Tiny House Hunters (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 13 - New York Fashionista Goes Tiny - full transcript
Home buyers across the country
are saying goodbye
to big houses...
Wow, look at that.
That is tiny.
And hello to small spaces.
With the push of a button,
this house contracts
to half its size.
- Wow.
- What is this?
This is the bedroom.
- It's a fold-down sink.
- That's so cool.
Whoa!
Wow, this just got weird.
But the smaller the house,
the bigger the challenge
fitting inside.
It'd be six of us up here.
Where am I gonna sleep?
- This swings back...
- Ooh.
- That's the loft.
- Oh.
I think
I see a problem already.
Oh, my gosh.
It's like a magic school bus.
- Holy cow.
- Oh, wow.
Look at this space.
Brooklyn, New York,
clothing stylist Alexandra
wants to try tiny living.
And her friend Ashley
is along for the search.
Do you think
you can drive this?
Oh, my God.
This is the coolest.
But when it comes to
going tiny in the city,
things aren't all they're
cracked up to be.
This is definitely
a minimal kitchen.
So, guys,
where's the bathroom?
- We're in it.
- Oh!
It's a bathroom closet.
It's basically just
a toilet in a box.
That is awful.
My name is Alexandra.
And I live in Brooklyn,
New York.
I'm a hair and wardrobe stylist.
And I have an online
vintage store.
The online vintage store
is women's fashion
from mostly the '60s and '70s.
It kind of became a thing
because I loved vintage
shopping for myself.
And I would find things that
wouldn't necessarily fit me.
But I was like,
"Somebody will love this."
I currently live
in a 500-square-foot classic
walk-up apartment in Brooklyn.
Alexandra's rethinking
her living arrangements
and feels
her $1,050-a-month rent
could be put towards
a more long-term investment.
So she's decided
to buy a tiny house.
I really wanna incorporate
my online store
into a mobile store
with my tiny home.
So I'm not only looking
for a place to live on the road.
I'm looking for a place to work.
While she plans
to eventually travel
with her mobile store,
she'll make Brooklyn
her home base.
When I'm here, in Brooklyn,
my tiny home will reside
down by the water
and all of the warehouses
and buses that stay down there.
Are you excited for vintage?
Yeah, I hope that we find
some good stuff for the shop.
Oh. Me, too.
My really good friend, Ashley,
is gonna be helping me
find my tiny home.
She's going to be
my realistic help.
You know, initially,
I thought it was a little crazy.
I have some concerns
about you finding
the right amount of space
just for you
to be comfortable...
- Yeah.
- ...and be happy.
Ooh, look at the fringe
on this.
Oh, that's kinda jazzy.
My budget is $25,000.
It's so tiny.
And it looks like a cottage.
The style of home
I want is something
that's very vintage,
kind of funky,
lends itself to my brand
and my personality
and will also attract customers
because it has to--
people have to see it.
I like this extra space
by the, um, window.
I feel like it would be really
cool for a display area, too.
Oh, that's a good idea.
Storage is very important to me.
I need to have mirror space
for clients
to try things on and, you know,
know if they wanna buy from me.
And I also need space
for my own things.
The kitchen isn't
as important to me.
But I would like to be
able to minimally cook.
So cute!
- Hmm.
- I love that one.
I have no reservations
about going tiny.
I'm just really excited to see
what's out there
that could work for me
and what could make
my future tiny home living
really exciting.
For some guidance,
friend and real estate agent,
Charles Mazalatis,
has offered to lead the search
for Alexandra's new tiny house.
In New York City,
we see lots of tiny spaces.
Considering Alexandra's
very open-minded
in what she wants to see, uh,
I think she'll
be good to work with.
Today, he's showing
Alexandra a tiny option
that's far from traditional.
I have a really
special place for ya.
Okay.
We're gonna see
a tiny house bus.
Oh, my gosh.
It's like a magic school bus.
- It's a magic school bus.
- Is this supposed to be a home?
I had no idea
that Charles had this in store.
Who would have thought
of a tiny home in a bus?
Whoa. That's insane.
How big is this?
Well, inside,
you have 200 square feet.
And it's completely mobile,
which I think is
pretty good for your needs.
Do you think
you can drive this?
I think I could totally do it.
How much is this?
This is actually right on point
in your budget at $25,000.
Oh, wow.
Well, hopefully,
it doesn't need
much work on the inside.
I think I would have
to paint it for sure.
Oh, that's easy.
You could easily do that.
Otherwise, I think it would
look really cool in Brooklyn.
It would. Just imagine.
With the right colors,
you get a little pop
on the street.
- Holy cow.
- Oh, wow.
- Look at this space.
- It's pretty cool, right?
Yeah, it feels super
spacious in here.
As a kid taking a bus,
now, looking back,
I can't believe
I'm in this situation
right now having a friend who's
considering living in a bus.
So cool!
Oh, my God!
This is so awesome.
This is the coolest.
