While many people typically wait until they are at least 30 years old to build their dream home, the thrill of hand-crafting your ideal living space is unmatched.
Imagine the journey of creating a plan, putting your heart and soul into it, and finally seeing your vision come to life. That’s exactly what Tom did. At just 17 years old, he used his skill, creativity, and determination to make his dream a reality.
Driven by rising housing costs and a desire for independence, Tom set out to build a modest home using recycled materials. He discovered he could create something completely from scratch while staying within a budget.
“My vision for the cabin was to keep things simple and provide a stress-free lifestyle. Everything I have is mine; I paid for everything”, Tom explained.
Now, at 20, Tom is relieved knowing he won’t have to spend his hard-earned money on rent. “It’s a no-brainer life and once you’ve built something, it really is yours”, he added.
Tom’s house is located on his grandfather’s extensive property and retains a charming English country aesthetic, complete with a side window. At 17, he bought a caravan and immediately began building it while working and completing his carpentry apprenticeship, which he completed in December.
The front of his house is made of larch wood, sourced cheaply from a local sawmill, while the side walls are made of fence boards. All the windows are recycled, sourced from a website that specializes in used materials. He recently added a porch, using boards from a scaffolding company and other scrap and reclaimed wood he recovered from the job.
Upon entering Tom’s home, visitors are greeted by beautiful reclaimed wood and a tranquil poster of a seascape. “My goal was to use only reclaimed wood for the build because it’s budget-friendly,” Tom noted. Much of the wood in his home was salvaged from old homes that he personally stripped down, sanded and repurposed.
The living area includes a compact workspace for his work and meals, a standard sofa, and a wall-mounted TV. In the future, he hopes to upgrade to a multifunctional sofa with built-in storage.
Tom especially loves his kitchen, where he made a fully functional worktop out of recycled scaffolding boards and spent hours sanding and painting it. The kitchen is equipped with essential appliances such as a fridge, stove and toaster.
Opposite the kitchen is a compact bathroom with a small chemical toilet with electric flush. The shower area has corrugated iron walls and copper fittings, evoking a rustic farmhouse feel. Back in the living room, a ladder leads to the loft, which leads to Tom’s cozy bedroom with double mattress.
Tom began building his dream home at age 17 with a budget of $8,200 and an hourly wage of $5.50 and managed to save most of his income to finance the construction of his home using recycled materials.
Imagine how his home will evolve as he completes the various upgrades he has in mind! For a full tour of Tom’s home, check out the video below
Queen Camilla ‘outraged’ after Prince Harry’s visit to see his father for “loving son PR stunt”, claims source
Sensational reports claim that Queen Camilla was left enraged by Prince Harry‘s decision to rush home across the Atlantic after hearing of his father’s cancer diagnosis without first getting palace approval.
RadarOnline, citing the National Enquirer, have today made bold claims regarding the fractious relationship between Camilla and her stepson, including that the former was responsible for the meeting between Harry and Charles being held to only thirty minutes.
Harry flew back to the UK from the US upon being informed of Charles’s cancer diagnosis – reportedly by Charles himself – but his return did not seem to set the stage for any future peace talks, as some had hoped.
Rather, Harry’s actual meeting with his father was kept brief, with the King reportedly journeying by helicopter to the royal estate of Sandringham. Harry, it has been rumored, was not permitted to follow.
Exactly what father and son talked about is not known, nor is it likely to be shared with the public moving forward. Details of Charles’ cancer have also been held back from public knowledge; we know the King is receiving treatment, but very few are privy to what sort of cancer he is suffering from, or what stage he is in.
In any case Harry’s recent trip to the UK wasn’t a big hit with all the royals. It’s been heavily rumored that Prince William had no intention of seeing his younger brother, and RadarOnline have today published a report suggesting that Queen Camilla was left seething as a result of her stepson’s actions.
“Her Majesty was furious Harry flew in from his ritzy California home without getting palace approval — and came with an attitude,” a source is said to have told the National Enquirer.
The same report states that Harry ordered that Camilla leave the room before he talked to his father – needless to say, this was not well received by Camilla.
“I’m told Camilla was outraged,” the source went on. “She’s taken a lot of bile from Harry for years and couldn’t wait to let him have it.”
Harry and Camilla have been at odds with one another for years now, allegedly stemming from Harry’s insistence that she was to blame for breaking up the marriage between Charles and Princess Diana.
“Camilla has taken it all on the chin, but using her husband’s cancer as a ‘loving son’ PR stunt was the last straw,” the source continued.
“After the father-son reunion, I hear she told Harry he’s a disgrace to his father, the family and the monarchy — and she left no doubt he isn’t wanted back!”
What do you think about the alleged animosity between Queen Camilla and Prince Harry? Let us know in the comments!
Leave a Reply