Shalina Luna and Ben Griffith embarked on a visionary journey, carefully planning a lasting legacy for their children. Their foresight led them to acquire a plot of land in Ignacio, Colorado, with the intention of building a custom home for their offspring when they reached adulthood. As Joli Galvan celebrated her coming of age, the couple turned their desires into tangible reality.
The couple built the house off the grid using cob-covered straw bales on a 34 x 17 foot concrete slab.
Cob is a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water and is fire resistant.
The house has three different partitions that they built in segments.
The rooms on either side are 12×14 feet, while the middle room is 6 feet wide for the kitchen and bathroom.
The living room and attic bedroom are on one side of the house, while the study is on the other.
Their goal is to create a home that is both warm and rustic, something their young daughter would want to live in for the rest of her life.
This straw bale house is great because it’s completely off the grid.
Everything in the house, including the electric pump under the kitchen sink that uses the water they draw, is powered by solar panels.
While the bales do a great job of heating the house, they also have a ceramic heater handy that runs on solar power for those really cold winter days.
In addition, they built a cob hot tub powered by a wood stove.
Ben and Shalina also sourced their materials from the neighborhood or on their property. Their budget for this house was ten thousand.
Four weeks later, Jolie’s beautiful home was completed.
Ben and Shalina also sourced their materials from the neighborhood or on their property. Their budget for this house was ten thousand.
Four weeks later, Jolie’s beautiful home was completed.
As you can see, the cob perfectly complements the wood used in the upper part of the house and gives off a farmhouse feel. The glass panels and the bottle wall added a distinctive touch to the design. The loft bed has an amazing view and the bedroom seems very comfortable.
The living area is downstairs with plenty of room for extra chairs in case Joli wants to host visitors and hang out.
There were dedicated storage spaces on each step of the bed stairs, which were tall enough for her.
There was an amazing kitchen! It has all the charming details that add character to the house.
That sink was a true work of art and matched the hardwood worktop beautifully. It was a nice surprise when Shalina gave her daughter some kitchenware that had been passed down from generation to generation.
That sink was a true work of art and matched the hardwood worktop beautifully. It was a nice surprise when Shalina gave her daughter some kitchenware that had been passed down from generation to generation. Despite its small appearance, the bathroom provides everything it needs.
Shaline joked that even though it was inside, it was called “indoor” rather than “outdoor”, but they used the same idea. The water supply is in a container next to the sink and the toilet works similarly. to the composting toilet.
Finally, a beautiful study area seems to be a good place to focus and learn. Adjacent to it is an antique chest of drawers and a chic red armchair. In addition, they created small alcoves for Joli to store her books, which she cherished and referred to as “book nooks” because she felt that way. It’s a great addition for the voracious reader.
The family’s experience building their home was also highlighted in the episode “Building Off The Grid” on Discovery. Wait until you see Joli show off her new home with such excitement!
In a thoughtful gesture, Shalina Luna and Ben Griffith envisioned their children’s future and invested heavily in Ignacio, Colorado, to build a one-of-a-kind, off-the-grid home. They turned their dreams into reality, creating a cozy house of straw bales covered with cobs on a concrete slab, a beautiful gift for their daughter Joli Galvan when she was growing up.
Measuring 34 x 17 feet, the house has three different partitions that offer separate spaces for different purposes. With rooms on either side and a central space with a kitchen and bathroom, the design focused on warmth and rustic charm—a place their daughter could envision her whole life.
The home, which promotes sustainability, works completely off the grid, is powered by solar panels, and offers innovative solutions such as a wood-fired hot tub for the stove. The family sourced materials locally or on their property and completed the project within their $10,000 budget in just four weeks.
The interior represents a perfect combination of functionality and aesthetics. The loft bedroom offers stunning views, while the living area exudes a farmhouse feel, complete with bold glass panels and a wall of bottles. Every space, from the kitchen to the bathroom and study, has been designed with meticulous attention to detail and personal touches, including rare kitchenware and custom storage solutions.
Their heartwarming journey in building this remarkable home was featured on Discovery’s ‘Building Off The Grid’, where Joli was eager to share her excitement about her new abode.
Overall, the house is a testament to the family’s dedication, creativity, and determination to provide their daughter with a unique and sustainable home she can cherish throughout her life.