The Tiny House movement has gained traction in recent years for a number of reasons. Rising housing costs, an attraction to minimalism, and a love of DIY projects have spurred hundreds of people to build their own tiny living space.
For single mom Shalina, it was a mix of factors that prompted her to build a tiny home for herself and her 15-year-old daughter Katie.
“Before deciding to go tiny, I actually was living in the Bay Area with my daughter,” she said. “It’s a lot more expensive in the Bay Area and the rent just kept going up and up. And I also always really had a dream to build my own house. And so, when I came across the Tiny House movement, it just kinda clicked and it made sense to me.”
They got their chance when Shalina’s father offered to let them move onto his one-acre property in Sacramento.
It was the perfect place to construct their home. So Shalina and Katie took him up on his offer and got to work.
A contractor himself, Shalina’s father had many of the tools and materials they needed to get started on their new home.
The DIY building process took two years from start to finish, but Shalina and Katie love living in their new home.
The space, they say, doesn’t change things for them. They feel like they’re living in luxury.
The home is built on a foundation of an 8-by-32-foot trailer, which is tiny indeed. They were able to find a lot of building materials at a discount, which kept the cost very reasonable.
As for where their home is currently parked, Shalina says they were looking for a location within easy distance of a high school for 15-year-old Katie.
Some friends directed her to a park that was in the perfect spot.
Since moving in, they’ve also added a deck, fence, and shed for backyard storage. The house may be small, but it looks like a completely normal living space.
One of the best parts of building her own tiny home?
Shalina got to make her own decisions about the layout and how she wanted the space to flow. And there’s more space than you think would be available. Her kitchen, for example, is fully equipped with a refrigerator, dishwasher, and every other appliance they need.
“It is a great feeling, actually,” said Shalina. “It’s a huge accomplishment, really, and that feels really good. Over the two years of the build, I actually feel like I’ve grown a lot as a person. I’ve challenged myself a lot. I got over a lot of fears throughout the process — even down to my fear of spiders.”
As for her daughter, she loves her room, especially since she got to make so many decisions to personalize it.
Mother and daughter say that even though they argue sometimes, they do just fine living in a tiny space together.
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