After learning that her brother Chris, then 33, was dissatisfied in his residential home, Tiffany Chou, then 36, relocated from New York City to Maui, Hawaii in 2019 to take care of him.
Having not spent much time with her adopted brother Chris in the preceding fifteen years, Tiffany was understandably nervous about moving in with him again.
Tiffany and her 38-year-old artist lover, Erin Reid, decided to construct Chris a garden home. Erin managed to construct the building in just three months and for less than fifteen thousand dollars.
In August of 2022, Chris made the move in and declared his undying love for his new abode.A restroom and water tank are conveniently located near Chris’s bedroom; he uses both frequently during the night.
A safety induction stove in his kitchen prevents accidental overuse, and his food is neatly stored in individual portions in the refrigerator.
This house has given Chris a new sense of freedom, and it ensures that Tiffany and Erin will continue to have their own place, which will be crucial after the birth of their baby Luna in September 2022.
Designer of accessories on Maui Tiffany: ‘I didn’t really realize what I was getting myself into when I moved back and took in Chris.It took us some time to figure out what would work best for him to be living with us.’
He can be rather loud and overwhelming at times, so we figured it would be best if he had his own private place, literally right next to ours.
He thinks it’s great, and the difference is remarkable. Even if you don’t ask him to, he’ll do the dishes.
In 2019, Tiffany relocated back to Hawaii and took in her brother Chris after learning that he was unhappy there.
After saying, ‘We hadn’t lived together since we were teenagers, and I thought his behaviors would have altered,’she explained that they had not been together for a while.
He may be rather loud and intimidating at times.To solve the problem, we erected a small cottage for him.
Erin completely dismantled and rebuilt a small structure in our garden.Chris was involved in the early stages of construction and even got to choose the paint colors for his new home.
Chris’s house took three months to build, but by August of 2022, he was finally able to call it home.
We placed the restroom and a glass of water close to his sleeping quarters.In addition, we installed an induction stovetop so that he wouldn’t be able to accidentally leave it on.
He has no self-control around food, so we assist him prepare meals.Having Chris’s own room, though, has changed everything for the better.
The house was constructed from salvaged materials, and it is furnished entirely with pre-owned items.
Tiffany observed that “Chris has the personality of a five or six-year-old,” but that the stability provided by his own home had encouraged greater self-reliance.
This has freed me from the burden of continuously reminding him to get things done.