Tiny House Hunters (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 30 - Going Tiny for Less Upkeep - full transcript
Homebuyers 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.
- Wow.
- What is this?
- This is the bedroom.
- It's a fold-down sink.
- That's so cool!
Oh!
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.
- Whoa.
- That's the loft.
- Ohh.
I think I see
a problem already.
Look at the metal
and the wood.
I know.
Definitely looks industrial, huh?
It does.
- Wow.
- Oh, wow. Look at that.
Whoa.
Lucy is looking
to simplify her life
and free up more time to travel.
You know what?
You need to be realistic.
You have no room
for a stove.
With her friend, Eileen,
along to keep her grounded,
finding a tiny house
with the right features
and style is a tall order.
Ow.
Watch your head.
I am looking for chairs.
I'm moving
into a tiny house.
My name is Lucy, and I live
in Martinsville, Virginia.
I work for a retail
furniture company.
I'm director of operations.
I travel all over the country.
I'm renting a 1,000-
square-foot house right now,
and I am here with my three
little kitties.
Good boy.
But Lucy has decided
that her spacious house rental
isn't for her.
So it's a lot to maintain
when you are traveling
a lot for work,
and you come home
into a bigger space.
So there are a lot of reasons
that I decided to go tiny,
but the most important ones,
I think, for me,
are financial freedom, for one.
It would also allow me to travel
to some of the bigger
and better places
on my bucket list
that I've been
wanting to get to.
So everybody thinks
I'm crazy for doing this,
but I am really excited.
- I think it's awesome.
It just kind of happened
- organically.
- Yeah.
And I'm here to talk her
off the ledge early and often.
Yes, you are.
Keep me grounded, for sure.
She needs it.
My friend, Eileen,
is joining me
on this tiny-house search.
I think I'm gonna be the
little devil on her shoulder,
say she can and can't
do certain things.
I have all these ideas
in my head,
and Eileen says,
"You can't do that."
My budget is $60,000.
So I've been calling
my style industrial chic,
having a lot of raw wood
with metals,
things like that but not
in a rustic way.
So nothing like
7-by-10 or anything.
Oh, no.
No. I want something
that actually feels like
a house and not a shed.
She's hoping for
something around 300 square feet
that's mobile
since she's not sure
where she'll place
the home yet.
I know.
So have you trimmed
down your closet yet?
Oh, yeah.
So one of the things
I'm looking for in a tiny house
is a lot of storage
because I am little nervous
about getting rid
of a lot of my stuff.
I definitely want
either a bathtub
or a walk-in shower,
space where I can, you know,
relax in the bath.
So what about a loft?
I'm a little nervous that
I might feel claustrophobic.
But I do have a little bit
of a claustrophobia issue,
so I'm a little
concerned about that.
I don't know that I would love
sleeping in that tight space.
What kind of kitchen
do you want, seriously?
Well, as much
as I like to cook,
you know I want
a full-size stove.
I really
want every appliance
that you would find
in a normal house. Right.
I know it's kind of crazy
that I want to go tiny,
and I am
a little claustrophobic,
but I'm going for it.
To find the perfect tiny house,
Lucy will be meeting
with some local builders
to see what they have
for sale.
First up is a modern option
from tiny-house
builder Taylor Williams.
Hey, Taylor.
Ladies, how are y'all?
- Good, how are you?
- And so what do y'all think?
- Oh, man.
- It's big.
This thing is beautiful.
- It is beautiful.
- It's 13'6" tall.
So you can drive it
on the road
without any permits
or anything like that.
- Awesome.
- It fits under bridges,
and overall,
it's about 340 square feet.
- Well, how much is this thing?
- There's the big question.
This house is a little
over your budget.
It's $68,000.
- Oh.
That is over
my budget quite a bit.
The price on this house
is significantly
over my budget.
I'm not even sure
I can consider it.
Wow.
Oh, Lucy,
look at this kitchen.
- This is beautiful.
- Thank you.
- This place is big.
- There's a lot of light in here.
- There is.
- It's very nice.
I do like the fact that it feels
bright and airy in here
with the high ceilings.
So that definitely makes
it feel roomy and...
- Yeah.
