Judy and Dean Anderson’s tiny home doesn’t have lake views, and it’s not tucked away in a fairytale-esque forest. But it’s right where they want it. “There are lots of beautiful and romantic places one could park a tiny house, like the beach or the mountains, but we’re within steps of our daughter’s front door,” says Judy.

Dean had been facing health issues when things took a turn for the worse. Their daughter Katelyn, an RN studying for her doctorate at the University of Washington, “immediately offered to move closer to help,” says Judy. That’s when she and Dean decided to sell their East Renton Highlands home of 26 years to Katelyn and her family and purchase a tiny house for themselves that they could situate in the yard. “I’d always been interested in the tiny house movement and knew it was something we’d enjoy,” remembers Judy.

$24,309 Trailer	$1,375 Rough Propane and Electrical	$8,524 Framing
$1,709 Rough Plumbing Parts	$3,321 Finish Plumbing Fixtures	$5,275 Finish Electrical Fixtures
$666 RV Lights, Ship Kits, and Safety Materials	$19,789 Windows and Doors	$11,988 Siding
$755 Insulation	$3,421 Roofing	$1,906 Paint
$3,338 Flooring	$13,393 Wall & Trim Materials	$4,033 Tile
$13,570 Cabinet and Vanity	$8,249 Appliances	$7,151 Countertops
$5,479 Mini Split & Water Heater	$3,200 Loft & Oak Ladder	$4,000 Delivery & Installation
$91,194 Labor
Grand Total: $236,645

With a plan in place, She and Dean went shopping and found Tru Form Tiny, a Eugene, Oregon, homebuilder. “I loved that their homes looked stick-built,” Judy says. It was also appealing that the company could customize its models. The couple landed on one with touches reminiscent of a Craftsman and reenvisioned it with some spatial adjustments. Starting with the Cascade Max park model, the company’s founders, Jen Carroll and Malia Schultheis, placed the kitchen in the middle, stole space from the living room for the bedroom, and created a storage loft opposite the bedroom. “Since we both have hobbies and more stuff than we want lying around, they suggested a loft that could be used for storage or as a small sleeping space,” Judy says. An added bump-out for the bedroom generates more closet area.

Malia and Jen also made the ceiling in the living room taller. “It feels more expansive that way,” says Malia. “We also added a lot of transoms that let sunlight flow in and bounce around all the white surfaces.” Yet more space was found by incorporating the hallway into the bathroom, turning it into a passthrough that leads from the living area to the bedroom with doors on either side.

To accommodate Dean’s medical equipment, they placed outlets strategically in the bedroom. “We put them down low next to the closet and in the headboard above the side tables,” Malia says, adding that they included more outside the home.

For interior finishes, she and Jen went with light wood and bright white. “The flooring, open shelves, and kitchen hood are crafted from hickory,” Malia says. “I love its cool, neutral tone and natural variations.” White quartz counters and white-painted cabinetry create an airy feel that complement the wood. “White gave the clients a blank slate to add personal color and charm in their own way,” Malia explains.

Wrapped with fineline pine boards and accented with ebony-stained cedar around the front door, the tiny home has an undeniably warm presence. “Pine also has longevity and is better for your health than, say, MDF,” Jen explains. “And it can withstand movement when the home is relocated.”

According to Judy, being so close to Katelyn and her family, who are expecting a baby girl, has been a huge help. And Judy has been able to help them settle into the main house, which she knows all too well. “Our granddaughter, who’s 10, loves to sleep over, and we can’t wait to help care for our new granddaughter for as long as we are able,” Judy says. “I’ve not wished for one thing to be different.”

More Budget Breakdown:

How a Couple Built a 480-Square-Foot Home for $68K in Cash

A New Zealand Architect’s $96K Plan to Become a First-Time Homeowner

Project Credits:

Design & Construction: Tru Form Tiny / @truformtiny

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