Couple Pays Just Under 250 Grand For A Tiny House Built Over A Year, Skips The Loft For Open Space, And Still Wishes They Had Put In A Dishwasher

Most people dream about a cozy little house by a river. Nez and Nick actually built one, and the price tag came in just under 250 grand for the house itself.

A small cabin living room with a wood stove and open space

The couple, who have lived in it part-time for about two and a half years, gave a full walk-through on the Tiny House Giant Journey channel. They admit the cost was a little more than expected, but there were a lot of things they wanted.

Nez says the finished home feels like living in a dollhouse. It is also a little treasure trove of her favorite things, from her guitars on the wall to a mug that reads “I hate it.”

A Year To Build, Just Under 250 Grand, And Extra Costs To Get It To The Property

The couple went with Summit Tiny Homes, who they say were willing to customize and shared their wish to try something new. The build took about a year, because, as they put it, you cannot rush perfection.

The price covered the house itself. Getting it into location was another challenge, with its own costs. Because they own the land, they do not pay rent. They pay a tiny mortgage on the tiny house.

Before this, the pair shared a little bungalow. The ranch property is a community spot they bought with Nick’s brother and Nez’s sister, and with the kids grown, they wanted a sanctuary just for the two of them without needing too much.

They Skipped The Loft On Purpose, And Guests Say It Feels “So Expansive”

The plan once included a loft above the living room. The couple scrapped it for visual space, and visitors walk in and say it feels expansive. High ceilings, big south-facing windows and a river view do the rest.

The living room is Nez’s favorite place in the whole world. She writes songs there and makes music under the studio name Ladybaby. The giant couch is where the dogs sleep, and she keeps washable synthetic covers on it, which she calls a must with dogs.

There is plenty of sunshine to help. Nez loves afternoon naps in there because the sun heats the space and the couch is large for a tiny house. As she jokes, the couch takes up the whole house, but everybody has priorities.

A Pink Kitchen, A Copper Tub, And The One Thing They Wish They Had Added

The kitchen is tiny, but Nez says it has everything they need. There is a farmhouse sink, a classic fridge, a small stove, stone-look tiles and cabinets in a salmon pink she worried she might get sick of. She has not. Cooking in a pink kitchen, she says, makes it more fun.

Then comes the confession. They wish they had put in a dishwasher. On the other hand, the sink window gives them a river view while they wash up, and Nez says she does not mind it so much at all.

The bathroom is another favorite, which she describes as a womb room. It has terracotta tiles, wood throughout, a pink sink, a black toilet that gets dusty and a copper tub with a view. She once even made a music video in that tub. Sliding pocket doors save space.

A Water Reserve Under The Bed And A Heated Mirror For Minus 30 Winters

The bedroom is small but cozy, and you can hear the rain. Nez says the hardest part is that you cannot really make a mess with your clothes, so the room is either really clean or really messy. A custom closet was built by Nick’s friend Matt.

The queen bed hides a clever feature. Underneath it is a water reserve, as big as the bed, in case the well runs dry.

The bedroom also has a heated mirror, which was the builder’s idea. Heating and air conditioning are in the living room, and the vent in the bedroom can be weak when winter temperatures drop to minus 30 or minus 40. Switch the mirror on and it radiates warmth.

The Deck, Outdoor Shower And Greenhouse Make The Tiny House Feel Giant

The couple built a large deck to increase their living space. It has an outdoor shower for rinsing off after swimming in the river, a concrete dinner table that will never blow away, a lower terrace for morning coffee and a happy hour spot for evenings.

Nick is co-founder of Routine Natural Beauty, which makes scent-based natural beauty products, so the family has plenty of shampoo. Because the products are biodegradable and natural, they say they can wash their hair in the river and not feel bad about it going downstream.

A greenhouse serves as an extended living space, and it is where the karaoke happens. Inside is a wood-burning stove that is older than any of them put together, a repurposed bar with a fridge and flooring reclaimed from a city project. They try to reuse materials from earlier projects wherever they can.

Outside, a clover field flourishes because clover is drought resistant and native to the area. A small guest trailer is parked nearby for friends, and the whole property is full of kids and family.

What To Think About Before You Go Tiny

Nez says living there has changed her life for the better. It feels like a space to think and to feel closer to nature than she has ever felt.

The lessons for anyone considering a tiny house are practical. Budget for delivery and site setup on top of the sticker price, and decide early whether open space or a loft matters more. Think about which appliances you will truly miss, as a dishwasher made this couple’s wish list.

Plan for your climate, too. Water storage, backup heat sources and a good view of the weather helped this couple settle into a tiny home that does not feel small.

Willow and Hearth