Talk about shoestring budget! Chelsea Kohl, a 22-year-old native of Hawaii, built her home on her father's property for literally...$500. Featured in Dwell magazine a few months ago, this home could pass as a mixed media art installation of found objects: old wine bottles embedded in the wall, windsurf boards as part of the roof, even the flatbed part of a truck for a sleeping loft. Check out some of photos of this home after the jump...







I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Chelsea is a pretty fuckin' rad person.
view NorNor's profile
I will take it.. then I would not care if I lived in a trailer the beauty of Hawaii is you don't need much.
view LoriSF's profile
Cool! I.m inspired to build my own version of this! Did you need any special permits?
view keifers's profile
that is totally awesome and I think Chelsea should call me so that we can be best friends. Immediately. And, if as a byproduct of being best friends, I learned a little about exactly how she accomplished this, that would be okay too.
http://onlysaysficusblog.blogspot.com/
view annekeo's profile
Absolutely incredible. I would LOVE to live there. I would love love love it.
Emily
view Emily Sneds's profile
This is fabulous. But it's a $1,000,500 house when you count the property value.
view ilima's profile
This is so cool! It reminds me a little bit of the house on Nim's Island! I would love to live there!
view cafegurl19's profile
I would love to know more about the design and construction! And I second the first comment!
view Jennifer Squires's profile
I couldn't find a related article on Dwell. More info, if you please! This one looks too good to pass up.
view JoJenks's profile
I could do this too if my father had property in Hawaii. Dad, you have failed me.
view jooly's profile
neat idea, but I'm guessing building codes were tossed out the window. Not sure I'd want to be in her home when the first storm of with strong winds hit.
view modern on long island's profile
Words can't express how much I love this. Every single part of this house is a work of art. I especially like the desk that's been repurposed as part of the stairs.
view Blandwagon's profile
NorNor, we don't need that sort of language here. Show a little decorum.
view Blandwagon's profile
Hold everything: where's the bathroom, folks? (Otherwise, I'm totally sold on this.)
view Shazza_Sylvr's profile
As awesome as this is, there is no way it only cost $500 unless a lot-most of it was given to her for free..
view Honey Child's profile
I love the pick-up truck bed bed! Way cooler than the racecar bed I wanted as a child.
view Benjy's profile
Moderator, can we get an ixnay on the f-bombs? Thanks!
view johnsodana's profile
I'm guessing much of the materials was salvaged from chi-chi homes in Hawaii when they do reno work, it all goes curbside. I'm also hoping the bathroom is an outdoor shower rigged from rainwater....sigh.
Katy
http://fengshuibyfishgirl.com
view fishgirl's profile
If only my dad had property in Hawaii to give me...
view nick0326's profile
Land around Haiku on Maui probably costs as much as a space shuttle, but there are more affordable parts of the state. I built a modest cottage in the Puna district on the Big Island not far from the town of Hilo. You can still find a small building lot within walking distance of the beach for $25K. Did I mention the volcano? Still, if you really want a house in Hawaii on a tight budget it can be done. I built my place for about $30k.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/small-cool-2008-southwest/southwest-1-kolins-where-poverty-takes-a-holiday--046856
view wherepovertytakesaholiday's profile
SHUT UP. I want it. And I want to be Chelsea's new BFF. AND I want to go live in Hawaii. Man...there are a lot of things I want after reading this post...
view sara Stubbert's profile
This is pretty darn sweet. At first I didn't notice the desk in the stairs. How neat. I like the loft bed too. And the glass bottle wall...Nice design. :)
view sherigirl's profile
OMG, now THAT is just sooo cool.
Gotta love those lovely lovely Hawaiians!
view Austinmodern's profile
that's wicked! what island is she on?
http://fiftyone-fifty.org
view eilEnemy's profile