A Tiny Home With a Big Heart: Inside Vivian's Beautiful Custom Home

“I’m not a person who wants to live in the suburbs in a house that looks like everyone else’s. I like things that have character.” — Vivian

For Vivian, downsizing wasn’t about sacrificing space—it was about creating a life with more meaning. Nestled in Tiny Timbers, an agrivillage (“Agrihood”) in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, Vivian’s custom-built tiny home is proof that thoughtful design, reclaimed materials, and a close-knit community can create a home that’s every bit as inspiring as it is practical. Rather than searching for the biggest house she could afford, Vivian searched for something much harder to find: connection.

“The tiny home wasn’t the main thing. It was the community.” – Vivian

Home at a Glance

Location: Tiny Timbers Agrihood, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin
Builder: No Boundaries Tiny Homes
Year Built: 2024
Size: 10′ x 40′ (400 sq. ft.)
Community: 16-home Agrihood
Estimated Build Cost: Approximately $140,000
Porch Addition: Approximately $20,000
Monthly Lot Rent: $500
Exterior: Cedar trim with custom stained-glass window
Special Features:
- Fully custom floor plan
- 2 full bedrooms
- Reclaimed wood and architectural salvage throughout
- Covered four-season porch
- Antique stained-glass bedroom window (1880s)
- Full-size kitchen
- Loft bedroom with catwalk
- Full bathtub
- 10×12 storage shed

Designed Around Character

From the very beginning, Vivian knew she didn’t want a cookie-cutter house. After discovering No Boundaries Tiny Homes, she immediately connected with their philosophy of incorporating reclaimed materials into every build. Touring their workshop filled with salvaged architectural pieces gave her the confidence to create something truly one-of-a-kind.

One of the home’s most memorable details hangs overhead. The ceiling is made from reclaimed high school gymnasium bleachers—complete with original markings.

“I think I found a little gum on my ceiling upstairs!” Vivian laughs.

The catwalk railing is another conversation starter, crafted from iron salvaged from a pre-Civil War cemetery. Throughout the home, every reclaimed piece tells its own story.

A Kitchen That Doesn’t Feel Tiny

One surprise inside the home is the spacious kitchen. Unlike many tiny homes that prioritize compact appliances and minimal workspace, Vivian insisted on a kitchen that supports her love of cooking. With a full-size refrigerator, full-size range, generous countertops, and creative mason jar pantry storage, she actually has more usable counter space than her previous traditional home.

“This kitchen is actually pretty much as big as the last house that I lived in.” – Vivian

A colorful built-in hutch showcases her beloved Fiesta Ware while doubling as a desk and storage area—a perfect example of every inch serving multiple purposes.

Art Is Woven Into Every Room

Outside of her career as a pediatrician, Vivian is an accomplished mosaic artist. Her enclosed porch has become both an outdoor living room and creative studio, where organized racks of colorful ceramic tiles inspire her latest work. Her current masterpiece, titled Life and Light, will eventually span an entire interior wall, depicting the forests and wildlife surrounding her home—from birch trees and rabbits to black bears and raccoons. When friends questioned the ambitious project, Vivian simply smiled.

“People thought I was crazy.”

Even the handyman installing the backing admitted: “I like your vision. It scares me, but I like it.”

Living for Community

Perhaps the home’s greatest feature isn’t found inside its walls. Tiny Timbers is home to just sixteen tiny houses surrounding shared amenities including gardens, chickens, an orchard, a root cellar, and common gathering spaces. For Vivian, who jokingly describes herself as “an old hippie,” this lifestyle fulfills a lifelong dream of communal living while allowing her to remain just fifteen minutes from her daughter and three grandchildren. Morning coffee on the porch overlooking the trees has become one of her favorite daily rituals, often accompanied by Lloyd, her energetic miniature Bernedoodle.

Small Home, Full Life

At 66, Vivian also designed her home with the future in mind. Although she loves her cozy loft bedroom, she intentionally planned a layout that could one day accommodate first-floor living if climbing the unique “witch’s stairs” becomes difficult. It’s a reminder that thoughtful design isn’t just about beauty—it’s about creating a home that evolves alongside its owner.

Watch the Full Tour of Vivian’s Tiny Home:

Vivian’s tiny house proves that living smaller doesn’t mean living with less. Instead, it offers something many larger homes can’t: intentional design, meaningful community, and a daily reminder that character will always matter more than square footage.