Jenina, 36, and her husband, Adam, 38, have always wanted to own a tiny house in the woods.

The two of them — who asked to be identified by only their first names for privacy reasons — were living in Bulacan, a province in the Philippines, at the time. Bulacan is about an hour's drive from the capital city of Manila.

The couple always thought it'd be a good idea to have a small retreat there, somewhere they could bask in nature. The family farm is in Doña Remedios Trinidad, also known as DRT, in the Bulacan countryside. In July 2023, they turned their tiny-house dream into a reality.

[Jenina and Adam were inspired by the design of shepherd's huts in the UK, where Adam is from. Sleepy Shepherd]

"We've always been fans of shepherd's huts for their practicality and charm. Their unique compact design inspired us, especially since they aren't widely known in the Philippines but are quite iconic in the UK," Jenina said.

She said they thought the distinctive style of the shepherd's hut would stand out aesthetically against the surrounding greenery.

[The couple built their tiny house on a clear plot of land so they didn't have to cut down any trees. Sleepy Shepherd]

The land was previously used as a pineapple plantation and to grow other fruit and vegetable crops. The couple made sure to build on a spot that was already cleared so that no trees had to be cut, Jenina said.

The whole construction process took about eight months, and the couple worked with a structural engineer and an architect to complete the project.

[They also landscaped the surrounding area. Sleepy Shepherd]

They said the hilly terrain of the plot made things especially challenging.

"We had to dig out four septic tanks and lay a solid foundation, bringing in a structural engineer to ensure the build was both secure and sustainable," Jenina said.

She said it was also difficult to transport building materials to the remote site, as it was miles from the nearest main road.

[The tiny house spans 194 square feet. Sleepy Shepherd]

Sourcing materials was another major hurdle since finding unique items such as cast-iron wheels and frames required custom orders, which the couple collaborated on with a local architect.

[It comes with a sleeping area, a mini kitchen, and a full bathroom. Sleepy Shepherd]

The two of them aren't the only ones who have hopped onto the tiny-house movement.

As housing keeps getting more expensive for people all around the world, tiny houses represent a cheaper alternative to real estate.

Jenina said they spent about 3.5 million Philippines pesos, or $60,000, to build the tiny house, including the cost of the landscaping around the structure.

[They've been renting it out as a vacation home ever since they relocated to Cambodia. Sleepy Shepherd]

Though the hut was meant to be their little getaway, the couple relocated to Cambodia in July this year after Adam accepted a job offer. He's a brand director for a luxury-goods company.

With the move, the couple also decided to turn their shepherd's hut into a guesthouse so that others could enjoy the space.

To read more about how the couple turned their tiny house dreams into a reality, head to Business Insider.

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