I see a lot of windows.
So I don't see
that much privacy.
I would definitely have
to do something about that.
I actually like the windows.
And I also like this ceiling.
This is nice.
Yes, the curved ceilings
are a cool feature.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, and all of these vintage
things happening in here...
That definitely works
with your brand.
I mean, this piece over here
is actually
a vintage record player.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Which I thought
was pretty cool.
That's so cool.
Yeah, that's definitely
gonna stay.
Oh, yeah.
Definitely feels vintage
and has some color.
So what I'm envisioning
is separating the space
at this point.
- Mm-hmm.
And then,
this would become the shop
on this side.
- Right.
There is several entrances
into the bus.
- Exactly.
- So it makes it nice.
The customers wouldn't have
to walk through the living area.
Exactly, I think
that's a great feature.
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, what would you do about,
you know, your storage
and, like, hanging stuff?
Yeah, I mean, I would definitely
have to figure that out.
So you'll have to get creative
with the storage for sure.
I have a pleasant surprise
for you.
Hopefully, you consider it
pleasant. But...
- What is it?
- This is actually the,
uh, the bathroom.
- Ugh.
- Oh, my gosh.
It's a bathroom closet.
That is awful.
It's an in-house outhouse.
Oh, it's disgusting.
Oh, it's really not that bad.
I don't even wanna look
- in there.
- No, you should take a look.
- I fit inside.
- Oh.
Are you sure you
don't want to see, Ashley?
- No.
- Ah, a perfect fit, perfect fit.
- I don't.
- Well, what about the shower?
Well, that could
actually be installed.
Yeah, this space
seems like there's
a little bit to work
with something like that.
Yes. Once you do that,
I think it would be
the perfect solution.
Okay, sounds good.
I think that it could be
a little tricky figuring out
putting a shower in.
But I think it can be done.
So I see the kitchen.
- Is this the kitchen?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I definitely think
that this will do
for what I need.
I definitely think this space
has a lot of the vintage appeal
that I like, I mean,
the record player and the bar.
And I really love
the way that it looks.
But the outside needs
to be painted, for sure.
- Right.
- Um, I'm concerned
about the shower situation.
Obviously, you'd need
to install a shower.
So... Yeah, but you need
a proper bathroom situation.
But otherwise,
I definitely think
that people would be
attracted to it.
And they would want
to check it out.
So I am also interested
in seeing something
that's maybe a little bit
more homey feeling.
- Right.
- Just to kind of see
how I feel about that.
Charles has found
something more homey.
But it might be too
conventional for Alexandra.
It's like a little cabin
- in the woods.
- It is.
I wanna take some pictures.
So I brought my camera.
Brooklyn, New York,
wardrobe stylist Alexandra
is going tiny
to be able to take her
vintage fashion business
anywhere she chooses.
And her friend, Ashley,
is along for the search.
They're looking
for an eye-catching tiny home
that Alexandra can live in
and work out of.
Alexandra loves the mobility
and charm of a retro school bus
with converted living quarters.
But it's at the top
of her $25,000 budget.
And she would need
to add a shower
as well as update
the exterior paint.
Even though Ashley
is at work today,
friend and real estate agent,
Charles Mazalatis,
is showing Alexandra a home
that's a bit less
outside the box.
Uh, so this house here is,
um, a one-room house,
160 square feet.
I thought this tiny house
would be very unique
because you do not see
any kind of place
like this on the streets
in Brooklyn.
It's like a little cabin
in the woods.
- It is.
- It's so cute.
And it's completely
mobile, too.
This house, in the city,
people would walk by.
And they'd be like,
"What is this?"
It would definitely
stand out... Mm-hmm.
...which I think would be
pretty good for your shop.
How much is it?
It's a little over
your budget at $28,000.
- Oh, yeah.
- Um, but certainly worth a look.
I think the cabin would be
a magnet to people in Brooklyn.
It would be insane.
They would wanna see
what it was all about.
Oh, wow.
Look at this space.
- Homey, right?
- There's not much color in here.
But with the walls, you could
do anything to create
Mm-hmm....kind of a space
that you want.
Okay, that's a good point.
So typically,
rustic isn't my style.
But I do think that--
that there's potential
with this tiny home.
Let me show you the best
part about this place.
Um, you have a huge deck
that opens right up
with French doors.
Oh, wow. This is great.
Yeah, no.
It's a great spot.
Yeah, this is definitely
a neat feature.
It definitely adds to the space
and makes it feel
a little bit bigger.
Oh, 'cause it's like
indoor and outdoor living.
I'm kind of wondering
about this area.
It seems like it's a lot
of space taken up by the bed.
Um, but an easy
solution would be
to put a Murphy bed
either on this wall
or this wall over here.
- Okay, yeah.
Um, so you could keep
the bed up during the day
when you have
your business open.
- Yeah.
- And when you're sleeping
here, just keep it down.
And this area over here,
too, I mean,
if you needed a little
workstation for your business...
