Tena lives and works out of her BleakHausTruk, an art & recording studio constructed with hand tools & 99% recycled/repurposed materials found mostly for free on the street or in the trash in San Francisco!
She has about 100 square feet in her 14-foot-long 1997 Isuzu FRR 14 foot that she’s put more than 8,000 miles on traveling around America. The space is completely off-grid, with solar electricity, gravity fed sink & stainless steel bath tub, propane stove top & wood burning stove and compost toilet.
“. I never knew I could feel such peace in a roommateless creative space to call my own. Sadie, my sweet pit mix, was also found on the streets & was similarly suffering from PTSD, so we have been healing happily together,” Tena wrote us.
She spent $13,000 on the truck purchase, conversion and engine maintenance since 2015. How amazing! Check out the photo tour of her bus below.
Don’t miss other interesting tiny homes – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
Tena’s Housetruck and Recording Studio
Images via Tena Lethe
When her house is closed, she has some cool graffiti on the back
Images via Tena Lethe
Here’s the view of the inside of the truck.
Images via Tena Lethe
Here’s her kitchen and the stainless steel tub in the corner.
Images via Tena Lethe
Here’s her art desk area.
Images via Tena Lethe
Here’s her sound and recording equipment
Images via Tena Lethe
She has some really cool lighting in here! And a skylight.
Images via Tena Lethe
Love the stained glass on this skylight.
Images via Tena Lethe
This skylight has a cool twig wreath around it.
Images via Tena Lethe
A very organized towel set-up!
Images via Tena Lethe
Here’s her tiny kitchen with gravity-fed sink.
Images via Tena Lethe
Her red piano is awesome!
Images via Tena Lethe
She’s made this a happy home for herself since 2015.
Images via Tena Lethe
The trunk under the piano is awesome, too.
Images via Tena Lethe
Such clever clothing storage!
Images via Tena Lethe
So many cute details here.
Images via Tena Lethe
Love the look behind the garage door.
Images via Tena Lethe
Little window boxes make this place look like home.
Images via Tena Lethe
House at night.
Images via Tena Lethe
Highlights:
- Solid state PA system
- Acoustic panel
- Skylights
- Internal solar lighting
- A loft bed
- Several electronic music gadgets & effects pedals
- A cello
- An oboe & a bright red upright piano
- Small garden boxes outside
- Cuckoo clock doorbell
- Lots of extra storage both inside & out
- Off-grid
- Gravity-fed sink
- Stainless steel tub
- Solar powered
Learn More:
Related Stories:
- He Lost Everything in a Crash, but Rebuilt This Amazing Truck Home
- Her DIY Truck Home has Curtains with Pockets – Brilliant!
- They Bought A House, and Then Turned to VanLife
Our big thanks to Tena for sharing! 🙏
You can share this using the e-mail and social media re-share buttons below. Thanks!
If you enjoyed this you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more!
You can also join our Small House Newsletter!
Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter! Thank you!
More Like This: Tiny Houses | Van Dwelling | RV Living | Housetrucks
See The Latest: Go Back Home to See Our Latest
Natalie C. McKee
Latest posts by Natalie C. McKee (see all)
- Rustic THOW w/ Tin Ceiling and Luxury Soaking Tub - June 10, 2023
- This Family Skoolie Has the Coolest Kids’ Bunkroom! - June 10, 2023
- Incredible Micro House Built on Tiny Japanese Truck - June 9, 2023
Very creative, love it.
My career was music. Been in many Recording Studio’s. This is very nice. Creative.
Such an amazing small and huge space for expansive thought and unfettered creativity. If you ever come to London, Ontario Canada I would love to host some events or no events whichever comes first.
Funny you should mention that John cuz i was just thinking about doing another north-east-south-west circle thru Canada this time! Keep in touch🤘😇🤘
I think it’s great! She has the best of both worlds. I might have missed it, but wondering where she sleeps?
very inspirational !! wow, what a creative mind can accomplish is most wonderful !! i tried to listen to your music but got stuck at the site (not really smart about computers & sites & stuff like that ),but i play my keyboards & drums & kalimba & dream about people like me that bravely struck out on there own !!kudos to you tena you rock the house p.s. make it easier to get to your music id buy an album just on principle your new fan thomas cirillo a new york \ player
All the music is posted for download a
https://deletist.bandcamp.com/
But there’s also a ton of videos if that’s more your thing ?
https://m.youtube.com/user/0deletist0
Very industrious. There’s so many wonderful things to look at I will probably be going back and forth through the pictures for a while. The only thing I question is where does she sleep?
The loft bed is against the wall opposite the piano. Hard to see it from the door but i made it that way for extra privacy so that no one can see me unless i poke my head out. 😹
P.S. it’s all about turning the totally devastating catastrophy of losing everything into an opportunity to explore your newfound liberation. It does take time though….usually about 3x longer than you initially think it’s going to take, but it is completely worth it. And when you reach the scary jumping off point and are pooping bricks in yer britches, it helps to remind yourself that “courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to stand up and face it.” You got this. Especially for survivors of c-ptsd + any form of abuse = you’ve already made it through way worse things in life. All you have to do is learn how to trust yourself & the universe at large then grab the steering wheel of your most authentic you. 🖤
ONE wonderful AMAZINGLY talented lady! I have trouble tuning in a clear playing RADIO STATION. FORGET making the music or singing!