When Kim and Ryan moved their family into a 267-square-foot tiny house, their children were just four and five years old. More than a decade later, that decision has shaped not only how their family thinks about housing, but also how they spend their time, money, and energy.
Before going tiny, Kim was working as an elementary special education teacher and the family was living in their first traditional home in Minnesota. But the conventional path of buying a house, carrying a mortgage, and working to maintain that lifestyle wasn’t giving them the freedom they wanted.
“Buy the house, get the mortgage, have the property — that wasn’t lining up with our values.”
They wanted to homeschool their children, travel, spend more time together, and prioritize experiences over possessions. Downsizing offered a way to make that possible.
From TV Show to Full-Time Tiny Living
As Kim and Ryan began researching tiny homes, they came across a casting call for a brand-new television show. They applied, spent months minimizing their possessions, and ultimately had their tiny home built with help from Kim’s uncle Pat and the show’s crew.
The home is based on the Elm 24 blueprint and measures 24 feet long by 8 feet wide. Built on a trailer, it was eventually placed on a beautiful piece of property overlooking a Minnesota lake.
Key Features of Their Tiny Home
- 267 square feet of living space
- 24 feet long by 8 feet wide
- Built on a trailer using an Elm 24 blueprint
- Two loft areas, including a shared children’s loft
- Full kitchen with lake views from the sink
- Side-by-side refrigerator and freezer
- Standard-size shower
- Regular flushing toilet (originally a composting toilet)
- Built-in storage and seating
- Flexible living area that changed as the family’s needs evolved
- Deck overlooking the lake
- All-in build cost of approximately $30,000
One of the most charming spaces is the children’s “leisure loft,” where their son and daughter shared an approximately 7-by-7-foot space. Their heights are still marked inside the home — a reminder that this wasn’t simply an experiment in minimalism. It was their childhood home.
Knowing When You’ve Outgrown Tiny Living
Kim and Ryan lived in the tiny house for about five and a half years. Eventually, as their children approached their teenage years, the family recognized that everyone needed more space.
“It was perfect for the season when it was perfect, and then they needed more space.”
Rather than viewing that as a failure of tiny living, they allowed their housing needs to evolve.
And they loved their tiny house too much to sell it.
Instead, they purchased an inexpensive traditional home nearby and turned the tiny house into a vacation home and part-time rental, allowing it to become an income-producing asset.
A Tiny House With a Much Bigger Purpose
“There was so much purpose in the tiny house. This feels like there’s so much purpose that can happen through just your house. It’s not just a place to live.”
Their story is a reminder that tiny living doesn’t necessarily have to be forever to make a lifelong impact. Sometimes a tiny house is simply the tool that gives a family the freedom to rethink what they value — and imagine what might come next.
“Don’t hold on to your stuff too tightly. Just have open hands and surrender to whatever is going to happen next.”
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Multi-Generational Property w/ Two Tiny Homes
Shannon and Chris traded a 2,300-square-foot house for a handcrafted tiny home built from a simple shed on their 10-acre homestead. With Chris doing nearly all of the construction himself, the family created a 12×32 home that cost roughly $20,000, complete with custom storage, a full-size washer and dryer, multiple lofts, and a year-round sunroom where they spend much of their time together. Their daughter has grown up in the tiny house, and all three agree that living in a smaller space has strengthened their relationships, encouraged them to spend more time together, and helped them focus on what matters most. Today, the financial freedom of tiny living allows them to enjoy farm life, travel with their horses, stay close to family, and build a future they once only dreamed about.
A Beautiful Tiny Home for Aging-in-Place
After downsizing from 1,700 sq ft to 399 sq ft, Suzanne found more than just a smaller home — she found alignment. Located inside Village Farm Austin, an agrihood built around an organic farm, her tiny home offers high ceilings, two porches, a loft, and smart storage that makes everyday living feel effortless. As a writer focused on simplicity, she designed this space to reflect her values: vertical storage, multi-use surfaces, a small-but-mighty kitchen (yes, she chose a dishwasher over drawers), and cozy built-ins that make it truly feel like home. But what makes this place special isn’t just the house — it’s the community. From shared gardens to swapping homemade soup with neighbors, this chapter feels like a fresh start, full of connection, purpose, and excitement for what’s next.
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