I definitely need that....you could
put a small desk here.
Um, and for your products,
you could also put shelving
all up along the wall going up.
I like that.
That sounds good.
This is definitely
a minimal kitchen.
Less kitchen, more shop.
But you could still have
a little fridge here.
And if you wanted to, you could
even put a sink in here
because there's a water-line
connection through the wall.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah, if you wanted to.
- Take a look.
- Okay. Yeah. Wow.
And this is a pretty
good-sized bathroom, actually.
This bathroom can double
as a changing room.
The shower in itself
can be the changing room.
You also have
these heavy, wooden,
real solid doors,
uh, for maximum privacy.
- That's awesome. Yeah.
- Yeah.
I think that this space
is really interesting.
From the outside,
it was like a cabin.
And then, on the inside,
it kind of feels more homey.
But it's lacking the color.
And I would have to kind of
make storage space in here.
Right. But because
of the high ceilings,
you could easily create
the storage space you need.
Really, a huge concern
of mine is the mobility.
It is over budget, too.
I mean, I have to build
the storage space.
And I have to get the bed
- and do all of those things.
- Yes.
But just imagine this tiny house
on the streets of Brooklyn,
what it could do
for your branding.
I think it could be
worth the extra cost.
Yeah, it would--
it would definitely stand out.
I know that.
Alexandra is now
heading to see a tiny option
that's a little easier
on the pocketbook.
But it has its drawbacks.
It's basically just
a toilet in a box.
How big do you think
your kitchen is gonna be?
Well, I mean, I already live
in a small kitchen.
So it can't be
that much smaller.
Vintage
fashion stylish Alexandra
is going tiny to be able to take
her clothing store mobile.
With the help
of her friend, Ashley,
she's looking for a tiny home
with plenty of curb appeal
that she can park
in Brooklyn, New York.
Friend and real estate agent,
Charles Mazalatis,
has shown her
a converted school bus
that has the funky retro feel
that Alexandra loves.
But it lacks storage space
for her merchandise.
And while it's within
her $25,000 budget,
it would require
significant upgrades.
A woodsy cabin had lots
of eye-catching potential
and a full bathroom
that could be used
as a dressing room
for customers.
But it's well above budget.
And Alexandra would still
need to modify the interior.
Today, she and Ashley
are looking at an option
that's within her price range.
Charles is with another client.
So their friend Alex,
who happens to be
Charles' brother
and a real estate agent,
is taking them.
- How are you doin'?
- Look at that space pod!
This is cute.
It looks a little
worn out, no?
I like it, though.
I think it's cool-looking.
This is definitely
a vintage trailer.
It shows some wear and tear.
It needs a little bit
of a polish-up.
But I think it has some
potential to look really cool.
It's like a spaceship.
It's a vintage 1972 Airstream.
- Whoa.
- Hmm.
- It's 200 square feet.
- Okay.
- I think it looks really cool.
- How much is it?
$20,000
so it's $5,000 under budget.
Okay.
Well, it's gonna need some work.
So that's probably a good thing.
Do you think this is
gonna have enough curb appeal?
I mean, do you not think
this style is played out?
I mean, I think
it's interesting enough-looking
that maybe it has potential.
I think that the Airstream
will draw people in.
It's silver. It's shiny.
It's old.
It's different-looking.
I think people will want to
come in and check it out.
Ooh.
It's so white in here.
Okay.
It looks like it needs
a lot of work.
Well, it is vintage.
It even smells vintage
in here.
But this is comfy.
Yeah, this is cute.
I mean, you'd need
to paint, obviously.
Yeah, I know.
- But the space is nice.
- This is kinda comfy.
Yeah, it's a good workspace.
There's storage underneath.
- Oh, really?
- Really?
If you take a look here,
that's the first one.
- Wow.
- Oh, cool.
The dual workspace
turns into...
- Whoa.
- Whoa.
A full-sized bed.
That's so cool.
That's pretty nifty.
Nice place to sit.
Totally.
How would you feel
about, you know,
having your shoppers
come through?
I mean, I think
that it would be okay
because I could turn this
back up into a table.
And they wouldn't even
know it was a bed.
- Right.
- So that could be good.
There's actually
a second bed...
- Oh, really?
- ...up in the front of there.
Oh, yeah, okay.
It's like a twin size.
- Oh, this is cute.
- Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I like this.
That would be great
for customers when they come in.
Yeah, that's true.
Make it like a little sofa
or something or an extra bed.
- Plenty of storage here.
- Oh, yeah.
That's great.
There is a lot of cabinet space.
Here's your pop of color
and plenty of counter space.
Oh, yeah.
Is there a place for me to cook?
Right underneath,
you have the...
- Oh, there's, like, a stove?
- ...propane stove.
- Oh, there's a propane stove.
- Okay.
- Yeah, that's great.
- So that works.
But where are you
gonna put your clothes?
Well, there's a great
- storage unit here.
