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House Feature

A Look Inside a Tiny Home that's BIG on Reuse

Jessie Litven relaxes on the bench seat in the living room of her house and points to the stairway. The stairs have magnificent, dark hardwood treads. These stairs, and most of the houses we see around us, were made from reused and salvaged wood.

tiny home that's big on reuse
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Wayne Groszko

By Wayne Groszko, Renewable Energy Expert

Feb 3, 2025 · 3 min read

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tiny home kitchen Jessie Litven

Great use of space

The house has a kitchen, open concept dining/living room, office, bathroom, and sleeping loft. It’s easy to get to every part of the space, and it feels comfortable, functional, and inspiring.

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“It was satisfying to start with a design and work to see it through to reality. Every inch and detail has been thought through and worked out, and adjusted. It’s come out pretty close to what I had in mind.” Jessie Litven.

Sustainable materials

Jessie took care to source used, surplus, or salvaged materials from a variety of sources. The stair treads are made from an old bookcase, and the post supporting the corner of the loft is a Douglas fir piece from a centuries-old building.

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tiny home wood shingles

Why we love it

  • Reused and salvaged materials.
  • Inspiring interior with high ceilings, daylight, and wood all around.
  • Comfortable floor plan with good use of space.
  • Insulated with sheep’s wool.
  • Ready for off-grid solar electricity.
  • The office space is amazing!

Photos by Wayne Groszko and Jesse Litven

Wayne Groszko

Renewable Energy Expert

Expert. Practical. Sustainable.

Article by

Wayne Groszko

Wayne Groszko is a consultant, researcher, and teacher in Energy Sustainability with 13 years of experience. He has taught at Dalhousie University and the Nova Scotia Community College, in the Faculties of Engineering, Environmental Science, and Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology. Wayne is also President of the Community Energy Cooperative of New Brunswick, and has worked as Renewable Energy Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre in Nova Scotia. He holds a B.Sc. (Hon.) from the University of Calgary, and a Ph.D. from Dalhousie University.

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