A (Tiny) Future Cottage Is Born

We had a dream to build a sustainable cabin for under $100k, a living love letter to our daughter. And then the pandemic hit.

I think my partner Kevin and I started talking about building a house together—someday—on our third or fourth date. That was almost 15 years ago, when I was already probably thinking about moving in with him into his studio in Boerum Hill. I think we always knew we’d live pretty simply here in Brooklyn (he’s an architect, and he appreciates smaller, economical spaces as much as I do). Which is why I think we both also yearned for some land somewhere…to experiment, to stretch out, and to hopefully build something not just for us but for our daughter, who might someday need a home of her own…envisioned for a shifting future.

Call it a dream house. And, like a lot of dreams worth dreaming…it took a long time to manifest. Mostly because at certain points in our lives over the past 15 years, other major events took precedence. Growing our businesses, paying off debt, losing/grieving three parents and two friends, and trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to start a family. Having a house outside the city, at moments, seemed like an absolute pipe-dream. Not just financially, but logistically. I couldn’t imagine having the time to drive somewhere every week, let alone time to actually design and build something. But…like most dreams, circumstances can change pretty unexpectedly.