Talkin’DIY: Part One

by khara&jesse · August 13, 2020

Sitting on the Porch, End of Move In Day

No, we didn’t build this house ourselves (though that would have been really cool if we’d felt we had the time, skills and resources.) But we did formulate this life change experiment ourselves through research, creativity and trial and error. And continue learning, we do.

It usually starts with inspiration, right? Well, sometimes you look at your life, and ask, “How’s it going? Are my life choices feeling intentional lately?” Sometimes what starts as a groove can over time become a rut. So, with some fresh awareness, we came up with some goals for our intentional selves…

1. Live with less stuff
2. Live outside more
3. Live in some new and beautiful places

THE HOUSE
The trendy idea of tiny houses seemed it could be a fit for all of these. Plus it would be our first opportunity to own a home that could last and a creative opportunity to design one that would suit us. So, we settled into watching episodes of Tiny House Nation, subscribed to Tiny House Magazine, attended Tiny House Jamboree in Austin, and read blogs like Tiny House Giant Journey. We balanced our savings with research on finance & insurance options with our bank & family for both the house and a mighty truck to pull it. Then we came up with a baseline of priorities…

Basic needs
24’-28’ trailer with a deck built over the gooseneck for added living space
Approx. 250-300 square feet, 15,000 lbs max
Storage options in loft, under stairs and exterior utility closet
Blended kitchen/living room space with large sink, stovetop/oven and apartment-sized fridge
Bedroom on the gooseneck deck that we could stand up in
Small bathroom with sink, short tub, compost toilet and apartment-sized stackable washer/dryer
Mini Split (ductless) Air Conditioner/Heater
Small tank water heater
Standard RV utility hookups (ie 30/50amp electric, water hose, grey water exit line)

Wishes
Fold Up Porch
Plenty of windows for natural lighting
Clean lines, natural/light colors
Solar Power source with battery backup
Catwalk (literally for the cats to stroll the upper windows)

We reached out to some distant builders whose work we liked: Escape, Rocky Mountain, and Wood Iron. And then we met with some local builders: TexZen, Nomad and Nook. In the end, we chose a local option so we could be more connected to the build process to understand it better and make informed choices along the way.

The Making of the Big Tiny House…

We contracted with Nook at the end of March 2019 and moved into the house in early August. Summarizing the build process is complicated. It was both exciting and difficult. We enjoyed collaborating on materials, colors and design solutions and were frustrated by communication drops and delays late in the game. It was a particular struggle to discover the house was far over the weight agreed upon, just as it was finishing up for delivery. After managing disappointment and weighing our options, we decided to take the leap, buy a bigger truck and move into our 18K pound house on wheels. Along the way now, we find the house has its quirks and some things we might’ve done differently, but it is itself a beautiful space that has taken us to some beautiful places.

La vida en casita grande…