In April 2015, we visited Simply Home Community in Portland, Oregon, to film a tour of Lina Menard’s Tiny Home and a walk-through of the tiny house community with member Tony Diethelm. Recently we found ourselves back in Portland and decided to pay another visit to Simply Home Community. This time we toured Karin Parramore’s Tiny House – “Serenity.”
“Serenity” tiny home parked in a Tiny House Community:
*Watch a new video tour of Simply Home Community, featuring community member Karin Parramore.
An Affordable Housing Option
Karin graduated from medical school and realized she couldn’t afford a normal-sized home in Portland without going into debt. After watching a news feature on Jay Shafer’s tiny home, she was inspired to build her own tiny home to live debt-free. During construction, Karin felt empowered by the act, which validated her decision.
“When I’m at home, I can feel completely at ease with myself.”
– Karin Parramore, on her Tiny Home
“Serenity” – the name Karin chose for her tiny abode – has a double meaning. A self-proclaimed geek, Karin named her tiny sanctuary after the starship on her favorite TV show, “Firefly.” Karin also feels the definition of “Serenity”matches the mantra of her home: the state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled.
Features of Serenity Tiny Home:
- Cat door & “Pet Peeks” (porthole windows)
- Hand crafted DIY composting toilet
- Downstairs futon sleeper for guest
- Three skylights
- Envi heater
- Cork flooring
- Custom french doors
Community Living
Currently Karin’s tiny home is parked in a backyard tiny house community in Portland, Oregon, along with two other tiny homes. Karin’s role in the community is to take care of the garden. This summer they harvested more than enough fruit and greens to feed all seven community members!
“I have the opportunity to be as communal as I want, but I also have my little retreat.”
– Karin Parramore, on Simply Home Community
Simply Home Community is about to celebrate their one year anniversary. We’d like to congratulate Karin, Tony, Lina and the other community members, for creating a sustainable tiny house community model. For updated information and a new video tour of Simply Home Community, click here.
I was wondering if I could find out where Karin found her Mini Bathtub, maybe the brand and size it is. It is exactly what I was looking for.
I’d also love to know.
I’m getting ready to install a different bathtub in my Tiny Home, and Karen’s tub is exactly what I’ve been searching for.
My ladder is fixed, it is quite easy to get up and down, once you get the hang of it. My door was crafted from two sidelights, the windows that normally go next to a full sized door in a full sized house. I love my door! Thanks for your questions, Gail!
Hi Karin,
I love Serenity! Thanks for sharing her. I have a couple of questions for you. Your loft ladder…..it is stationery, yes? How easy/hard is it to get into the loft space with the ladder where it is? Also, LOVE LOVE your entry doors….where did you find them, what are their dimensions, etc.?