- Okay, cool.
- Which you can modify there.
- You could convert that.
Yeah.
There's also bars above.
- Um...
- Another storage unit over here.
Nice. Okay.
That's some space.
This is great.
But where is the bathroom?
- We're in it.
- I just see a sink.
It's right here.
Oh, so cool.
There's a toilet in here.
It's basically just
a toilet in a box.
And look. Customers are here,
they don't see it anymore.
- Okay. That's a great point.
- There's no door!
You have no privacy.
Yeah, I don't
see a shower either.
What? Are you gonna wash
yourself in the sink?
You could convert this area
to a wet bath.
Okay. That's cool.
We are a little
under budget, I guess.
I mean, it is really white.
- And it needs a lot of work.
- It does.
But I do like
the vintage feel.
But is it maybe
a little too vintage?
You don't know
when things are gonna
fall apart with stuff like this.
Well, it is under budget.
It has a ton of storage.
It works great
for live and work.
It's so much to think about.
I think it has potential.
But it's gonna take a lot.
Having seen a wide variety
of ways to go tiny,
Alexandra now
has a big decision to make.
All of them had
amazing things about them.
Our house hunters
are moving on up
to a much smaller space.
Could you live
in a tiny house?
See how people make
a small space work at...
Brooklyn-based fashion
stylist Alexandra
is searching for a tiny home
that she can live in
and run her mobile clothing
store out of.
With a budget of $25,000
and her best friend,
Ashley, there to help,
it's time for her to decide
which place she should buy.
So all of them have
great benefits to them.
What about that bus?
It was exactly
on budget at $25,000.
I know the bus was like 200--
- 200 square feet.
- That bus was super cool.
But it doesn't have
a shower or a sink.
It doesn't have running water.
I would have to install
a water tank, water pump.
But it had a second entrance.
So that would mean
that I could actually
separate my living space
from my storage space.
- But...
- I know.
- What was the one that
you saw that I didn't see?
Oh, yeah.
- The cabin in the woods.
- Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
- That was-- that was cool.
It was, like, 160 square feet.
- But it was $28,000.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
- It's all wood.
It looks homey.
That could be--
- With French doors.
- That's beautiful.
That could be really
good curb appeal.
It would definitely draw people
in 'cause it's not--
there's nothing like
that in Brooklyn.
- Cool.
- It's mobile for sure.
And it has the real shower
and bathroom, minimal kitchen,
which is fine
because I don't need
a whole lot happening
- in a kitchen area.
- No.
- The Airstream...
- Mm-hmm.
It might be
a little too vintage.
I'm not sure.
I don't know if
anything's too vintage.
You never know
with those things,
you know,
if it's gonna just--
if it's already
on its last legs or not.
I mean, it was 200 square feet
under budget at $20,000.
That leaves
a little bit of room.
I think that it needed
a shine-up, for sure.
I thought that it had
great curb appeal.
It needed a pop of color, absolutely.
Like, I would for sure need
to do a lot in that regard.
- It doesn't have a shower.
- True.
You know, I mean,
it has a lot of storage space.
All of them had amazing
things about them. Mm-hmm.
The Airstream
is just so cool.
And I think it's worth it
to make that work.
The Airstream is so you.
I think it's the one for me.
And I'm really excited.
I've been living in my Airstream
tiny home for three months now.
Since the house was under
Alexandra's $25,000 budget,
she used the extra money
to buy a tow vehicle.
Currently, I'm parking it
in a warehouse neighborhood
in Brooklyn.
But I do travel around
and set up shop
all over Brooklyn.
And I've been to some
other states as well.
- Hi. How are you?
- Hi, very good.
- How 'bout you?
- Welcome to the store.
The Airstream is
such a traffic stopper.
People are constantly
coming in,
asking me about it,
giving me a thumbs up.
It's been really great.
I made a dressing room area
in the back of the Airstream.
And it actually
worked out amazing
that the toilet is hidden
because the customers
have no idea
that they are changing
in my bathroom.
- How did today go?
- It went so well.
It was super busy.
So this is where
you're sleeping now, huh?
Yeah, this is my bed.
It's very easy.
So I can put up my shop
and set it all up
and have everything displayed.
And then, when I'm ready
to cook and sleep
and have my own time,
I can put everything away
and get my living stuff out.
- It's so comfortable.
- Nice.
- Let's go over and have a seat.
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
The front of my tiny home,
with a convertible bed
and desk area, is my favorite.
I'm constantly listening
to records, drinking wine,
hanging out
up in the front part.
So where are you going next?
So the plan for the winter
is to go to the Southwest.
So then, I can stay in a little
bit of a warm climate.
This was a really big dream.
And I'm so proud of her
for pulling it off.
And I've never seen her
look happier and be happier.
I don't think that my lifestyle
is for the faint of heart.
I don't think everyone
is able to do it.
But I have zero regrets
about going tiny.
It's the best thing
I've ever done.
are saying goodbye
to big houses...
