How do we build an affordable house that works for our land and doesn’t sacrifice the quality that we want? My husband and I spent many hours in thought, argument, and discussion between ourselves and others on just that desire. When you look up the word “steep” in the dictionary, there’s a picture of our land. Since we wanted to use any available space for gardens and terraces, we built on the steepest part. In previous issues, you’ve read about our experiences of living in a yurt and starting our housebuilding project. Now that the house is all done and we’ve moved in, we couldn’t be happier with the choices we’ve made.

First, we didn’t just get in deep debt and build a house when we couldn’t afford it. We bought our land and lived in a yurt while we paid off the land and began the first phase of building, then paid off that part. Sure, living in a yurt for six years was a challenge, to say the least, but I’m not living there now, so I can look back and see the good choice it was. I have to admit that the first phase of building was haphazard--no architect, no design plan, little to no building skills, no sense... We built a high deck (twenty feet high on the south side) and built rooms beneath it and put our yurt on top.
That was phase one. When we were ready to build the “real” house, we built decks around the original, moved the yurt over to one of the new decks, and built the house on top of the original one. So the whole thing is one full story and two half stories, one above, and the original rooms below.
Second, we didn’t sacrifice quality, we sacrificed floor space. Our architect helped us keep our plans small so we could afford the best: high-efficiency insulation, windows and doors; whole-house air filtration; custom cabinets and finishes; high-quality appliances; radiant floors; solar hot water.
Third, we spent less money on outdoor space. Since we have almost no flat land, this was an essential choice. Now we’re basking in the abundance of decks and porches, and the open plan of the inside space makes it feel larger than it really is.

Fourth, we planned for the future. If my husband ever comes around to the idea of babies (“too much work”), we already have the beginnings of plans (and a strong foundation under the appropriate decks) for another wing if we need it.

Fifth, we learned balance. We wanted all locust decks, but settled for copper borate-treated Southern yellow pine with low-tox natural finish. We wanted a cast-iron bathtub and saved $1000 on steel (still plastic- and fiberglass-free). We wanted to be mortgage-free: didn’t happen.

Sixth, we spent our money in the right places. We didn’t compromise (much) on keeping everything low-toxic. We spend lots of time in the kitchen, so we invested in great countertops, top-of-the-line appliances and smashing custom cabinets (local cherry, milk-painted FSC-cert plywood).

So the answer to our question is... decide what are the most important things, and let go of the ones that you don’t need. Two of the best elements of sustainability in a house are how much you love it and how long it will last you. Don’t make compromises there.

Erin Everett is a Western, NC native and the publisher of New Life Journal.

Back to New Life Journal..