Are you the type of person who believes in dreams or visions? Macy Miller was an architectural intern in Boise, ID who literally woke up from a dream of living in a space that had everything she'd need — and nothing she didn't, and she knew she had to make the dream a reality. As she writes on her blog, "I got obsessed with the idea and started Googling things looking for other examples and found this whole community of people that think the same things…Once I started talking to people who were curious about the same things as me I got more confident it IS possible and that it IS the right path for me." Macy is referring to, of course, the Tiny House Movement, and it's a movement that has changed her life. She has completely designed and built the house herself and she can proudly state that it is 100% her own creation. Now with a partner, a Great Dane, and an infant sharing the house, she's looking to expand it. She keeps followers in tune with her developments on her blog, MiniMotives, but fortunately she was generous enough to give us her time and access to some beautiful photos of the finished product. I have seen my fair share of beautiful tiny houses at LittleThings, but Macy's is definitely one of the most modern and clean feeling. I love her aesthetic and that it's unique — because it's all from her dream. Please SHARE this incredible tiny house if you believe people should listen to what their dreams are telling them.
As an architectural intern, Macy felt well-educated in terms of design, but lacked knowledge of construction.
She felt that firsthand knowledge of construction was vital to success in her chosen career, and so she decided to design and build her own tiny house.
It took 18 months of construction as she worked both a full-time and part-time job.
And it wasn't always easy...
She broke a heel and her back after she fell off the roof, but even that didn't deter her. If anything, it made her stronger and more determined. And the result has been worth it. She says, "I have fallen in love with the entire tiny house concept and will definitely be using this amazing adventure in my future life endeavors."
For a first-time home builder, she's has created something beautiful, modern, and...
...definitely enviable.
For the exterior, she knew she wanted a natural feeling with woods in mixed patterns.
She started with a color vision board to inspire her before committing to any final decision.
For the interior, she opted for a clean design using black and white.
She now admits that, if she could change something, she might go for a lighter wood on the floor. With a Great Dane in the family, that floor can get quite dirty.
The entire house is 196 square feet, but it has everything she needs, although she might expand the house as her family continues to grow.
In her kitchen, she has a microwave, fridge, oven, and a four-burner stove — plus she has put a grill on the patio.
She even has a washer/dryer combo in the house. (I'm jealous. I have to lug my laundry a block down the road to do mine.)
The house is hooked up to electricity, and water is provided by a plain hose hookup that is run through a filtration system.
Past the kitchen comes the living room/bedroom area, where she has space to work, sleep, and socialize.
Lofting the bed allows for additional storage beneath. She actually considers the limited amount of storage a blessing because it forces her to discard unnecessary junk.
In her drawers, she is able to store her sewing machine, hiking gear, art supplies, her wardrobe, a camera, seasonal house decorations, and much more!
One house aspect she misses is a nice soaking tub, but the amount she is saving every month allows her an occasional hotel room with hot tub access. She only pays $93 a month for all her bills — including her cell phone bill.
The house itself only cost a little over $11,000 to build. Surprisingly, the most expensive part of the house was a $2,000 composting toilet!
She has written an e-book about the process, which is available for purchase at her website. Definitely check it out if you are interested in learning more about her philosophies and process. She tells us, "I have found a lot of enjoyment helping others find their way to this lifestyle, this was one of my efforts at that goal."
Macy now teaches and wants to inspire more people to live simply, cheaply, and in an environmentally friendly way. She continues to inspire people based on her dream.
If you would like to purchase her e-book, you can buy a copy by clicking this link.
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