a visit from Sicily, 12-year-old tiny home builder

It’s always wonderful to be reminded of the sheer diversity of the tiny home movement—of the many shapes and forms in which tiny home builders and dwellers come. So this week, it was a pleasure to receive a visit from Sicily Kolbeck, a twelve-year-old building and designing a tiny home in Marietta, Georgia.

Sicily began designing her home this summer, was donated an 8×16 trailer in early September, and has been working on gathering materials and building her subfloor ever since. Having heard about Boneyard Studios and wanting to see our project for herself, Sicily’s family brought her up to DC for a visit this Friday.

Sicily (center) and her family.

While showing the family around the lot and touring our still-in-progress tiny homes, the Boneyard crew answered questions, provided tips, and learned a little more about Sicily’s own building plans for La Petite Maison, all the while growing increasingly impressed by Sicily’s intelligence, maturity, and resourcefulness. We’re looking forward to following Sicily’s progress in the coming months—if you’d like to do the same, be sure to check out her blog and videos. And, if you’d like to support a twelve-year-old in her humble quest for independence and simple, sustainable living, please consider sending a few dollars her way, or contacting her family to donate tools or building supplies.

Update: Sicily lost her father in a car accident in mid-February.  She still would like to finish her tiny house. If you’d like to help support her project and her family, please consider contributing to the Memorial Fund set up for her father, Dane, via PayPal to danekolbeckmemorial@gmail.com

Sicily, many thanks for coming by Boneyard Studios, and best of luck with your tiny house build!

Sicily trying out the Boneyard Studios flamethrower on some window trim.