Kristyn and Laura, hailing from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, defy the stereotype of typical tiny home dwellers. Unlike many people who embrace the tiny living movement, they didn’t begin by watching tiny living documentaries or obsessing over tiny homes on Instagram and Pinterest.
Instead, the two women ended up with their beautiful tiny home after seeing a flimsy frame on a trailer listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Knowing they wanted some kind of project for the upcoming year, they decided to go have a look.
Kristyn and Laura purchased the trailer on a whim, knowing it was a steal for what it could end up being in the future. Once they got it home, they pitched the idea to their families. After all, they had no DIY skills themselves. The extent of Laura’s DIY knowledge was building a guinea pig cage and a chicken pen. Kristyn had none at all.
They bought their tiny home as a half-started project, but it turned out there was more water damage than they expected, so they had to pull everything down.
They then gathered around the dining table and sketched out some fun, roughly-drawn plans. Without even using a ruler, they sketched out what they wanted to build, right down to where the bathroom would go inside their future new home. Having something on paper would kickstart their tiny home project in earnest.
If you’ve never built a tiny home before, it’s only natural that you wouldn’t know the costs involved. Kristyn and Laura didn’t. They started with a budget of $20,000, which they said was gone very quickly. They anticipated being able to use recycled materials and ’DIY’ the whole thing, but things didn’t quite go to plan. Kristyn and Laura ended up spending at least $10,000 more than they anticipated.
Fortunately, they also managed to save money on labor. Their family members helped with the build, including the plumbing, and they had a family friend who was an electrician. While Kristyn and Laura went over budget, they still managed to build an entire house on wheels for far less than what you would be able to purchase one for.
Kristyn and Laura have fully embraced tiny home living. While they found it challenging to part ways with a few special possessions, they enjoyed how refreshing it was to declutter and downsize. Currently, Kristyn and Laura are living on Laura’s parents’ property in their tiny home. They have lived in their home for almost three years and have recently bought their own piece of land. They plan to move there in the next year, with goals to extend the tiny house and build a deck between it and a studio already present on the land.
Kristyn and Laura from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, built their very own 6.3m by 2.5m tiny house on wheels. Kristyn chose the beautifully fresh and modern vertical cladding, which enabled them to stay on budget. While they intended to buy recycled materials, they couldn’t find enough cladding to complete their entire home.
However, they did manage to build their fence out of recycled materials. It’s half white and half wood, with the colors coincidentally matching those of the tiny house itself.
Tiny homes can sometimes be a little cramped and small, but the addition of a deck on Krystin and Laura’s tiny home solves that problem. The deck came with the fold-out portion of their trailer and is a little bit of extra space they never planned but love! Their tiny home also has a gorgeous barn door for character.
Windows can be one of the most significant investments in a tiny home, but Kristyn and Laura got lucky. While they selectively chose their kitchen bi-fold windows, they sought second-hand windows for the rest of their home.
The large windows are a great way to let in as much natural light as possible. Kristyn and Laura said they’re very outdoorsy people and wanted to feel like they were outdoors as much as possible. The large windows definitely ticked that box.
While Kristyn and Laura had to sell off many of their possessions to downsize to their tiny home, their lovely velvet two-seater sofa was non-negotiable! It’s the perfect size for Kristyn, Laura, and their two dogs, Lexie and Ruby.
Having nature inside was important for Laura and Kristyn when designing their tiny home. Despite the small space, they incorporated a great deal of greenery! It ties in beautifully with natural materials like exposed wood, wooden flooring, white floors, and white cabinetry.
No space was wasted during the construction of Kristyn and Laura’s tiny home. They built a loft over the living room to house their dearest possessions. For Kristyn, that was her clothing. For Laura, it was her books.
The closet space was originally supposed to be shared, but Kristyn struggled to part with any of her clothes. As a result, it became Kristyn’s dedicated closet space while they share another closet behind their bedroom. The books in the loft area are accessible with a sliding ladder.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is the area Kristyn and Laura are most proud of. It’s a spacious and functional space in the heart of the home that has everything they need for cooking and meal prep. While they had great intentions of building all their cupboards with recycled materials, they decided to buy a Bunnings Kaboodle kitchen instead.
Kristyn and Laura had their heart set on a striking white granite sink. While it was a risky decision given that they had no design or styling plans at this point, they said it couldn’t fit any better than it does. It pairs beautifully with the gold faucet and cabinet handles.
They also had a few ’non-negotiables’ when building their kitchen. They wanted a tap with a hose for convenience and a large sink for easy dishwashing. A large sink also means they can store dishes in it to be washed, rather than taking up precious bench space.
While most windows in Kristyn and Laura’s tiny home were purchased based on price and availability, they were more selective with their kitchen window. It’s a beautiful bi-fold window that gives them a better connection with the outdoors. It also lets in plenty of fresh air on a warm summer’s day.
Kristyn and Laura weren’t going to skimp on cooking facilities. They opted for a full-size oven and a four-burner cooker. These fit perfectly into their Kaboodle kitchen.
The elegant white herringbone backsplash is both pleasing to the eye and easy-care. It also blends in well with the white granite bench and white cabinetry.
Adjacent to the kitchen is a white and wood staircase. This staircase, tucked away in the corner, leads to Kristyn and Laura’s loft bedroom.
Cozy Loft Bedroom
While many tiny home dwellers put a great deal of time and planning into their loft bedrooms, Laura and Kristyn operated a little differently. They planned as they went, which meant the bedroom was a little more cramped than they perhaps liked.
The ceiling is quite low because they were measuring it as they went based on their own height. They also added a skylight as an afterthought to make the space appear lighter and more open than it is. Despite its size, Laura and Kristyn like how cozy the loft is.
While there might be limited sleeping space in the bedroom loft, the girls still managed to fit in clothing storage. It tucks away behind their mattress and has room for their clothes, books, candles, and other knick-knacks they’ve accumulated over the years.
The white sliding barn door near the kitchen ties in with the whole home’s rustic contemporary look. This door leads to the bathroom.
Challenging Bathroom
While Kristyn and Laura faced many challenges while building their tiny home, they say the bathroom presented the most challenges. They wanted to fit in many items into a small space, including a washing machine, full-size sink, full-size shower, and storage. They also didn’t want to compromise on anything.
Somehow, they managed to make it work. They raised the bathroom sink to allow the washing machine to tuck underneath. While higher than a traditional sink, they make it work. The gorgeous orange curtain also pairs well with the unique mint green sink. The only regret they have is not factoring in a spot for a washing basket. All their laundry has to go straight into the washing machine.
Most tiny homes have a composting toilet, but Kristyn and Laura’s doesn’t. The property they’re currently living on has main connections, so they installed a standard flush toilet. However, they plan to purchase a compost toilet in the future.
There is a cupboard with sliding doors adjacent to the toilet for all their cosmetic products and bathroom essentials.
Despite the conservative floor plan, Kristyn and Laura still managed to fit a shower cabin. It’s tucked under the staircase with contemporary stacked subway tiles. These are paired with a black drain and ornamental floor tiles. While they know that plastic showers are common in these builds, they wanted a nice, open shower that feels pleasant to walk into. They found the tiles on Marketplace and managed to get exactly the number they needed for a tiler to install them.
Surprisingly, Laura and Kristyn managed to find space in the shower nook to add storage. There is a cubby hidden under the shower seat for linen.
Stay updated on Kristyn and Laura’s tiny house experiences via Instagram @tiny_meyson.