Most middle schoolers probably have other things on their minds besides building houses.
But Luke Thill, a 13-year-old from Dubuque, Iowa, is unlike any other middle schooler you’ve seen before.
This talented and proactive boy has crafted his very own little house — in his parent’s backyard.
The project cost him roughly $1,500 USD — and now Luke is living his dream in his little cottage.
Come on in and have a look at what it looks like inside.
I think it’s safe to say that Luke is not like many of his 13-year-old peers. In a time of iPads, smartphones, gadgets, and X-Boxes, this young man decided to keep himself busy in a different and more ‘old-fashioned’ way. As he explains on his YouTube channel, his desire to build a small house grew out of feeling bored last summer.
After some thorough research, Luke had a pretty good idea of how he was going to put his plan into action.
The Process
It took him about a year to get the money and materials he needed to build the house. Luke mowed lawns, started a fund-raiser online, and ran errands for anyone who needed help in the neighborhood to make money.
An electrician Luke was friends with helped him install the electricity in exchange for Luke cleaning his garage out, for instance.
Luke used about 75 percent recycled material, many of which were things left over from his grandma’s house. The front door of the house was a gift from an uncle’s friend.
The 89-square-foot house is 10 feet long and 5 1/2 feet wide, with electricity but no plumbing, so no water or bathroom… yet.
“I liked the minimalism,” he told The Des Moines Register. “And I wanted to have a house without a huge mortgage.”
Luke has made several video clips and posted them online, where he talks about his project as many have grown curious about the little house.
As you can imagine, Luke also received some help from his parents, both financially and with the building itself.
But dad Greg made sure that it would be Luke himself who would pay for most of his project and also build most of it himself.
“It was a chance for a kid to do something more than play video games or sports,” Greg told The Des Moines Register. “It teaches life lessons.”
Teenager’s Dream
The house is in many ways a teenager’s dream, an oasis where you can chill and hang out in. It has a microwave, a TV, and a loft with a bed.
There’s even a barbecue and flowers at the back.
Luke usually does his homework after school at his new house and some nights during the week he gets to sleep there.
Luke already has aspirations to build another house — one that’s a little bigger for when he starts college. He also hopes to inspire others to follow their dreams:
“I want to show kids it’s possible to build at this age,” he says in one of his videos.
You can really see how proud he is about his project below.
Luke’s story is a great example of what a child can achieve with a clear goal, a strong worth ethic, and support from home.
Chrissy Teigen Shares Photos of Her Kids, and People Keep Noticing the Same Worrying Detai
Chrissy Teigen recently shared a series of sweet photos capturing her two youngest children. While many people found the pictures adorable, others spotted a concerning detail. They quickly commented on it, causing a stir in the comments.
The 38-year-old model shared a series of photos on her Instagram account featuring her two youngest children—daughter Esti, 18 months, and son Wren, 13 months. “Almost home to you!!!! Grateful to our household of love who fills our iCloud album daily while we bring home the bacon,” she wrote, adding a playful note about her husband, John Legend, calling him “the luxe pancetta.”
In the first photo, Wren is sitting on the floor, sipping from a cup, surrounded by his toys, including a small Target shopping cart. The following two pictures capture Esti playing with a hairless cat and sitting at a piano, wearing a pink dress with a matching headband.
The series of photos continues with a shot of Wren grinning at the camera while enjoying a plate of pasta. Teigen has been on the go this summer, recently returning from a trip to Paris where she watched the 2024 Summer Olympics. During the trip, her choice of outfit stirred up some controversy. She returned home from her European travels last week, sharing on Instagram that she was “back with my littles.”
While many people commented on how adorable Teigen’s children look, some were worried about the model being away from her kids so often. “How many nannies do you have? I bet you miss your mom being there with you,” one follower wrote. “I’m sure the kids would rather have their parents at home. Do you really need to work another day in your life?” another asked.
But most people supported Teigen as a working mom and noted how beautiful her kids looked. “Happy parents = happy kids,” someone commented. “Enjoy seeing your beautiful family! Always looking so happy and smiling,” another user wrote. “Cuteness overload!!! These pics are sweet like sugar, just like the whole family,” another follower agreed.
When Chrissy Teigen shared unfiltered photos from her family vacation, many praised her for not being ashamed of her “mom body.” She embraced her body’s “imperfections” and inspired many women who might be worried about how their bodies look after having children. Many people left warm comments on her pictures, thanking her for being so honest and open.
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