Today I will tell you a story about howAn artist has transformed an old garage into a unique, fully functional 22-square-metre mini-home. Friends of Michelle de la Vega call her “Ant-Man,” a fitting description for a woman who can handle heavy labor despite her small stature. “The biggest challenge with creating the house that day was that I knew nothing about construction,” she says. “I acted as my own general contractor because I couldn’t afford one. It turned out to be difficult to be taken seriously by all the subcontractors I had to deal with.” Her salvation came in the form of a local carpenter she had learned to trust. “Eric was a godsend,” says Michelle. She adds that she changed contractors several times, but in the end, the mini-home allowed her to create a new life: “It’s a place I cherish for many reasons. It feels safe and calm, and I love every part of it.” Michelle de la Vega put everything she had into remodeling the building. “The project reflects my usual approach to life in general. I’m an artist, so I have a pretty strong sense of what I like,” says the owner, who we see in the photo on the threshold of her mini-dwelling.
Everything in construction and renovation was a challenge forartist, but one thing that has never been a problem is vision. “Vision is something that comes naturally to me, even obsessively.” The whole process of building and equipping was a practice: falling off a horse and getting back up, several times. “But my philosophy is that easy things are rarely worthwhile,” she says.
This image shows the sleeping loft andkitchen with a view of the courtyard. "I love to use the construction of materials and objects. I also love efficiency and openness, fresh air and light, so I designed the windows for the room to provide maximum light and ventilation." The house was designed for privacy. There is only one high window on the street side, which provides ventilation of hot air in the summer and rays of light in the afternoon.
The attic bedroom is located above the entranceFrench doors like a cradle, surrounded by fresh air that is let in by one of three windows. Michelle compares the experience of loft loft to sleeping outside in the summer. “I love the simplicity and efficiency of the house. It’s cozy and open, has great lighting, and feels like a sanctuary.”
The artist found a red fireproof cabinet that had served its time in one of the locker rooms of United Airlines through a private ad.
The square footage added to the original building became a shower room.
The small bathroom is also bathed in sunlight from the overhead window.
Proximity to downtown Seattle with itsindustrial style brings an industrial feel to the home. Open shelves and salvage boxes demonstrate the owner's penchant for repurposing vintage finds.
Forum-Grad readers can see for themselves thatThe interior of small spaces can also be interesting. The steel sculptures next to the working fireplace are the creations of Michelle de la Vega, an artist and welder. The containers in which the firewood is stored were military bunkers with rusty ammunition and were found by the local Salvation Army. Together with the vintage lamp, they create a cozy atmosphere in this small space.
French doors open onto the hotel's bounty of fruit trees and raised plant beds.
For Michelle, the living space has become very personala place that embodies her own philosophy. “When people come to the house where I live, they usually immediately get an idea of my attitude towards my corner. It also fully reflects my character traits. I like to be frugal with things. I like to take in beautiful objects that would otherwise be thrown away.” Michelle de la Vega currently uses her mini-dwelling as a summer home and rents it out as an artist's studio. Her next project is a larger house around the corner, where she lives with her husband, a contractor.
Turning an old garage into a stylish apartment - photo and description