- ...takes away a little of that
fear of claustrophobia
that I have.
Right.
I also see some
of the industrial touches
that I really
am looking for.
Like, I love this fan.
- Oh, great.
- That's amazing.
I don't know if it's enough,
but I do love
those touches.
And I like
all the counter space
that you have here,
in the kitchen.
Yeah. This is
a butcher-block countertop.
I had envisioned
having stone countertops.
Would that be something
that could be changed out?
Definitely.
Yeah, that's a very easy fix.
Do you know about how much
that would cost?
You're looking around
$1,000 to $1,500.
Okay.
And I love, obviously,
having the gas stove,
really important to me.
- Right.
- Do you think that's big enough?
I do. I do think
that's big enough.
Really, all I'm concerned
about is the four burners.
- Got you.
- And it's got a nice oven.
I really wanted an oven.
Below that,
you've got a broiler.
Oh, cool! And I love
that we do not have
a dorm-sized fridge in here.
- I know. Doesn't it look cool?
- Yes, it really does.
- Okay.
- Very cool.
So is this technically
the living room space?
Yes. You'd stick your couch,
ideally, right here.
I'm not sure
if that would be big enough
for what I want to do.
Want to go in the loft
and explore?
Yes. One of the reasons
I don't want a loft
is because it's usually
stairs or a ladder,
which both take up space,
and I don't really like that.
How heavy is that?
- Man.
No, it's not too bad.
- Cool!
- Pretty good.
Oh, my goodness, Lucy.
This thing is huge
up here.
Yeah?
You could really get
a large bed up here.
And so I'm sitting
straight up over here.
I know I don't have
a mattress underneath me,
but there's...
- There's still plenty of room.
...a good bit of room
above my head,
again, helping me not feel
claustrophobic in a loft area,
which is one of the main
reasons, all the main reasons,
that I wanted a bedroom
on the ground floor.
Mm. Well, we actually
have one of those, too.
- Really?
- Right on the other
side of that loft.
This is awesome.
Oh, my God.
Look at the place.
Wow. That's a lot
more space.
That's really big.
Let's go check it out.
Okay.
So I like
that barn door.
Yeah. It provides privacy
for the restroom.
And a real bathroom
is important to me.
Wow.
This is nice.
Yeah. You know,
for a stall shower,
this is spacious,
except for really wanted a tub.
- And we can add that.
Yeah, but you know that's gonna
add to your budget.
Ah!
That's true.
I think Eileen has
a realistic view of Lucy
and her challenges
in being in a tiny house.
Look at the closet space.
Nine-foot
from side-to-side.
Wow. That's more space
than I have today.
- Exactly. Exactly.
- That's awesome.
And a whole extra room!
- I know.
- Wow.
Look at the closet.
There is another closet!
- That is crazy.
You got another 2-1/2
feet of closet space in here.
Oh, my gosh.
I'm gonna have
to buy more clothes
and shoes than I have
right now.
You can squeeze
a queen-size bed in here.
Awesome.
It's a really nice layout.
I love the kitchen.
It is pretty open,
and I love all
the natural light,
and that loft
really surprised me.
Yeah.
It's a big loft.
I was dead set
on not having a loft,
but with the space up there,
it was really surprising.
Well, then you've got
the bathroom.
You wanted a tub.
- I do want a tub.
It's high on the wish list, so...
I am concerned,
a little bit,
about
the entertainment space.
And then
there's the budget.
There will have to be
some compromises
with going tiny.
With cost in mind,
they're now seeing
something well within budget,
but Lucy is a tough sell.
It's a little rustic, isn't it?
I'm ready to just
have my own stuff,
my own place.
- Right.
As the director of operations
for a furniture company
in Martinsville, Virginia,
Lucy is always
on the road for work,
so she's giving up
her house rental
and purchasing a tiny home.
With her friend, Eileen,
there to offer some help,
they're looking at options
by several local builders,
including
a 340-square-foot model.
While Lucy loves
the ground-floor bedroom
and large kitchen,
it's well over her
$60,000 budget,
is lacking a bathtub
and doesn't come with land.
Wanting to stay more
within her price range,
Lucy and Eileen
are now meeting
with tiny-house builder
Connell Rouse
to see a more
budget-friendly option.
