This Couple Bought a $7,000 Run Down Shack and Transformed It Into a Stylish and Cozy Cottage Retreat

Transforming a Run-Down Shack

Back in 2015, Kathrin and Brian Smirke of We Are In Our Element purchased an old shack in the desert for only $7,000 and turned it into an amazing vacation cottage. Originally built in 1957 the abandoned home was sold at a tax auction in San Bernardino County for only $7,000. Once they got started on the renovations for the shack, they realized that they would have to put a lot of work into it. The home was basically decaying, so they had to tear it down to the studs and rebuild it completely. Even though it was a ton of work on their part, the results are incredible as you can see in their photos of the project. They took their time planning and designing and wanted to fit a kitchen, living room, bedroom, storage and a full bathroom in the small space. Plus, because of the restrictive building codes in the area, they couldn't add onto the building, so they had to make do with the space they had. The couple also did a lot of the work themselves which is very impressive and inspiring, from the demolishing to the finishing, electric, plumbing and, of course, the decorating, which Kathrin is a pro at. She handpicks local art and vintage items to place in the home making it feel homier and super stylish. She is also a stained glass artist, so you'll see many of her pieces incorporated into the spaces they renovate. It turned out that having a smaller space was actually beneficial to their budget since it's more affordable to renovate a smaller space. These small spaces are also more energy efficient too which is always great for the environment and costs less to operate.

Expertise in Renovation

Brian has his real estate license, and he's also a certified contractor which gives him a lot of expertise for creating these spaces. He did most of the work on the building, and he also created some artwork made out of some repurposed wood from the original home. One of the other great features in this home is the in-floor cactus garden they created right at the front entrance to bring a bit of the desert indoors. In the living room, they kept the colours of the furniture light to maintain an airy and spacious feel. The sofa looks really comfortable, and there are two square ottoman/bean bag style chairs opposite the sofa for additional comfortable seating. Plenty of light and incredible desert views are offered through the sliding glass doors which are great to open up fully to let a cool breeze in. For the small galley style kitchen, the couple designed the cabinets specifically for the space and then had a cabinet shop in L.A handcraft them. They kept the cabinets simple and modern with no hardware but instead little holes to open the doors and drawers. The wood cabinets look great with the concrete countertops that the couple made themselves. They also created the floating shelves with leftover pine and plywood. The subway tile adds that little bit of something extra making it feel modern and stylish and of course, who can forget the beautiful vintage style SMEG fridge?

Creating a Cozy Outdoor Dining Space

In the small enclosed patio area, they were able to make an indoor/outdoor dining area, filling in the spaces with horizontal wood screening for privacy. They incorporated some simple wooden furniture for the dining set which looks quite modern and also very artistic. The other end of the patio is left open with some bench seating to allow full views of the surrounding desert landscape. The Shack Attack is one of three different properties the couple has restored and brought back to life, that they now rent out on Airbnb. The other two are Cabin Cabin Cabin and Dome in the Desert which are equally as beautiful as The Shack Attack, each inspiring cottage having its own style and personality.