Couple builds charming little house in 3 months with only P280k

Like many people who found “the one,” Abby and Hazel decided to look for a small, safe place to call their own.

After staying at a small cottage at a resort that utilizes every inch of space in a clever yet comfy way, the thought suddenly hit them: "Why not build our own?"

As big a task as building at home would seem, Abby Magtulis, 28, and Hazel Garcia, 31, constructed a beautiful tiny house in Silang, Cavite all by themselves.

The best part? It took only three months to build, and cost no more than P280,000.

So how did they do it?

^{Photo from Abby Magtulis} 

It all started when Abby and Hazel met through a mutual friend while working at a center.

The two independent women fell madly in love and have since worked together as a team.

By 2019, Abby and Hazel knew it was time to build their “Happy Place.”

“We decided to build it because gusto po namin magkaroon ng sariling space and privacy,” Abby told GMA News Online.

“Kasi we’re working from home since 2017 and we wanted a place we can work and relax at the same time," she added.

At first, the couple had no idea tiny houses even existed, until they attended a birthday celebration at a resort and were immediately inspired by the smart design of the cottage they stayed in.

The couple ended scouring the internet for tiny house ideas on Google, Instagram and Pinterest.

^{Abby Magtulis and Hazel Garcia}

Once they had a clear idea of what they want, the couple got started on building a simple structure with a six-square meter floor area and a 15-foot tall foundation.

“The overall cost was P280,000. Kasama na po dito lahat lahat, like labor, materials, furniture, and landscape,” Abby said.

The house may be small, but Abby and Hazel had more than enough space for two work stations, a living area, a bathroom, and a bed.

The couple even built a small roof area where they go to relax and enjoy the fresh air and view provided by their lush garden.

“What we love most in our tiny home,  is that meron po talaga kaming privacy and we feel na palagi kaming naka staycation. Lalo na sa rooftop, we feel super relaxed kapag naka tambay doon,” Abby said.

More importantly, the tiny house also provided Abby and Hazel something many people have been longing for since the country fell into the grip of COVID-19: peace, quiet and isolation.

“Compared to living in a regular sized home in a city, hindi po namin nararanasan yung sobrang init, flood, air pollution, traffic and noise,” Abby said.

“Sobrang peaceful po ng place namin. So naging perfect siya para tayuan ng tiny house.” —JCB, GMA News