Heather and Kevin Fritz of Fritz Tiny Homes just unveiled their latest micro dwelling on wheels—and it’s as much a gym as it is a house. “Our client, a yoga instructor, asked for space for her Peloton bike and an eight-by-eight yoga room, where she could teach remotely,” Heather says. “We fit both of these things and more.”

Named after the client, Ashleigh Trahan, the home is wrapped in black metal and Douglas fir and features tall windows that showcase the landscape of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

“I dreamed of building a tiny house for years—and when the pandemic hit and housing prices skyrocketed, I realized it was the right time to make the dream a reality,” says Ashleigh, who lives in the micro-home with her partner Elyse. “I wanted to build a tiny house as a way to live with less and prioritize what really matters to me,” Ashleigh adds. “I wanted freedom of location, space for movement, and the ability to enjoy the outdoors.”

In response to Ashleigh and Elyse’s love for the outdoors, Kevin milled Douglas fir and applied it to the ceilings, giving the interior a warm, woodsy feel. The material also references the towering pines outside the A-frame window in the living room, which doubles as Ashleigh’s yoga studio.

A sofa from Article, covered in brilliant green velvet, enlivens the living room and ties to the green of the pine trees. Heather and Kevin customized the sofa for the space by removing its legs and mounting it on a wood base with large, built-in storage drawers. A fold-out table and stools that accommodate six people are stored in one of the drawers for when Ashleigh and Elyse have friends over for dinner.

The office area, located between the living room/yoga studio and the kitchen, features a concrete counter with storage drawers and a Blauberg Vento ERV ventilation system tucked beneath it. A floating walnut shelf with recessed lighting on its underside provides illumination for the workspace.

The kitchen showcases bright white cabinetry, a full-size LG refrigerator, an elongated microwave with a built-in hood vent, and a propane range from Unique Appliances. “When we build tiny homes, we like to keep everything off of the upper portion of the walls, and we place the functional elements down low,” Kevin says. “This maintains an open feeling and keeps from blocking the sunlight that pours in through the windows.”

Heather and Kevin’s favorite aspect of the custom tiny home design is the walnut pull-out cabinet near the front door. “It has integrated storage for jackets, shoes, and any odds and ends that need to be handy in the front area,” Heather says. “The cabinet also conveniently hides the wheel well.”

The micro gym, where Heather and Kevin placed Ashleigh’s Peloton bike, is located toward the rear of the home beside the bathroom. The compact space is marked by awning-style windows and a coffered walnut ceiling. “The high ceiling allows for headroom to stand on the bike, and the windows make it feel like you’re riding outside,” Heather says.

Heather and Kevin finished the spa-like bathroom with wall tiles made from concrete with glass beads that lighten the weight of the material. For the shower floor, they cut hexagonal tiles from walnut using a CNC router and waterproofed them with an epoxy seal.

A staircase with storage drawers beneath each riser accesses the loft-style bedroom, where a tall landing area, built-in bedside storage, and a headboard with integrated LED lighting provide comfort and practicality. “Ashleigh is 5’10, so we wanted to include ample standing room for her in the loft,” Kevin says. “The landing also makes it easier to get in and out of bed.”

“Movement is a huge part of our lives,” Ashleigh says. “I was worried that moving into a smaller home might mean sacrificing space for yoga, weight training, and my Peloton bike. But when I started designing my home with the Fritzes, I learned that preserving aspects of my lifestyle was the key to making tiny living sustainable for the long haul. I’m so happy—we have a micro-gym and a room where my partner and I can roll out our yoga mats.”

More from Fritz Tiny Homes:

A Canadian Couple Launch a Tiny Home Company With a Clever 268-Square-Foot Dwelling

Project Credits:

Design and Construction: Fritz Tiny Homes / @fritztinyhomes

Decor: Simone & Ivy

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A Yoga Instructor’s Tiny Home Stretches the Limits of Small Space Design