Wow, look at that.
That is tiny.
And hello to small spaces.
With the push of a button,
this house contracts
to half its size.
- Wow.
- What is this?
This is the bedroom.
- It's a fold-down sink.
- That's so cool.
Whoa!
Wow, this just got weird.
But the smaller the house,
the bigger the challenge
fitting inside.
It'd be six of us up here.
Where am I gonna sleep?
- This swings back...
- Ooh.
- That's the loft.
- Oh.
I think
I see a problem already.
Oh, my gosh.
It's like a magic school bus.
- Holy cow.
- Oh, wow.
Look at this space.
Brooklyn, New York,
clothing stylist Alexandra
wants to try tiny living.
And her friend Ashley
is along for the search.
Do you think
you can drive this?
Oh, my God.
This is the coolest.
But when it comes to
going tiny in the city,
things aren't all they're
cracked up to be.
This is definitely
a minimal kitchen.
So, guys,
where's the bathroom?
- We're in it.
- Oh!
It's a bathroom closet.
It's basically just
a toilet in a box.
That is awful.
My name is Alexandra.
And I live in Brooklyn,
New York.
I'm a hair and wardrobe stylist.
And I have an online
vintage store.
The online vintage store
is women's fashion
from mostly the '60s and '70s.
It kind of became a thing
because I loved vintage
shopping for myself.
And I would find things that
wouldn't necessarily fit me.
But I was like,
"Somebody will love this."
I currently live
in a 500-square-foot classic
walk-up apartment in Brooklyn.
Alexandra's rethinking
her living arrangements
and feels
her $1,050-a-month rent
could be put towards
a more long-term investment.
So she's decided
to buy a tiny house.
I really wanna incorporate
my online store
into a mobile store
with my tiny home.
So I'm not only looking
for a place to live on the road.
I'm looking for a place to work.
While she plans
to eventually travel
with her mobile store,
she'll make Brooklyn
her home base.
When I'm here, in Brooklyn,
my tiny home will reside
down by the water
and all of the warehouses
and buses that stay down there.
Are you excited for vintage?
Yeah, I hope that we find
some good stuff for the shop.
Oh. Me, too.
My really good friend, Ashley,
is gonna be helping me
find my tiny home.
She's going to be
my realistic help.
You know, initially,
I thought it was a little crazy.
I have some concerns
about you finding
the right amount of space
just for you
to be comfortable...
- Yeah.
- ...and be happy.
Ooh, look at the fringe
on this.
Oh, that's kinda jazzy.
My budget is $25,000.
It's so tiny.
And it looks like a cottage.
The style of home
I want is something
that's very vintage,
kind of funky,
lends itself to my brand
and my personality
and will also attract customers
because it has to--
people have to see it.
I like this extra space
by the, um, window.
I feel like it would be really
cool for a display area, too.
Oh, that's a good idea.
Storage is very important to me.
I need to have mirror space
for clients
to try things on and, you know,
know if they wanna buy from me.
And I also need space
for my own things.
The kitchen isn't
as important to me.
But I would like to be
able to minimally cook.
So cute!
- Hmm.
- I love that one.
I have no reservations
about going tiny.
I'm just really excited to see
what's out there
that could work for me
and what could make
my future tiny home living
really exciting.
For some guidance,
friend and real estate agent,
Charles Mazalatis,
has offered to lead the search
for Alexandra's new tiny house.
In New York City,
we see lots of tiny spaces.
Considering Alexandra's
very open-minded
in what she wants to see, uh,
I think she'll
be good to work with.
Today, he's showing
Alexandra a tiny option
that's far from traditional.
I have a really
special place for ya.
Okay.
We're gonna see
a tiny house bus.
Oh, my gosh.
It's like a magic school bus.
- It's a magic school bus.
- Is this supposed to be a home?
I had no idea
that Charles had this in store.
Who would have thought
of a tiny home in a bus?
Whoa. That's insane.
How big is this?
Well, inside,
you have 200 square feet.
And it's completely mobile,
which I think is
pretty good for your needs.
Do you think
you can drive this?
I think I could totally do it.
How much is this?
This is actually right on point
in your budget at $25,000.
Oh, wow.
Well, hopefully,
it doesn't need
much work on the inside.
I think I would have
to paint it for sure.
Oh, that's easy.
You could easily do that.
Otherwise, I think it would
look really cool in Brooklyn.
It would. Just imagine.
With the right colors,
you get a little pop
on the street.
- Holy cow.
- Oh, wow.
- Look at this space.
- It's pretty cool, right?
Yeah, it feels super
spacious in here.
As a kid taking a bus,
now, looking back,
I can't believe
I'm in this situation
right now having a friend who's
considering living in a bus.
So cool!
Oh, my God!
This is so awesome.
This is the coolest.
I see a lot of windows.
So I don't see
that much privacy.
I would definitely have
to do something about that.
I actually like the windows.
