Tiny homes: A stylish and functional alternative

Tiny homes provide a stylish and functional alternative to cottage life.

Tiny homes don’t just cost less upfront; they are also much cheaper to maintain; that is why so many people are jumping on the trend. I worked hard to remodel an old 5th Wheel Trailer for my parents to enjoy. The great thing about this tiny home is its mobility – it’s cottage life wherever they drive to! Read on to find out how I turned a dated space into a livable, fun home on wheels.

Restore and Clean

How did I go about restoring a 15-year-old trailer that was stored in a damp location? By striping it right back to its bare bones! I wanted to ensure the home housed no health hazards. Once we ripped it apart, we found water damage, which causes mould. We turned to Concrobium Mold Control. It contains no bleach or harsh chemicals, kills mould at the root and prevents it from coming back. When it came to surface cleaning, I chose Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day. I love that they are formulated with plant-derived ingredients, essential oils and other thoughtfully chosen materials to create effective products.

Living room

In a tiny home, you have to think about how much things weigh. I selected NEUE Floors an engineered hardwood plank that is lighter in weight than traditional hardwood and has better expansion and contraction attributes, which is ideal in this application. I worked with Metrie, which offers a high-end, finely crafted solid wood and composite moulding and interior doors to create faux beams. I also used their hollow moulded panel doors, so they don’t weigh as much. Another unexpected element is the fireplace. There was an existing bookshelf built-in, and instead of ripping it out, I made it a central piece in the living room space. I had a Dimplex 23-inch Multi-Fire XHD unit built into the bookshelf, creating a feature wall in the tiny space. It was the perfect addition to the area with the optional heat – giving the space warmth on cold nights, or running without heat during the warm summer months.

Outside

It was time to make a good first impression. I worked with Great Canadian Fleet Services who were able to repair the damaged fibreglass and paint to make the mobile home look like new again. I also chose to have it entirely wrapped by Bolt Signs. They were able to produce and install a vinyl wrap to completely transform the outside of the mini-home. The dated awning was hanging off the mobile home and in desperate need of a complete overhaul. I teamed up with The Awning Authority, which specializes in retractable awnings and screens that are designed to last a lifetime.

Finally, this tiny home would not be complete without a great charcoal grill that you can easily set-up when you arrive at your destination – so we added an ivory colour Weber Master-Touch charcoal kettle to the mix. This retro-looking grill fit perfectly with the retro-looking trailer. I hope this tiny home inspires you to think outside conventional spaces!