Jen used to live in a big house with her family. But after her divorce, she sold the big house and built a small, beautiful home called a Tiny Home. It’s just right for her and her daughter.
Jen loves her new home because it fits their needs and it’s affordable, even on her single income. The best part? Her home has wheels, so she can move it anywhere!
Hi, I’m Jen! I’m thrilled to give you a tour of my Tiny Home, which I call my “not so tiny mansion.” A few years ago, I had everything—a husband, two kids, and a big 3,000-square-foot house.
But things changed after my divorce. I started to wonder how I could afford a nice home by myself. That’s when I thought about a Tiny Home. It seemed like a great way to simplify life.
Building my Tiny Home wasn’t easy, especially because it was right after the pandemic started. Things got delayed, and costs went up by $20,000 unexpectedly, making the total about $150,000. But in the end, it was all worth it. My house is perfect, and I love it.
Welcome, everyone, to the inside of my tiny house—sometimes I call it a “tiny kitchen on wheels.” The main reason I went tiny was to have my dream kitchen, just smaller. It’s my favorite part of the house.
People are always surprised when they see it. They often say they didn’t expect it to be this nice and that my kitchen has more storage than theirs!
One thing I love about this space is all the windows. They let in so much natural light that I hardly need to turn on any lights until it’s dark outside. There are even solar-powered skylights above.
One cool thing I like to show people is how I can close the skylights with a remote control—it feels like something out of a futuristic cartoon. It’s great for cooling off the place on a hot day.
The bathroom, or as I call it, “the tiny spa,” was a must-have in this house. I really wanted a soaker tub. The tubs I found were expensive, but I ended up with a trendy trough tub that fits my style perfectly. It keeps the water warm, and after a long day outside, it’s amazing.
I also made sure to have a separate toilet area. There’s no smell, but I keep some poo pourri around because it’s funny.
In my master loft, I have a king-sized bed. It’s great for when guests come—my daughter sleeps with me, and they use her loft. There are lots of ways to make room for visitors.
I’m on this journey alone, but if I ever share this space with someone else, I knew I’d want a king-sized bed for the extra room.
I won’t lie, the first time I stood in this space, I was worried it was too small. But once you start setting things up, it works out perfectly.
I also got a hanging chair, which I’ve seen in other tiny houses. It’s a great addition that provides an extra spot to relax. At the end of the day, or between meetings, I love to sit there with a coffee or a glass of wine and just hang out.
Welcome to the outside of my “not so tiny mansion.” It has a modern farmhouse look. I loved the chevron design I saw on another house, so I decided to put that around my French doors. It really makes this part of the house stand out. Without it, the house would look plain.
My house is 34 feet long and 10 feet wide. It has two lofts that pop out, adding an extra foot on each side, making it 36 feet wide in total. There are 18 windows, including the French doors, and four skylights on the roof. Two of these skylights can open all the way up for roof access.
There’s also plenty of storage. I have large storage spaces on both sides of my house, enough room for all my stuff.
Living here, I’ve learned you can manage on one income. You get to choose your lifestyle. Now, I don’t have to compromise on things that are important to me. I don’t need to be in a relationship to afford my lifestyle.
I’ve been married, had kids, and tried the traditional American dream, but now I realize it can be whatever I want. Your house could be a school bus, a tiny house, or even a van.
It’s not about being stuck inside a small space, because life is about going places, meeting new people, and seeing new things. You can’t do that tied down by a mortgage. When your home works for you, you’re happier and you live your best life. You only get one shot at it.
Follow Jen’s journey and see more of her house on Instagram at trailheadtiny and watch a video tour by Tiny House Giant Journey!
