Tiny house enthusiasts Kathryn and Lincoln are living in their first tiny home in Los Angeles in 10 years.
Eventually, they realized they missed their small space and began searching for a tiny house in Idaho that would fit their simple needs.
Kathryn and Lincoln lived in a 400-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles for 10 years.
The couple pooled their savings together and built their 1,600-square-foot dream home.
Although their vintage Boise, Idaho bungalow was beautiful, it didn't quite suit them like the small space the couple once knew and loved.
They set off in search of another lovely dream home of their own, and with the help of Home Made Nation's show “Tiny House Nation,” they prepared to move.
In a YouTube video from a season 3 episode, they tried to recapture their old lifestyle on a budget of $125,000.
After touring three tiny homes in the Boise area, Kathryn and Lincoln settled on a 200-square-foot space made entirely from hay bales.
Characteristics and Complex Emotions
The rustic cottage is adorned with stained-glass windows and barn-plank ceilings, and also features a secluded brick patio.
While storage space in the bedroom was sparse – just a wardrobe and shelves either side of the bed – the couple created a seamless extension to the kitchen.
The potluck, which Kathryn describes as “basically perfect,” allows the couple to save a ton of space.
Pots and pans are suspended above the appliances in sleek, oval racks made of metal and wire.
“I love the kitchen,” Kathryn says, “and for 200 square feet, it's really spacious.”
However, neither of them was in favor of the tiny house right from the start.
“200 square feet is really tight,” Lincoln said. “Not just tight, but we're standing on top of each other. For me, I don't know if it works.”
What shocked them most, even more than the size of the apartment, was the bathroom, which was separated from the bedroom by only a curtain and was only a few feet away from the bed.
The small dining room proved to be a nuisance for the two of them.
About the tiny house
Tiny homes are soaring in popularity, but there's still a lot of confusion surrounding them.
Technically, according to Realtor, a tiny home is between 100 and 400 square feet in size.
Tiny house laws vary from place to place.
It's important to check local codes to ensure your tiny home is legal and built to code.
The family of four was ordered to move out of their tiny home after four years after city officials found they were violating housing laws.
But they ultimately agreed to make do with the space, because it “has character” and workarounds could be put in place, especially for the tiny bathroom and bedroom.
The 550-square-foot lawn is plenty of space for the couple to plant a garden and host guests.
By the end of the episode, the two were planning to invite Lincoln's mother over for a Thanksgiving cookout in their tiny house.
Lincoln plans to eventually upgrade the fixtures in his kitchen and opt for a larger sink.
One homeowner built a tiny house for his mother in his backyard for just $10,000, despite having no experience.
What's more, it costs just $1 a year to build a tiny home on this San Jose lot.
