Owning your own home is a huge milestone, especially in today’s chaotic housing market. Buyers are often forced to make split-second decisions to lock something down before it’s off the market, and homes in some cities sell in under 24 hours. But it’s a big decision, and it can be hard to find your dream home under those circumstances. If you’re fortunate enough to build, that’s a whole other story.

This woman did just that. At only 22 years old, after years of saving and an unexpected inheritance from her late grandfather, she built her dream home from the ground up. A little cottagecore, a dash of dark academia, custom murals, and vibrant colors. It was cozy, whimsical, and 100% her. She paid for it, so why not? And luckily, she found a husband who adored it just as much as her.