How Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses created this off-the-grid home on a bare-bones budget

Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses built a home that fits right into a retired woman's dream to live off the grid, incorporating reclaimed materials and built on a budget. The home, created for just $39,000 plus another $6,400 to include solar power, sits in the Beulah Valley near Pueblo, Colorado.

The company adapted its 18-foot Bitterroot Valley SIP (structural insulating panel) package and expanded it to a 20-foot design that was a little more livable for the client. The original Bitterroot model was intended to honor the Bitterroot Valley in southwestern Montana, where structures weathered time and conditions to house the inhabitants for decades.

The gambrel-style roof reflects a barn construction (originally intended to store hay in the loft). By applying these principals to a tiny house, the home offers a more spacious design with high ceilings and ample loft space. To cut down the budget, Rocky Mountain incorporated leftover materials from past projects, such as the cedar lap wainscoting. The corrugated metal siding was a little rustier than most desire, but it was perfect for this homeowner's rustic plan. Pre-painted cedar shakes adorn the gambrel gables, found at a garage sale for a steal.

Inside, the company used eighth-inch luan wood reclaimed from a previous SIP build. The wood has a birch-like appearance but is much more economical. Lots of integrated storage is built in throughout, such as underneath the stairs leading to the loft.

The loft design was kept simple, with storage stairs and a clothes closet tucked underneath. Upstairs, the gambrel roof creates a spacious bedroom. The homeowner intends to do all the painting and staining herself, to save on labor costs.

The kitchen utilities were decidedly simple, with a single basin sink and pump faucet that draws water from a six-gallon container below. Two 30-pound propane tanks power the two-burner cooktop and an RV furnace. Simple cubbies offer storage underneath the sink instead of cabinetry.

Although the house isn't plumbed, it is wired for 110v AV with LED lights. The home is tied to a 1,000-watt solar system with a battery bank and an Outback Flex power station. The homeowner can truly live net positive and off the grid.

Although there's space for a shower, the homeowner decided to forgo one for now, and the simple bathroom only includes a Lovable Loo composting toilet.