Seija Ojanpera and Tomas Donoso took DIY to a new level when they designed a custom home made from shipping containers that they assembled in the woods of North Georgia, just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Seija, a creative consultant focusing on the hospitality industry, and Tomas, an artist in multiple mediums, combined their skills to create a one-of-a-kind home that perfectly meets their family's needs.

In 2014 — before Tomas and Seija met — he was planning to purchase a fixer-upper to make his own, but he was inspired by two friends to try his hand at building a container home. With his metalworking and welding skills, he was more than capable of bringing this new dream to life.

Designing the home, finding land and purchasing the shipping containers took just 40 days. The containers were dropped at the site and then hoisted into place using ratchet straps and large forklifts. In 2020, Seija and Tomas officially moved in.

Visitors to Seija and Tomas's home step inside the foyer and immediately see the cantilever staircase leading upstairs. Tomas made the stairway himself using an I-beam, iron supports and approximately 1,500 pounds of concrete for the individual stairs.

The foyer also serves as an art gallery where Seija displays a rotating collection of Tomas' photographs.