2019 has been really big year for tiny houses and there’s no question about it that that
this year we’ve seen some truly spectacular small space design.
So in this episode we are going to take a look back over our past year and some of 2019’s
tiny house highlights.
I always used to believe that there would come a time where I had seen all that there
was to see in tiny house world, but the more I see, the more I believe is still out there
to be discovered.
Human creativity is limitless and so too are the possibilities of small space design.
From our travels this year, here are a few stand-out highlights.
To find out more about each of the homes featured in this video, you can find links to the full
tours in the video description.
First, we travel to Melbourne, Victoria and the beautiful home of Merle.
Constructed by her daughter Ferne, Merle’s home is designed to be elderly, disability
and mobility friendly.
“You know my mum’s getting, not older?
A more mature age.
More mature age, that’s what we call it.
My mum was in a position where she was moving back to Victoria where we love with this beautiful
cold weather, and didn’t want to go into something permanent and away from the
family, so we took a journey and said well, let’s build you a tiny.”
Before moving into this house, Merle was struggling to be independent, but thanks to some great
design, she is now able to once again live independently in her home.
Care was taken to ensure the house was completely accessible, with ramps leading up to the home,
wide entrances and zero trip hazards.
The house has also been designed to be wheelchair accessible if needed in the future.
The height of the counter tops were lowered to make it easier for Merle to work in the
kitchen.
A clever lift mechanism allows Merle easy access to her bed and heated floors ensure
that the home is always comfortable and warm.
The incredible porch area has surround cafe blinds making sure that Merle has a lovey
place to do her craft work and of course watch all of the kangaroos hopping around in the
garden.
Ageing can be difficult and the loss of independence is a frightening thought.
What I love about this story is that it really goes to show how thoughtful design can help
people to overcome their mobility challenges.
This is a real example of how good design can significantly improve quality of life!
“Everything is so easy to use, so easy to clean, so easy to live in.
More than easy, it’s a joy”.
On Vancouver Island, British Columbia this next tiny house shows that it really is possible
to accomplish anything you set your mind to!
Matt had absolutely zero building experience when he set out to design and construct his
very own tiny house on wheels.
Matt overcome some huge challenges to make this build possible, and he admits that when
he started constructing his home he didn’t really know what he was getting himself into
but that he has learnt in life that it’s important to stick to your goals in order
to make your dreams come true.
“I’ve learned a lot about perseverance because of a terminal disease that I have.
I’ve got a disease called cystic fibrosis and there’s a lot of pain involved in the
journey with that disease.
A lot of metal barriers and psychological and spiritual walls that need to be overcome
with it and so I think I’ve learned a lot about the value of keeping on when things
get tough and I’ve learned patience through that process with that disease and so when
it came to the house there were plenty of opportunities to quit because things were
getting hard and because I know the rewards that come from waiting and pushing though
struggle, and the lessons that I’ve learned about how your emotions can really lie to
you and how sticking to your goal, sticking to your vision, how that’s more important,
I sort of applied those lessons to the build and I think that’s what helped name get
through.
He put in the hard work, pushed through the challenges and the resulting home is nothing
short of spectacular.
From the grand entrance way with custom-built doors and deer antler handles, his home is
almost reminiscent of a great viking hall.
A high vaulted ceiling gives the home a definite sense of grander and each and every inch of
this home is filled with beauty and the charm which only a hand-built home can boast.
This truly is one of the finest examples of DIY building we’ve seen so far.
“I’d always wanted to build my own home and I thought this was really the most realistic
option for me I thought it would be a really fun, sort of artistic project.
Because it’s smaller you can get a bit more grandiose on the inside and that excited me
and so yeah, I kind of just jumped in, bought a trailer and went to town building.
Melbourne Australia features twice in this years highlights as we visit the beautiful
home of Dolly.
Dolly’s tiny house on wheels might look like a giant dolls house, but in reality this
wonderful, character filled home is one of the most impressive designs we have come across
so far.
“When I told my family that I;’m going to be building a tiny house on wheels, they
thought that was weird and my brother actually laughed at me."
Inside, the home’s design is a bit like a game of Tetris and it really is incredible
just how much has been fit into this tiny house.
The whole tiny house was designed around Dolly’s smaller stature, which enabled her to fit
some really amazing features into this home, such as a loft office where she can even stand
at her desk and an incredible walk-in wardrobe!
“No way!
Is that a walk in wardrobe?
Yes!
That is ridiculous, a tiny house with a walk-in wardrobe.
There is no way that I can stand up in here, but wow what a great idea!”
The best tiny house designs come from where people truly design their homes around their
own unique needs and Dolly’s home is easily one of the best examples we have seen so far
of people constructing a home perfectly to suit them.
This may be a tiny house, but there’s nothing little about the ideas that have gone into
making this a truly beautiful and well thought out home.
“When I designed it, it’s not I’m going to decorate it that way or that.