- How are you?
- I'm good! How are y'all?
We're good, thanks.
It's so pretty out here.
- Isn't it beautiful?
- It's a little rustic, isn't it?
Yes. It is.
It's all eastern red cedar.
Wow.
Is there a way to add
some of those
industrial touches
that I like a little more?
Oh, sure. We could put
some metal siding on it,
give it
a more industrial look.
And it looks like
a manageable size.
That's a total
of 210 square feet,
so you could use
a half-ton truck
and pull it very easily.
- Okay.
- This one is $50,000.
- Whoa.
- Oh, Lucy!
That is so
under your budget.
That is $10,000
under my budget.
Wow. Lucy,
look at all this wood.
Don't you just love it?
The windows and door
and the walls,
floor and roof
is all made with
structural insulated panels,
makes it very quiet,
very strong,
very energy-efficient.
- Okay.
So easy to cool,
easy to heat?
- That's right.
- That's awesome.
I do like the fact
that the wood is light,
but I'm wondering if there's
a way we can make it feel
just a little brighter in here.
Sure. We can paint
these white,
which make it look a little
larger and give it more space.
I think she's nuts.
She can't be
covering up the wood.
The wood is a great
feature of this house.
Did you notice all these
industrial touches up there?
I do notice
the industrial touches.
And I think
I saw some more in the kitchen.
So I like this light
that you have here,
a little more
industrial-feeling,
love the faucet and the sink.
- And you have great storage.
- There's a lot of storage.
It's surprising
in this small space.
But you know what?
You need to be realistic.
You have no room
for a stove.
Yeah, I know.
That's true.
But you're
under budget $10,000,
so we can build
a larger kitchen,
and I can get you
the appliance package
you're looking for.
- Awesome.
Could it include
these awesome doors?
Yes. These doors
are beautiful.
It's mortise and tenon
200-year-old barn doors.
I love that.
And I love the bathroom,
how you have some of
the industrial elements in here,
as well, the rain showerhead.
And whereas it's spacious,
I really wanted a tub.
- Right.
- That small bathroom
and not having a tub
may be a deal breaker for me.
It's something for me
to think about.
Yeah. We've only got
210 square feet,
so we got
to maximize space.
- True.
- The only option is,
I can build you
a bathroom outside
and call it
an outhouse.
- Uh, no.
- No!
Hey. You know, this is
a nice cozy little bedroom area.
It does seem cozy,
doesn't it?
- Right.
- Ow!
Watch your head.
The loft space is
a little tight for me.
The claustrophobia idea
creeps in a little bit.
- King-size bed?
- Yup.
Hmm, you know, you have
no storage here, girlfriend.
Yeah. I would have to get
some storage in here.
I mean, there really is a need
for that in this loft.
And you also have this
other storage loft as well.
- That's a good idea.
- Oh, that's true.
So I can store
some things over there
that I don't use every day.
I really,
really wanted a tub.
Also, you know, there's a nice
loft that you could,
you know, take the bed down
to a queen versus a king.
I don't know.
I might need more space.
And you had the cupboard
space in the kitchen,
which is really great.
- Yeah.
But a drawback
for the kitchen, for me,
is that there's a cooktop
and a dorm fridge,
and I really like
to cook and entertain.
So we can extend
your kitchen
a little bit,
make some modifications.
So, overall, I really
like this house.
I just don't know if it's
enough square footage for me.
They're now looking
at a larger option
that should appeal
to Lucy's industrial style.
Look at the metal
and the wood.
Oh, hey, Lucy.
How you doing?
- Good, how are you?
- Good. What you got?
- I have an elephant.
- Ooh, elephant!
What do you think
about that?
- There you go.
- Isn't that pretty?
Lucy is looking
to free up time and money
so that when she's not
on the road for work,
she has less house to maintain
and more financial freedom.
With her friend, Eileen,
along for advice,
they're looking at portable
tiny homes
in Martinsville, Virginia.
They've seen a 340-square-foot
modern home
that has a ground-floor bedroom
and the full-size kitchen
Lucy is after,
but it's above her
$60,000 budget.