And I also like this ceiling.
This is nice.
Yes, the curved ceilings
are a cool feature.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, and all of these vintage
things happening in here...
That definitely works
with your brand.
I mean, this piece over here
is actually
a vintage record player.
- Oh, my gosh.
- Which I thought
was pretty cool.
That's so cool.
Yeah, that's definitely
gonna stay.
Oh, yeah.
Definitely feels vintage
and has some color.
So what I'm envisioning
is separating the space
at this point.
- Mm-hmm.
And then,
this would become the shop
on this side.
- Right.
There is several entrances
into the bus.
- Exactly.
- So it makes it nice.
The customers wouldn't have
to walk through the living area.
Exactly, I think
that's a great feature.
- Mm-hmm.
- Well, what would you do about,
you know, your storage
and, like, hanging stuff?
Yeah, I mean, I would definitely
have to figure that out.
So you'll have to get creative
with the storage for sure.
I have a pleasant surprise
for you.
Hopefully, you consider it
pleasant. But...
- What is it?
- This is actually the,
uh, the bathroom.
- Ugh.
- Oh, my gosh.
It's a bathroom closet.
That is awful.
It's an in-house outhouse.
Oh, it's disgusting.
Oh, it's really not that bad.
I don't even wanna look
- in there.
- No, you should take a look.
- I fit inside.
- Oh.
Are you sure you
don't want to see, Ashley?
- No.
- Ah, a perfect fit, perfect fit.
- I don't.
- Well, what about the shower?
Well, that could
actually be installed.
Yeah, this space
seems like there's
a little bit to work
with something like that.
Yes. Once you do that,
I think it would be
the perfect solution.
Okay, sounds good.
I think that it could be
a little tricky figuring out
putting a shower in.
But I think it can be done.
So I see the kitchen.
- Is this the kitchen?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I definitely think
that this will do
for what I need.
I definitely think this space
has a lot of the vintage appeal
that I like, I mean,
the record player and the bar.
And I really love
the way that it looks.
But the outside needs
to be painted, for sure.
- Right.
- Um, I'm concerned
about the shower situation.
Obviously, you'd need
to install a shower.
So... Yeah, but you need
a proper bathroom situation.
But otherwise,
I definitely think
that people would be
attracted to it.
And they would want
to check it out.
So I am also interested
in seeing something
that's maybe a little bit
more homey feeling.
- Right.
- Just to kind of see
how I feel about that.
Charles has found
something more homey.
But it might be too
conventional for Alexandra.
It's like a little cabin
- in the woods.
- It is.
I wanna take some pictures.
So I brought my camera.
Brooklyn, New York,
wardrobe stylist Alexandra
is going tiny
to be able to take her
vintage fashion business
anywhere she chooses.
And her friend, Ashley,
is along for the search.
They're looking
for an eye-catching tiny home
that Alexandra can live in
and work out of.
Alexandra loves the mobility
and charm of a retro school bus
with converted living quarters.
But it's at the top
of her $25,000 budget.
And she would need
to add a shower
as well as update
the exterior paint.
Even though Ashley
is at work today,
friend and real estate agent,
Charles Mazalatis,
is showing Alexandra a home
that's a bit less
outside the box.
Uh, so this house here is,
um, a one-room house,
160 square feet.
I thought this tiny house
would be very unique
because you do not see
any kind of place
like this on the streets
in Brooklyn.
It's like a little cabin
in the woods.
- It is.
- It's so cute.
And it's completely
mobile, too.
This house, in the city,
people would walk by.
And they'd be like,
"What is this?"
It would definitely
stand out... Mm-hmm.
...which I think would be
pretty good for your shop.
How much is it?
It's a little over
your budget at $28,000.
- Oh, yeah.
- Um, but certainly worth a look.
I think the cabin would be
a magnet to people in Brooklyn.
It would be insane.
They would wanna see
what it was all about.
Oh, wow.
Look at this space.
- Homey, right?
- There's not much color in here.
But with the walls, you could
do anything to create
Mm-hmm....kind of a space
that you want.
Okay, that's a good point.
So typically,
rustic isn't my style.
But I do think that--
that there's potential
with this tiny home.
Let me show you the best
part about this place.
Um, you have a huge deck
that opens right up
with French doors.
Oh, wow. This is great.
Yeah, no.
It's a great spot.
Yeah, this is definitely
a neat feature.
It definitely adds to the space
and makes it feel
a little bit bigger.
Oh, 'cause it's like
indoor and outdoor living.
I'm kind of wondering
about this area.
It seems like it's a lot
of space taken up by the bed.
Um, but an easy
solution would be
to put a Murphy bed
either on this wall
or this wall over here.
- Okay, yeah.
Um, so you could keep
the bed up during the day
when you have
your business open.
- Yeah.
- And when you're sleeping
here, just keep it down.
And this area over here,
too, I mean,
if you needed a little
workstation for your business...
I definitely need that....you could
put a small desk here.
