A woman has given fans a peek inside her jaw-dropping shipping container home – complete with a spiral staircase, rooftop deck and epic sunrise and sunset views.
Influencer Lexi Newkirk, who boasts 319,000 followers online, decided a traditional house just wasn’t for her.
Instead, the 26-year-old and her husband, Diego took a leap of faith and built their own unique dream home using a shipping container.
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The couple were inspired by the many Airbnbs they’d stayed in over the years – and splashed out $180,000 creating the striking space, which they’re still adding to.
The couple’s compact but clever home measures 624 sq ft.
Lexi says the reaction online has been “curious, inspired, and incredibly supportive”, with several videos going viral – including one racking up more than 60 million views.
“We didn’t want a cookie-cutter home or a traditional path,” Lexi told What’s The Jam.
“We stayed in a lot of Airbnbs over the years and fell in love with the entire concept, unique spaces, thoughtful design, and creating experiences.
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“Around the same time, we kept seeing shipping container homes on Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram – and even stayed in a couple of Airbnbs – and were fascinated by the sustainability, creativity, and flexibility behind them.
“The more we researched, the more it felt like the perfect mix of everything we loved.
“It was a big leap of faith, but one we felt deeply called to take.”
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Lexi admitted the bold plan raised a few eyebrows at first.
She s, id: “Some people were immediately excited and thought it was the coolest idea ever.
“Others raised eyebrows and were like, ‘A…shipping container? Are you sure?’
“Now that the house is almost done and they’ve seen the vision come to life, everyone loves it.”
The digital marketing agency owner from Austin, Texas, says the biggest difference between her container home and a ‘normal’ house is “how intentional everything feels”.
It includes a bedroom upstairs with sunrise views every morning, 1.5 bathrooms – including a master bathroom with a sunset-facing shower and heated towel rack – plus a spiral staircase leading to the second level.
There’s also an exterior staircase that takes you to the rooftop deck, which Lexi describes as “perfect for yoga, stargazing, or slow mornings with coffee”.
Other standout features include large windows for natural light, a basement, and an Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) that pulls clean water from the air.
Lexi said the basement “always surprises people because you’d never expect that with a container-style build”.
The couple bought 12.5 acres in the Texas Hill Country, where land typically costs between $12,000 and $20,000 per acre.
Their shipping container cost $5,500 and was bought from a local supplier.
A “huge portion” of the work was done by the couple themselves – including framing, insulation, layout, trim, design and painting – while specialists handled plumbing and electrics.
Thanks to low water and electricity use – and a non-traditional mortgage – Lexi estimates their monthly living costs are just $300 to $600, depending on the season.
Lexi said: “Doing it ourselves saved us a ton, but materials and custom work add up fast.
“It’s smaller than a typical home, but it’s far more functional, efficient, and peaceful.
“[But] to be totally honest, it wasn’t as cost-effective as we originally thought, ht and that’s mainly because everything is so custom.
“When you build a shipping container home, almost nothing is standard.
“From insulation and framing to plumbing, electrical, windows, and layout, everything has to be customised to fit the containers.
“Those details add up quickly.
“Our monthly running costs are still fairly low compared to many traditional homes, and with features like generating our own water, we’ve gained long-term sustainability and independence, which was always part of the bigger goal.”
Lexi says one of her favourite things about the home is how connected it feels to nature.
She said, “I love how connected to nature it feels.
“Our bedroom faces the sunrise, the bathroom faces the sunset, and on clear nights we can see the stars from our bedroom, bathtub, and deck.
“And one of the coolest features is our atmospheric water generator from Aquaria, which literally pulls clean water from the air.
“That still blows our minds every day; it makes the home feel even more sustainable and self-sufficient.
“We get messages all the time from people saying our journey gave them the courage to dream differently,
“It’s humbling, what started as a personal build turned into something that motivates others to think outside the box.
“And now that we’re officially turning our home into an Airbnb, it’s even more exciting.”
This Christmas, the couple are planning a cosy festive season in their box home. Lexi added: “Christmas here is going to feel really cosy, simple and meaningful.
“Think twinkle lights, a small tree, warm meals in our shipping container kitchen, and slow mornings wrapped in blankets.
“Because the home is smaller, everything feels more intentional and intimate.
“It won’t be about how big the space is – it’ll be about the warmth and togetherness inside it.”
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