They've also seen
a 210-square-foot rustic cabin,
and while Lucy doesn't
love the style
or compact size,
it's portable,
and the lower price tag means
she could upgrade the kitchen
and paint the interior
to her liking.
Wanting to see something bigger,
they're looking
at another one of builder
Connell Rouse's model homes.
The land it sits on can be
rented for $435 a month.
Look at the metal
and the wood.
I know!
Definitely looks
industrial, huh?
It does.
- Knock, knock?
- Come on in.
- Hey.
- Hey, Lucy.
- How are you?
- Good. Come on in.
- This is beautiful!
- Oh, wow.
- Thank you.
- It's so nice.
It's so bright in here.
This house
is 312 square feet.
It is $62,000.
- Okay.
So it is a little bit
over budget.
It is
a little over budget.
It definitely has a lot
of those industrial touches
that I like.
- Exactly.
- Good. I thought you might.
- So I'm already noticing,
like, the lights
and the exposed conduit,
which is really cool.
And the windows,
Eileen... I know.
They give you the privacy
because they're up high.
- Awesome.
- Oh, wow.
Now, there's
in-the-floor storage.
- Oh, wow.
- Oh, wow. That's really cool.
That is a really
good use of space.
I love that.
- So tell us about this.
This is
a propane fireplace.
Oh, that's so cute.
I like that.
- Yeah. Isn't that adorable?
It is adorable.
I am loving this kitchen.
I love these countertops.
- That's really pretty.
That is so beautiful.
- Aren't they pretty?
What about
these appliances, Lucy?
I mean, it is smaller
than any stove I've ever had,
but it's a stove.
- It is.
- And it has an oven.
- This is true.
- What is that?
Is that what I think it is?
- It is.
If you're thinking
a dishwasher drawer, it is.
No way!
Wow. That is so cool.
And this sink is huge.
And a full-size refrigerator,
isn't that great?
Never seen this in a tiny house,
which is so nice.
Mm-hmm.
Is all this stuff
included in the price?
No. The $62,000
is for the base.
Hmm.
These upgrade appliances
are additional.
That's gonna mess
up your budget.
Yeah. We're already
$2,000 over budget.
The kitchen in this house
is amazing. I love it.
But it would be
a lot more amazing
if it was in my budget.
So is this the bathroom?
- Yes.
Awesome.
- Oh, wow.
- Wow!
- Look at this place.
- Amazing!
Man...
Nice sink in front
of the window.
That's awesome.
- It is.
Extra storage here,
I'm assuming.
- Yes, lots of storage.
- Wow, and this tub...
- Oh, look at the tile.
- Look how deep it is.
I know.
And the tile is awesome.
That's what I wanted,
so excited.
- I know.
- So is this a closet?
- It is a closet.
- That's cool.
Yeah. It's not
a lot of storage.
No, but it is a closet
in a tiny house.
That's true.
You want to come
and check out the loft?
As a matter of fact, I do not
want to check out the loft.
I was really wanting
a ground-floor bedroom
because stairs take up
so much space,
or there's a ladder.
Those, I don't
really care for.
If you want a full kitchen
and a full bath
in under-350-square-feet,
you have to have a loft.
Well, let me
show you something.
- Oh, wow.
- Wow. Look at that.
- Whoa!
- That is...
It's out of the way.
So you can get the stairs
out of the way every morning
and have this
whole space open.
- Yup.
- That's true.
And we can let them down.
There you go.
- That's awesome.
Wow, you've got
a window here, too.
- Not bad.
- No. This is good.
Yeah. I mean,
it's got a lot
that, you know,
makes it a great loft.
But the problem is,
I just didn't want
one of those.
I mean, all in all,
this house checks
a lot of boxes
off my list.
It really does.
It has a lot of appliances,
has a tub,
has lots of windows
that add privacy, though,
because they're up high.
- Right.
It has a loft,
which is not what I wanted.
- That's right.
- It is over budget.
- Yup.
- You add all this in,
it's pretty far
over budget.
With several unique
tiny homes to choose from,
it's time for Lucy to decide
on the perfect one.
I have got
to make a decision.
I cannot look
at any more houses.
I know, girl.
I've got
to make a decision.
I cannot look
at any more houses.