Um, and for your products,
you could also put shelving
all up along the wall going up.
I like that.
That sounds good.
This is definitely
a minimal kitchen.
Less kitchen, more shop.
But you could still have
a little fridge here.
And if you wanted to, you could
even put a sink in here
because there's a water-line
connection through the wall.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah, if you wanted to.
- Take a look.
- Okay. Yeah. Wow.
And this is a pretty
good-sized bathroom, actually.
This bathroom can double
as a changing room.
The shower in itself
can be the changing room.
You also have
these heavy, wooden,
real solid doors,
uh, for maximum privacy.
- That's awesome. Yeah.
- Yeah.
I think that this space
is really interesting.
From the outside,
it was like a cabin.
And then, on the inside,
it kind of feels more homey.
But it's lacking the color.
And I would have to kind of
make storage space in here.
Right. But because
of the high ceilings,
you could easily create
the storage space you need.
Really, a huge concern
of mine is the mobility.
It is over budget, too.
I mean, I have to build
the storage space.
And I have to get the bed
- and do all of those things.
- Yes.
But just imagine this tiny house
on the streets of Brooklyn,
what it could do
for your branding.
I think it could be
worth the extra cost.
Yeah, it would--
it would definitely stand out.
I know that.
Alexandra is now
heading to see a tiny option
that's a little easier
on the pocketbook.
But it has its drawbacks.
It's basically just
a toilet in a box.
How big do you think
your kitchen is gonna be?
Well, I mean, I already live
in a small kitchen.
So it can't be
that much smaller.
Vintage
fashion stylish Alexandra
is going tiny to be able to take
her clothing store mobile.
With the help
of her friend, Ashley,
she's looking for a tiny home
with plenty of curb appeal
that she can park
in Brooklyn, New York.
Friend and real estate agent,
Charles Mazalatis,
has shown her
a converted school bus
that has the funky retro feel
that Alexandra loves.
But it lacks storage space
for her merchandise.
And while it's within
her $25,000 budget,
it would require
significant upgrades.
A woodsy cabin had lots
of eye-catching potential
and a full bathroom
that could be used
as a dressing room
for customers.
But it's well above budget.
And Alexandra would still
need to modify the interior.
Today, she and Ashley
are looking at an option
that's within her price range.
Charles is with another client.
So their friend Alex,
who happens to be
Charles' brother
and a real estate agent,
is taking them.
- How are you doin'?
- Look at that space pod!
This is cute.
It looks a little
worn out, no?
I like it, though.
I think it's cool-looking.
This is definitely
a vintage trailer.
It shows some wear and tear.
It needs a little bit
of a polish-up.
But I think it has some
potential to look really cool.
It's like a spaceship.
It's a vintage 1972 Airstream.
- Whoa.
- Hmm.
- It's 200 square feet.
- Okay.
- I think it looks really cool.
- How much is it?
$20,000
so it's $5,000 under budget.
Okay.
Well, it's gonna need some work.
So that's probably a good thing.
Do you think this is
gonna have enough curb appeal?
I mean, do you not think
this style is played out?
I mean, I think
it's interesting enough-looking
that maybe it has potential.
I think that the Airstream
will draw people in.
It's silver. It's shiny.
It's old.
It's different-looking.
I think people will want to
come in and check it out.
Ooh.
It's so white in here.
Okay.
It looks like it needs
a lot of work.
Well, it is vintage.
It even smells vintage
in here.
But this is comfy.
Yeah, this is cute.
I mean, you'd need
to paint, obviously.
Yeah, I know.
- But the space is nice.
- This is kinda comfy.
Yeah, it's a good workspace.
There's storage underneath.
- Oh, really?
- Really?
If you take a look here,
that's the first one.
- Wow.
- Oh, cool.
The dual workspace
turns into...
- Whoa.
- Whoa.
A full-sized bed.
That's so cool.
That's pretty nifty.
Nice place to sit.
Totally.
How would you feel
about, you know,
having your shoppers
come through?
I mean, I think
that it would be okay
because I could turn this
back up into a table.
And they wouldn't even
know it was a bed.
- Right.
- So that could be good.
There's actually
a second bed...
- Oh, really?
- ...up in the front of there.
Oh, yeah, okay.
It's like a twin size.
- Oh, this is cute.
- Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I like this.
That would be great
for customers when they come in.
Yeah, that's true.
Make it like a little sofa
or something or an extra bed.
- Plenty of storage here.
- Oh, yeah.
That's great.
There is a lot of cabinet space.
Here's your pop of color
and plenty of counter space.
Oh, yeah.
Is there a place for me to cook?
Right underneath,
you have the...
- Oh, there's, like, a stove?
- ...propane stove.
- Oh, there's a propane stove.
- Okay.
- Yeah, that's great.
- So that works.
But where are you
gonna put your clothes?
Well, there's a great
- storage unit here.
- Okay, cool.
- Which you can modify there.
