This 350 sq ft house on one cent is a sweet revenge, cost is the highlight

Anyone would be surprised by the story of Sumaiyya and Nikhil's house. From a small house covered with sheets by the roadside, Sumaiyya's hard work and Nikhil's support brought them to this 'Paradise', a 350 sq ft house on one cent, full of amenities. Nikhil and Sumaiyya had a love marriage and their life began in a small, sheet-covered house where Nikhil's father, mother, and sisters lived. They wanted to change the inconveniences of their small house without incurring any debt.

Initially, their plan was to build a large, comfortable two-storey house. But, the illness and subsequent death of Nikhil's father disrupted the family's plans. When they thought of postponing the house construction, their little son Aarav came with questions, "Amma, why don't we have a nice sofa in our house? If we had one, we could watch TV there."

Tired of the little one's complaints about the state of the house, Sumaiyya made a decision. They would renovate the house with what they had. Nikhil supported her. One night, Nikhil started demolishing the walls of the old house.

Sumaiyya, meanwhile, had been collecting references for building a small house through Pinterest. She studied cost-effective construction methods in detail, spending hours online. Without seeking anyone's help, she completed the house construction in two months.

The long hall in the old house was divided into two rooms. There was also a tiny kitchen barely enough for one person. All that changed when the house was renovated. As soon as you enter the main door, there's a reasonably spacious living room with a TV unit. Next to it is a small, beautiful modern kitchen and a breakfast counter.

A folding table is used for dining, which can be folded and stored away when not needed. Parallel to this are two bedrooms and a long, comfortable bathroom. Altogether, the area is about 350 square feet. A washing area is set up in the small space behind the house. The old house walls were retained.

For sliding windows UPVC were used. Sumaiyya searched Google to find the best quality at the lowest price. Blinds were used instead of curtains. The total cost for windows and blinds was only Rs 21,000.

The TV unit design was also from Pinterest. It was made of plywood with a stand on top and storage space below. Small curios to enhance the beauty of the house were ordered online.

The roof was made using the old tin sheets. The middle section was slightly raised and sealed with PVC sheets. The cost of the ceiling and roof together was Rs 33,000. Lights were installed in between to enhance the beauty of the roof. The electrical work cost Rs 25,000.

Tiny kitchen
Although it's a small kitchen, it doesn't lack amenities. It''s a modular kitchen with a breakfast counter and storage space. A small fridge suitable for the kitchen is also placed there. A stand with curios is placed above the breakfast counter for decoration. Black tiles are laid on the kitchen countertop and white tiles on the walls, costing Rs 33 per square foot. Aluminium fabrication cupboards are another highlight, costing Rs 15,000 in total. The kitchen is simple yet powerful, with a water dispenser, a square kitchen sink, and an air fryer.

Bedrooms
Initially, they doubted if there would be enough space for two bedrooms. But using cement board to separate the walls saved space and labour costs. A master bedroom with a large bed and a wall wardrobe, and another room were prepared. Ready-made doors were used, costing 2,000 rupees each. They were made of thick plywood. The front door is made of mahogany, costing 6,000 rupees. The bedrooms have tiny window curtains. White vitrified tiles were used on the floor.

Thinking room
When you say bathroom, Sumaiyya corrects you. She calls it the 'Thinking Room'. The bathroom was outside the old house, but it was brought inside during the renovation. Vitrified tiles were laid on the floor. The shower and pipes were modernized. A round mirror, storage space, and a wall stand were also added. There's also space for a washing machine. To add to the beauty, Sumaiyya decorated the bathroom with plants.

Helpers in construction
The low cost is not just due to budget-friendly construction. Nikhil's friends also gave their wholehearted support. Nikhil, who works in painting, has many friends in the construction field. Food was the only payment, which kept the budget on track. A close friend did the wiring and plumbing without charging a single rupee.

Nikhil says that it was his deceased father's blessing that allowed them to complete the house construction without debt. Sumaiyya expresses her heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped them.

Sumaiyya's account book
Sumaiyya meticulously recorded the expenses from the start of the house construction in a small diary. She carefully documented the price of each item, travel expenses, and food expenses along with the date. Including interiors, the complete renovation of the tiny home cost less than Rs 2.5 lakh.