Carpenter Dave Herrle of Westbrook, Connecticut is one of those people that got suddenly emboldened by a walk down an unfamiliar path in the woods and made a change in his life:
“For the longest time I had a hard time not being “normal.” I graduated from a small liberal arts college, got a desk job, and hated every minute of it. In 2007 my life changed dramatically after hiking the entirity of the Appalachian Trail. It was a gut check in life and I’m lucky it happened when I was 27 and not 67. My time in the woods gave me a perspective on the benefits of simplicity. It was in the woods that I promised myself that I wouldn’t spend a lifetime doing a job I didn’t enjoy.”

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry
Bravely plunging into the unknown, Herrle decided to build the house of his dreams, hoping to lead a more Waldenesque self-sufficient life of simplicity. Best of all, his beloved fiancée also was of the same mind, so Herrle set about building their future home, keeping the footprint small but functional, and using salvaged materials whenever he could.
Believe it or not, Herrle was able to construct this tiny cabin of 11 by 14 feet in the woods for only $4,000 and in only six short weeks. The rustic interior is lovely with the colourful Mexican ceramic sink, and the house itself is sited on a hillside porch that wraps around some trees and juts out 12 feet high off the ground on one side.

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry
Another great example of how following your dreams may come with unexpected blessings; Herrle is now well on his way to building more tiny houses for other clients and other projects that he’s passionate about. Check out more of Dave Herrle’s work over at Herrle Custom Carpentry and on Facebook.

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry

Photo: © Herrle Custom Carpentry
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