- You could convert that.
Yeah.
There's also bars above.
- Um...
- Another storage unit over here.
Nice. Okay.
That's some space.
This is great.
But where is the bathroom?
- We're in it.
- I just see a sink.
It's right here.
Oh, so cool.
There's a toilet in here.
It's basically just
a toilet in a box.
And look. Customers are here,
they don't see it anymore.
- Okay. That's a great point.
- There's no door!
You have no privacy.
Yeah, I don't
see a shower either.
What? Are you gonna wash
yourself in the sink?
You could convert this area
to a wet bath.
Okay. That's cool.
We are a little
under budget, I guess.
I mean, it is really white.
- And it needs a lot of work.
- It does.
But I do like
the vintage feel.
But is it maybe
a little too vintage?
You don't know
when things are gonna
fall apart with stuff like this.
Well, it is under budget.
It has a ton of storage.
It works great
for live and work.
It's so much to think about.
I think it has potential.
But it's gonna take a lot.
Having seen a wide variety
of ways to go tiny,
Alexandra now
has a big decision to make.
All of them had
amazing things about them.
Our house hunters
are moving on up
to a much smaller space.
Could you live
in a tiny house?
See how people make
a small space work at...
Brooklyn-based fashion
stylist Alexandra
is searching for a tiny home
that she can live in
and run her mobile clothing
store out of.
With a budget of $25,000
and her best friend,
Ashley, there to help,
it's time for her to decide
which place she should buy.
So all of them have
great benefits to them.
What about that bus?
It was exactly
on budget at $25,000.
I know the bus was like 200--
- 200 square feet.
- That bus was super cool.
But it doesn't have
a shower or a sink.
It doesn't have running water.
I would have to install
a water tank, water pump.
But it had a second entrance.
So that would mean
that I could actually
separate my living space
from my storage space.
- But...
- I know.
- What was the one that
you saw that I didn't see?
Oh, yeah.
- The cabin in the woods.
- Yeah.
- Mm-hmm.
- That was-- that was cool.
It was, like, 160 square feet.
- But it was $28,000.
- Oh.
- Yeah.
- It's all wood.
It looks homey.
That could be--
- With French doors.
- That's beautiful.
That could be really
good curb appeal.
It would definitely draw people
in 'cause it's not--
there's nothing like
that in Brooklyn.
- Cool.
- It's mobile for sure.
And it has the real shower
and bathroom, minimal kitchen,
which is fine
because I don't need
a whole lot happening
- in a kitchen area.
- No.
- The Airstream...
- Mm-hmm.
It might be
a little too vintage.
I'm not sure.
I don't know if
anything's too vintage.
You never know
with those things,
you know,
if it's gonna just--
if it's already
on its last legs or not.
I mean, it was 200 square feet
under budget at $20,000.
That leaves
a little bit of room.
I think that it needed
a shine-up, for sure.
I thought that it had
great curb appeal.
It needed a pop of color, absolutely.
Like, I would for sure need
to do a lot in that regard.
- It doesn't have a shower.
- True.
You know, I mean,
it has a lot of storage space.
All of them had amazing
things about them. Mm-hmm.
The Airstream
is just so cool.
And I think it's worth it
to make that work.
The Airstream is so you.
I think it's the one for me.
And I'm really excited.
I've been living in my Airstream
tiny home for three months now.
Since the house was under
Alexandra's $25,000 budget,
she used the extra money
to buy a tow vehicle.
Currently, I'm parking it
in a warehouse neighborhood
in Brooklyn.
But I do travel around
and set up shop
all over Brooklyn.
And I've been to some
other states as well.
- Hi. How are you?
- Hi, very good.
- How 'bout you?
- Welcome to the store.
The Airstream is
such a traffic stopper.
People are constantly
coming in,
asking me about it,
giving me a thumbs up.
It's been really great.
I made a dressing room area
in the back of the Airstream.
And it actually
worked out amazing
that the toilet is hidden
because the customers
have no idea
that they are changing
in my bathroom.
- How did today go?
- It went so well.
It was super busy.
So this is where
you're sleeping now, huh?
Yeah, this is my bed.
It's very easy.
So I can put up my shop
and set it all up
and have everything displayed.
And then, when I'm ready
to cook and sleep
and have my own time,
I can put everything away
and get my living stuff out.
- It's so comfortable.
- Nice.
- Let's go over and have a seat.
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
The front of my tiny home,
with a convertible bed
and desk area, is my favorite.
I'm constantly listening
to records, drinking wine,
hanging out
up in the front part.
So where are you going next?
So the plan for the winter
is to go to the Southwest.
So then, I can stay in a little
bit of a warm climate.
This was a really big dream.
And I'm so proud of her
for pulling it off.
And I've never seen her
look happier and be happier.
I don't think that my lifestyle
is for the faint of heart.
I don't think everyone
is able to do it.
But I have zero regrets
about going tiny.
It's the best thing
I've ever done.