Couple, 26 and 32, build their own TINY home for £30,000 and spend six months building it on their parents' farm during lockdown in project that has 'given them financial freedom'

A DIY-savvy couple built their own tiny home during lockdown for £30,000 and insist the project has given them financial freedom despite her parents' initial concerns. 

The house in Worcester - which has been affectionately named Tiny Blue - belongs to gin distillery manager Grace Stringer, 26, and her DJ partner Craig Jukes, 32.

Miss Stringer lived with her parents on their farm while Mr Jukes lived in Hereford before they bought the 'shell' - a wooden frame - from Tiny Echo Homes in September last year. The couple then spent every weekend for six months designing and building the rest of the house.  

She now shares the mini property with Mr Jukes and their puppy Nellie on her parents' plot, and says the home has given her and her boyfriend financial independence. 

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Couple Grace Stringer and Craig Jukes outside their tiny home in Worcester

Grace Stringer and Craig Jukes inside their tiny home, built in six months during the pandemic for £30,000

A couple built their own tiny home during lockdown for £30,000 and insist the project has given them financial freedom despite parents' concerns about living in the mini property

The living room inside Tiny Blue, the small house a DJ-savvy couple built in six months during the pandemic

The kitchen and a partial view of the bedroom in Tiny Blue, which cost £30,000 to build

The living room inside Tiny Blue, the small house a DJ-savvy couple built in six months during the pandemic

'As a child, I loved my Wendy house! As soon as I came across tiny houses, I knew it was a project I wanted to undertake,' Miss Stringer said. 

'Overall, Tiny Blue was a project from the depths of my stubborn attitude, I had a lot of people trying to talk me out of it. However, I was determined to prove people wrong and show tiny living is more than possible.

'It also has given me financial freedom at the age of 26 because I completely own my own house which is such an amazing position to be in.

'It took six months to do the actual build and the total amounted to £30,000.  A lot of the cost was because wood and anything DIY-related was like gold dust during the pandemic and shipping because we couldn't go into shops.

'I spend more time with the doors open, in the fresh air - I have only essentials around and I don't have unwanted or unneeded clutter.

'I love the simplicity of life and I enjoy the small things so much more!'    

Speaking to The Telegraph, Miss Stringer said her parents had concerns about her decision to buy the 'shell' after it sat in the driveway of the previous owner for six months

The couple from Worcester spent their weekends working on the project with family and a carpenter throughout lockdown

The DIY-savvy couple opted for budget-friendly furniture from Ikea and B&Q. Miss Stringer spent many ytears planning and curating Instagram boards before deciding on a tiny home

The kitchen and a partial view of the bedroom in Tiny Blue, which cost £30,000 to build

Speaking to The Telegraph, Miss Stringer said her parents had concerns about her decision to buy the 'shell' after it sat in the driveway of the previous owner for six months. 

'My dad, Ian, works in property, so he needed some convincing at first. He and my mum were at home the day it arrived. I could almost read their thoughts: 'What have you done?'', she said.

The DIY-savvy couple opted for budget-friendly furniture from Ikea and B&Q. Miss Stringer spent many ytears planning and curating Instagram boards before deciding on a tiny home.

The couple moved into the house, which sits on her parents' farm near Droitwich, in September - almost a year after Miss Stringer first bought it.

'This is our first home together,' she said. 'Normally, there is a whole load of drama for tiny houses getting planning permission. For me, as long as it was on the right side of my parents' hedge, it was fine. 

'We're in the shadow of the barn and next to a 16V power source.'