{"id":52844,"date":"2015-06-24T02:24:54","date_gmt":"2015-06-23T18:24:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=52844"},"modified":"2019-06-26T18:50:12","modified_gmt":"2019-06-26T22:50:12","slug":"tiny-space-large-living-filipina-designs-small-efficient-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2015\/06\/24\/tiny-space-large-living-filipina-designs-small-efficient-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Tiny space, large living: Filipina designs small, efficient home"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vina<\/a>
Vina and her small, efficient home (Photo courtesy of Pinterest.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What can you do with 13 square meters?<\/p>\n

For Filipina designer Vina Lustado, she maximized the tiny space and made a home.<\/p>\n

In an interview for Choose Philippines, Lustado shared her life and what inspired her to design a tiny, efficient home whose video has already gone viral on social media.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Vina's<\/a>
Vina’s family (screenshot from Houzz video)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Humble beginnings<\/strong>
\nBorn to a family of 9 children, Lustado was used to small spaces.<\/p>\n

After emigrating to Los Angeles, California with her entire family, they all shared a one-bedroom duplex.<\/p>\n

“All my life, I’ve never felt rooted anywhere,” she shared. “We lived in a very modest lifestyle because we didn’t have much money at all.”<\/p>\n

She earned her degree in architecture in 1991 from the University of Southern California.<\/p>\n

She traveled around the world and continued to learn and hone her craft by being a part of “numerous big-time architectural firms.”<\/p>\n

In 2010, she decided to take her knowledge and passion to another level.<\/p>\n

Hence, Sol Haus Design was born.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A Filipina designed a small, efficient, and sustainable home (screenshot from Houzz video)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sol Haus Design<\/strong><\/p>\n

Based in Ojai, California, Sol Haus Design is “a small-time design firm focused on sustainability, efficiency, and conservation.” Lustado lives in a house that she designed herself.<\/p>\n

As you will see in the video below, her house is both elegant and homey. Modern and crisp with a hint of rustic beauty.<\/p>\n

“The design of the house if really thought out,” Lustado shared in the video. “You have to make use of every inch of space that you have.”<\/p>\n

\"Vina<\/a>
Vina and her bedroom loft with skylight (screenshot from Houzz video)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Her mobile home is made of cedar and also features sustainable sources of energy like solar panels, a wood-burning stove, and a skylight over her bedroom loft to let natural light in. A part of her drainage system that feeds her grapefruit tree. Despite its size, her home also has a classy pair of French doors and a wooden deck for entertaining — both welcoming and inviting.<\/p>\n

She also made use of multi-functional pieces of furniture to make every inch count.<\/p>\n

As for Lustado, she said living in such a small space has made her more aware and “mindful of the things she buys.”<\/p>\n

\"Vina<\/a>
Vina in her kitchen (screenshot from Houzz video)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lustado even noted that her current kitchen is the largest kitchen she’s ever had, compared to the places she rented out in the past.<\/p>\n

With such a beautiful example, let’s hope\u00a0more people will be interested in spatially efficient and sustainable homes.<\/p>\n

\"houzz<\/a><\/p>\n

Watch Lustado and her home below.<\/p>\n

Video courtesy of Houzz:<\/em><\/p>\n