I know, girl.
On the road for work
most of the time,
Lucy is searching
for a low-maintenance tiny home
with the help
of her friend, Eileen,
in Martinsville, Virginia.
She has a budget of $60,000
and has seen several homes
from local builders,
and it's time to pick one.
First was
a 340-square-foot
modern tiny home
listed at $68,000.
You did have
a downstairs bedroom.
Yes, and that was
a huge thing I wanted.
And that closet
was very nice.
Yes. The closet
in that house was huge.
- Yes, but it didn't have...
- The bathtub.
And you could still
pull that one.
You didn't have to require
more than what you have now
to pull it.
True. The Rustic House
for $50,000.
- Oh, girl, budget.
- Yeah.
You have so much
to work with there.
This house is just
210 square feet.
Even if I were to add
the industrial touches,
which are lacking,
for me,
it doesn't make it bigger.
I mean, you can make it
your style.
That's true.
I mean, there were a lot
of things that you could change.
- Easy to tow.
- Easy to tow, yes.
The Industrial House
for $62,000...
Right.
This one
is 312 square feet.
It had the kitchen
I loved,
but it had a loft.
It was a nice house.
It did have all the industrial
things that you wanted.
True.
Only one I saw with a tub.
But the appliances,
that's gonna affect
your budget.
It's gonna knock it way
out of the ballpark.
- I can eliminate one.
- Which one?
I think I can eliminate
the Rustic House.
But the budget!
I don't think that when
I envision going tiny,
I envision going
that tiny.
I guess
it really boils down to,
do I want
a downstairs bedroom?
Right.
Or do I want an amazing kitchen
and bathtub?
I'm gonna go
with the Industrial Home.
Are you really?
And I'm gonna buy
all the appliances with it.
Well,
it is over your budget,
but I can see the love
in your eyes,
and so I think
this is a great choice.
I ended up choosing
the $62,000 Industrial Home
with the appliance package,
and that took me up to $72,000,
but it checked off all the boxes
that I really wanted.
I decided to stay in this park,
and it's gonna run me
$435 a month.
- Hello?
- Hey!
- Hi, girl.
- How are you?
Oh, my gosh.
Look at this place.
- I know.
- This looks awesome.
I told you
it was coming together.
Oh, it did. I got you
a little something-something.
- You're so sweet.
- Look at this.
You know what?
I was looking for something
tall for this shelf,
so these are perfect.
- Oh, cool.
I just moved in,
and loft living--
not so bad.
I don't mind it at all.
My favorite part
of this tiny home
is definitely the kitchen.
I love the fact that
I have an actual range,
a big sink, a dishwasher,
which is amazing
to find in a tiny home.
I'm just thrilled with
the full-size fridge.
Kitchen is gonna be
really awesome for me.
And you know what I'm
gonna need tomorrow
for brunch is
Bloody Mary mix.
- Okay.
- I'm having my family
and some close friends
over for brunch.
What do you think
about my house?
I love your house.
- You do?
- Mm-hmm.
- What do you love?
- What do you love?
I love the stairs
and the bed.
You do?
I'm surprised you were able
to get the king-size bed
and a full-sized
couch down there.
I mean, that's awesome.
It folds out,
so you can have guests
and everything.
And we just
cooked breakfast
for all these people
in that kitchen.
I'm so glad
everybody is here.
This house opens up
a lot of possibilities for me.
I can travel.
It affords me a lot of freedom.
Sky is the limit.
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.
- Wow.
- What is this?
- This is the bedroom.
- It's a fold-down sink.
- That's so cool!
Oh!
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.
- Whoa.
- That's the loft.
- Ohh.
I think I see
a problem already.
Look at the metal
and the wood.
I know.
Definitely looks industrial, huh?
It does.
- Wow.
- Oh, wow. Look at that.
Whoa.
Lucy is looking
to simplify her life
and free up more time to travel.
You know what?
You need to be realistic.
You have no room
for a stove.
With her friend, Eileen,
along to keep her grounded,
finding a tiny house
with the right features
and style is a tall order.
Ow.
Watch your head.
I am looking for chairs.
I'm moving
into a tiny house.
My name is Lucy, and I live
in Martinsville, Virginia.