I originally wanted a bohemian, rustic kind, but then look at how different it is, It’s
white and feminine and because that’s me.
So it’s not the idea of having this design that seems cool and nice, but it evolved based
on what is me.
Based on my personality.
Next up our travels take us to Washington State and the absolutely stunning shipping
container home of Jaimie and Dave.
This beautiful home has been constructed from one 40 ft container with a 20 ft container
stacked on top.
With Dave’s metal working skills and Jaimie’s eye for design, this power couple set about
constructing the home for themselves with the dream of living a debt and mortgage free
life together.
Their dream was almost abruptly cut short, as one day, while working on the container
home Dave suffered a major brain bleed.
“But it was funny, he's laying in the hospital bed, right before the life-flighted him for
surgery and he whispered, barely, but he whispered, "I don't have time for this, we're building
a house" Right, I didn't have time for that!
And I just kept thinking, it's going to be okay, it's going to be okay."
Thankfully, Dave, with Jaimie always by his side was able to recover from this ordeal
and the construction of their container home was even used in Dave’s rehabilitation.
"His therapist actually used our deck and the stairs as part of his therapy to learn
the cognitive problem solving part again, the dexterity with his fingers, the feeling
and sensation of the screws and the drill.
So it was scary for me to watch him use power tools.
It was almost therapeutic.
It was and it gave him a purpose and a reason to get up out of bed every day and a reason
to get up off the couch."
After years of hard work, their dream home is constructed and they are quickly turning
their plot of land amongst the beautiful pacific north west forest into their own personal
paradise.
The home is beautiful, but what really makes this story stand out to me is the love and
dedication that Jaimie and Dave share.
That is what really makes this house a home.
"I think it's been a learning process, right from the beginning to where we're at right
now.
And I think it's been something that we would probably not change.
And it wasn't what we were expecting, our vision was to just get up here mortgage free,
building tiny seemed like the way to do that and I think it's exceeded our expectations
on a lot of levels.
It's introduced us to a healthier lifestyle, a simpler lifestyle, you know, a lifestyle
where we can have time and energy and resources to do other things that are really important
to us and so yeah I wouldn't go back and change anything either.
We're off the treadmill, we don't need more stuff, we got rid of all our stuff to make
this happen, and we don't want it back."
And of course, who can forget the tiny house which broke the internet!
In the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia stands the amazingly impressive,
ultra modern tiny house of Matt and Lisa.
This is a home which really does have it all!
Jet black with hints of cedar, this modern home has a lot going for it!
The home is designed to take full advantage of the Australian weather, with a large outdoor
area designed for entertaining.
Cat lovers will also be really impressed with the huge cat run built out the back!
"Basically I've got these two cats and they're my children and I didn't want anything to
happen to them moving to the bush.
Yeah, it works well, they love it actually.
Stepping inside this home is breathtaking.
The.
High ceilings and skylights help to make this tiny house feel absolutely huge.
Matt’s skill as a builder is evident in this home.
He has a business remodelling kitchens and bathrooms and his experience in construction
shines through in all the beautiful details.
And there's no doubt about it, this tiny house boasts one of the most impressive bathrooms
we have ever seen, with its luxurious double shower.
"I never thought I would see a tiny house with a double shower.
You're not the only one who said that.
Tripple shower even if you count the third one there".
This house was an absolute dream to explore and really goes to show how it’s possibly
to fit an incredible amount of luxury into a small home!
"I came from a small house so the transition was pretty easy for me.
Coming from a bigger house... yeah, it did take me some convincing to sort of wrap my
head around the idea at first, but I can genuinely say I don't miss anything from my large, normal
house.
Designing it and building it together was a fun thing to do as well.
I'm sure we learned a lot about each other in that process.
We did!
It was fun."
Back home in Auckland, New Zealand I have to add another huge personal highlight for
Rasa and I, which was of course the completion of our very own tiny house on wheels.
Rasa and I spend most of our time on the road traveling, and it’s so important for us
to have a place to come back home to and recharge our batteries.
Our home is designed to be completely off the grid, collecting rain water and generating
power through solar.
The home is designed to fit within all the legal road dimensions for safe transport and
easy relocation on New Zealand’s roads.
Inside, the home is light, open and spacious and even has some really beautiful, artistic
features such as the paua shell inlays which really add a lot of character and give me
a big stupid smile each and every time I see them.
Completing this tiny house feels like a really big achievement to me, and it’s a place
both Rasa and I are very proud to call home.
2019 really has been such a fantastic year and I cannot wait to see what 2020 is going
to bring.
Early in the new year we're going to have our very first European episodes which I am
so excited about and those will be coming to you in mid January after Rasa and I take
a very needed break.
We're actually going to have our very first two weeks off in three years which is amazing.
So!
Have a very very happy new year, I wish you all the best and I cannot wait to share more
tiny house adventures with all of you in the new year.
See you then!