When Michelle Jonice considered the life she wanted to live after her youngest child left the nest, she knew she wanted a simpler life and that she wanted to get there without taking on debt. While her dream was to renovate an Airstream, her funds were limited so she decided to build her own tiny house on a small trailer and fit her new life in just 144 square feet.
Her trailer was purchased for just $600 and from there she got to work! Michelle poured her heart and soul into the design and build of her tiny home for 15 months, obsessing over every detail and making it so it was perfect for her future life. One element was this staircase. The approach steps are storage containers for shoes and underneath the case is a spot for her
kitty box. Then each step has a storage cubby!
Her sitting room is in the middle of the house and feels like a room in a larger house thanks to the cozy chairs and sideboard.
The kitchen is both modern and vintage with the tile backsplash and pendant lights next to the white cabinets and antique-looking stove and refrigerator. We love the wooden accents that bring warmth to the kitchen.
The bathroom has a shower stall and a composting toilet. The space may be small but the wood trim around the windows and the stone tile floor make it feel luxurious.
The loft is extra-wide and is wrapped in reclaimed wood. She added lots of storage in the form of nightstands and hanging cubbies. Windows on all sides of the loft let in natural light and fresh air when opened.
Michelle made this tiny house everything she wanted and did it all for under $20,000 while putting her two sons through college as a single mother. We think she’s our hero!
If you want to learn more about Michelle’s journey or her incredible tiny house that she names “The Empty Nest”, go to her blog at http://mytinyemptynest.blogspot.com. She blogs regularly about her tiny house journey and provides tips on how you can go tiny.
While it may be called “The Empty Nest”, we think this home will always be full of love and laughter for years to come!
