When Andrew Ungerecht and Lauren Westphalen merged and purged individual belongings to move in together, the process was heavy on the “purge.” Their new home in Luther was poised for sunset views and wilderness exploration, but the 825-square-foot structure wouldn’t hold much.
“We both had a couch. We both had a refrigerator. We both had nightstands. We had it all,” Ungerecht said, adding that Goodwill received several donations. “Then we moved in, and it was kind of like a puzzle, trying to fit everything together and learn to live that minimalistic lifestyle, but now that we’re living it, like, we can’t go back at all.”
The engaged couple’s history led them to purchase a tiny home on an expansive property. Ungerecht travels frequently for work and is adept in living out of a suitcase with just the essentials. When Westphalen joins him, they cohabitate well in smaller spaces. In addition, Westphalen volunteers at Willow Ranch Equine Assisted Counseling and hopes to own farm animals someday. They said the countryside home was a perfect fit for them, prompting minimalist living as well as outdoor adventures with their dogs.
“We have exactly what we need, and that’s it,” Westphalen said. “Living in a smaller space, you learn to be so much more intentional with the things you buy. You just don’t want to throw things in here. You want to invest in the nice piece — the one and only piece.”
The property was originally owned and developed by Randy LeBlanc. He had the idea of building a small-footprint home, and he enlisted architect Adam Lanman of Atelier AL to help.
Inspired by the surrounding area’s natural beauty, LeBlanc brought in 40 truckloads of dirt to build a hill and (literally) elevate Lanman’s design. The home’s sloped ceiling and large custom windows maximize views. The front porch, with its unique fixtures and cedar rainscreen, has become a favorite spot for Ungerecht and Westphalen to savor sunsets.
All materials selected for the build were commonplace and readily available, but they were applied to the design in the most thoughtful ways. Lanman said the home was designed to be both economical and high-end.
“Balancing those two things in architecture can be a big trick,” he said, citing the R-panel building material as an example. “The shape of the building and the way we trimmed it out kind of makes it look special. Otherwise, that panel is something you would see on every barn driving across Oklahoma … We just tried to keep it clean and minimal; I think that was the key. And then how much space can you utilize with as few walls, doors and windows as possible.”
LeBlanc and Lanman both said hearing how the tiny home is currently being enjoyed is heartwarming.
“We were just trying to do our best with every detail. I think everyone was sort of enamored with this project. There’s a lot of love put into the build,” Lanman said. The minimalist design, he said, demonstrates the connection between architecture and lifestyle. “One of the main points of the project was that we can go smaller and still live a really beautiful life.”
Embracing a simple-yet-beautiful lifestyle, Ungerecht echoed the sentiment: “The more stuff we move out of the house, the more love we move into it — and the more we can share it with other people.”