I work for a retail
furniture company.
I'm director of operations.
I travel all over the country.
I'm renting a 1,000-
square-foot house right now,
and I am here with my three
little kitties.
Good boy.
But Lucy has decided
that her spacious house rental
isn't for her.
So it's a lot to maintain
when you are traveling
a lot for work,
and you come home
into a bigger space.
So there are a lot of reasons
that I decided to go tiny,
but the most important ones,
I think, for me,
are financial freedom, for one.
It would also allow me to travel
to some of the bigger
and better places
on my bucket list
that I've been
wanting to get to.
So everybody thinks
I'm crazy for doing this,
but I am really excited.
- I think it's awesome.
It just kind of happened
- organically.
- Yeah.
And I'm here to talk her
off the ledge early and often.
Yes, you are.
Keep me grounded, for sure.
She needs it.
My friend, Eileen,
is joining me
on this tiny-house search.
I think I'm gonna be the
little devil on her shoulder,
say she can and can't
do certain things.
I have all these ideas
in my head,
and Eileen says,
"You can't do that."
My budget is $60,000.
So I've been calling
my style industrial chic,
having a lot of raw wood
with metals,
things like that but not
in a rustic way.
So nothing like
7-by-10 or anything.
Oh, no.
No. I want something
that actually feels like
a house and not a shed.
She's hoping for
something around 300 square feet
that's mobile
since she's not sure
where she'll place
the home yet.
I know.
So have you trimmed
down your closet yet?
Oh, yeah.
So one of the things
I'm looking for in a tiny house
is a lot of storage
because I am little nervous
about getting rid
of a lot of my stuff.
I definitely want
either a bathtub
or a walk-in shower,
space where I can, you know,
relax in the bath.
So what about a loft?
I'm a little nervous that
I might feel claustrophobic.
But I do have a little bit
of a claustrophobia issue,
so I'm a little
concerned about that.
I don't know that I would love
sleeping in that tight space.
What kind of kitchen
do you want, seriously?
Well, as much
as I like to cook,
you know I want
a full-size stove.
I really
want every appliance
that you would find
in a normal house. Right.
I know it's kind of crazy
that I want to go tiny,
and I am
a little claustrophobic,
but I'm going for it.
To find the perfect tiny house,
Lucy will be meeting
with some local builders
to see what they have
for sale.
First up is a modern option
from tiny-house
builder Taylor Williams.
Hey, Taylor.
Ladies, how are y'all?
- Good, how are you?
- And so what do y'all think?
- Oh, man.
- It's big.
This thing is beautiful.
- It is beautiful.
- It's 13'6" tall.
So you can drive it
on the road
without any permits
or anything like that.
- Awesome.
- It fits under bridges,
and overall,
it's about 340 square feet.
- Well, how much is this thing?
- There's the big question.
This house is a little
over your budget.
It's $68,000.
- Oh.
That is over
my budget quite a bit.
The price on this house
is significantly
over my budget.
I'm not even sure
I can consider it.
Wow.
Oh, Lucy,
look at this kitchen.
- This is beautiful.
- Thank you.
- This place is big.
- There's a lot of light in here.
- There is.
- It's very nice.
I do like the fact that it feels
bright and airy in here
with the high ceilings.
So that definitely makes
it feel roomy and...
- Yeah.
- ...takes away a little of that
fear of claustrophobia
that I have.
Right.
I also see some
of the industrial touches
that I really
am looking for.
Like, I love this fan.
- Oh, great.
- That's amazing.
I don't know if it's enough,
but I do love
those touches.
And I like
all the counter space
that you have here,
in the kitchen.
Yeah. This is
a butcher-block countertop.
I had envisioned
having stone countertops.
Would that be something
that could be changed out?
Definitely.
Yeah, that's a very easy fix.
Do you know about how much
that would cost?
You're looking around
$1,000 to $1,500.
Okay.
And I love, obviously,
having the gas stove,
really important to me.
- Right.
- Do you think that's big enough?
I do. I do think
that's big enough.
Really, all I'm concerned
about is the four burners.
- Got you.
- And it's got a nice oven.
I really wanted an oven.
Below that,
you've got a broiler.
