One Family’s 416-Square-Foot Digs Expand the Limits of Tiny Home Living
When Megan Moore decided to downsize from 3,500 square feet in Alberta, Canada, to 416 square feet in the mountains of Golden, British Columbia, she had family and financial freedom in mind.
Traveler’s Paradise, Megan Moore’s 416-square-foot tiny home designed and built by Mint Tiny Home Company, is clad with white board-and-batten siding and a standing-seam metal roof. The founders of Mint Tiny Home Company, Brian and Shannon Perse, established the business in 2014 as a reaction to rising housing prices in British Columbia. "They quickly realized the problem was not just local, but rather a crisis going on all across the U.S. and Canada," says marketing and social media coordinator Jordan Bates. "They work with each client and build a dream home that works for their specific lifestyle, budget, and values."
Megan, a 35-year-old marketing professional with two children and two dogs, made the transition while separating from her ex-husband. "I bought the tiny home during my divorce because I wanted to simplify my life and show the kids that stuff isn’t important—that being together is what’s important," she says. "And at the time, it was the only thing I could imagine paying for with my budget of $160,000."
The interior of the tiny home, which features a sleeping loft above the living room, is finished with vinyl flooring and white pine walls.
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Mint Tiny House Company named the model that Megan purchased Traveler’s Paradise. The $113,577 micro house is 41 feet long and can accommodate as many as eight people, stretching the concept of tiny living. "I’m a single mom, so I wanted a bedroom for myself," says Megan. "And because we went from a 3,500-square-foot home, it was important for the kids to have their own space."
Sunlight pours into the living area, which connects to the natural landscape via glass doors. Exposed cedar beams provide texture and warmth for the space.
Jordan Bates, marketing and social media coordinator at Mint Tiny House Company, says that Megan isn’t the only one interested in larger models. "As much as we value our clients’ challenging themselves to experience living minimally, it’s unfortunately not achievable for many people," she notes. "North America is experiencing a housing crisis where affordable homes no longer exist, especially in bigger cities. When you have a family of five, or you’re a couple who can’t sacrifice storage space, or you need a layout with wheelchair accessibility, the best bet is to go big in a tiny home." The company offers plans that range from 170 to 538 square feet.
A sizable primary bedroom and a sleeping loft above a bathroom flank the kitchen area.
Megan’s tiny home is clad with white board-and-batten walls and a metal roof; inside, standard pine siding and vinyl flooring runs throughout. "These materials hold up the best during transport," Bates says. Exposed cedar beams provide structure for the ceiling and lend aesthetic warmth and texture.
The bathroom is outfitted with a composting toilet and a large window. The designers placed storage beneath the stair treads that lead to the main bedroom.
The bathroom features a shower with a glass door and a partial glass wall.
Aside from the main bedroom, there are two sleeping lofts: one above the living area, and another above the bathroom. "The sleeping spaces are separated to ensure privacy," says Bates. The bedroom features a sizable closet; additional storage is beneath both the main staircase and steps leading from the bathroom to the bedroom.
A sliding barn door closes off the main bedroom from the rest of the tiny home.
Two open closets flank the bedroom entrance.
The sleeping lofts are flooded with natural sunlight thanks to multiple windows.
Megan moved into her Traveler’s Paradise in Golden, where she owns 40 acres, and lived there with her family for almost two months. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, she realized there would be people with a need or desire to isolate—and that her home in the mountains might be the ideal place.
"There was an opportunity to rent out the tiny home and use that income to help pay it off quickly," says Megan, who found a renter and temporarily moved her family back to Airdrie, where she plans to stay until July 2021 when the micro dwelling will be vacant again.
"Being in our tiny home makes me feel calm," she says. "My favorite part is cleaning it. It takes no time because everything has a place. It’s perfect for our family."
Ceilings that are over 10 feet tall provide a feeling of airiness for the tiny home.
Follow Megan’s tiny home life @thetinyrosehip on Instagram.
Related Reading: 7 Companies Building Tiny Homes That Fit the Whole Family
Project Credits:
Design and Construction: Mint Tiny House Company / @minttinyhomes
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