willem upstairs.
The total cost of the build was $96,000, plus $80,000 for the site works, septic tanks, services, landscaping, deck and consents.
The ultimate plan is to build a slightly larger tiny home in the same area they purchased and keep their current one for storage and possibly Leo’s home when he grows up.
‘We are very proud of our home, we love the cosiness and that it’s surrounded by native bush and bird life. It makes us feel like were in our own world separated from the stresses of life,’ she said.
‘Not having a driveway down to the house definitely makes you feel like you’re on holiday every day. We love it when people visit the house and get a surprise to even see it here.’