Oh, cool! And I love
that we do not have
a dorm-sized fridge in here.
- I know. Doesn't it look cool?
- Yes, it really does.
- Okay.
- Very cool.
So is this technically
the living room space?
Yes. You'd stick your couch,
ideally, right here.
I'm not sure
if that would be big enough
for what I want to do.
Want to go in the loft
and explore?
Yes. One of the reasons
I don't want a loft
is because it's usually
stairs or a ladder,
which both take up space,
and I don't really like that.
How heavy is that?
- Man.
No, it's not too bad.
- Cool!
- Pretty good.
Oh, my goodness, Lucy.
This thing is huge
up here.
Yeah?
You could really get
a large bed up here.
And so I'm sitting
straight up over here.
I know I don't have
a mattress underneath me,
but there's...
- There's still plenty of room.
...a good bit of room
above my head,
again, helping me not feel
claustrophobic in a loft area,
which is one of the main
reasons, all the main reasons,
that I wanted a bedroom
on the ground floor.
Mm. Well, we actually
have one of those, too.
- Really?
- Right on the other
side of that loft.
This is awesome.
Oh, my God.
Look at the place.
Wow. That's a lot
more space.
That's really big.
Let's go check it out.
Okay.
So I like
that barn door.
Yeah. It provides privacy
for the restroom.
And a real bathroom
is important to me.
Wow.
This is nice.
Yeah. You know,
for a stall shower,
this is spacious,
except for really wanted a tub.
- And we can add that.
Yeah, but you know that's gonna
add to your budget.
Ah!
That's true.
I think Eileen has
a realistic view of Lucy
and her challenges
in being in a tiny house.
Look at the closet space.
Nine-foot
from side-to-side.
Wow. That's more space
than I have today.
- Exactly. Exactly.
- That's awesome.
And a whole extra room!
- I know.
- Wow.
Look at the closet.
There is another closet!
- That is crazy.
You got another 2-1/2
feet of closet space in here.
Oh, my gosh.
I'm gonna have
to buy more clothes
and shoes than I have
right now.
You can squeeze
a queen-size bed in here.
Awesome.
It's a really nice layout.
I love the kitchen.
It is pretty open,
and I love all
the natural light,
and that loft
really surprised me.
Yeah.
It's a big loft.
I was dead set
on not having a loft,
but with the space up there,
it was really surprising.
Well, then you've got
the bathroom.
You wanted a tub.
- I do want a tub.
It's high on the wish list, so...
I am concerned,
a little bit,
about
the entertainment space.
And then
there's the budget.
There will have to be
some compromises
with going tiny.
With cost in mind,
they're now seeing
something well within budget,
but Lucy is a tough sell.
It's a little rustic, isn't it?
I'm ready to just
have my own stuff,
my own place.
- Right.
As the director of operations
for a furniture company
in Martinsville, Virginia,
Lucy is always
on the road for work,
so she's giving up
her house rental
and purchasing a tiny home.
With her friend, Eileen,
there to offer some help,
they're looking at options
by several local builders,
including
a 340-square-foot model.
While Lucy loves
the ground-floor bedroom
and large kitchen,
it's well over her
$60,000 budget,
is lacking a bathtub
and doesn't come with land.
Wanting to stay more
within her price range,
Lucy and Eileen
are now meeting
with tiny-house builder
Connell Rouse
to see a more
budget-friendly option.
- How are you?
- I'm good! How are y'all?
We're good, thanks.
It's so pretty out here.
- Isn't it beautiful?
- It's a little rustic, isn't it?
Yes. It is.
It's all eastern red cedar.
Wow.
Is there a way to add
some of those
industrial touches
that I like a little more?
Oh, sure. We could put
some metal siding on it,
give it
a more industrial look.
And it looks like
a manageable size.
That's a total
of 210 square feet,
so you could use
a half-ton truck
and pull it very easily.
- Okay.
- This one is $50,000.
- Whoa.
- Oh, Lucy!
That is so
under your budget.
That is $10,000
under my budget.
Wow. Lucy,
look at all this wood.
Don't you just love it?
The windows and door
and the walls,
floor and roof
is all made with
structural insulated panels,
makes it very quiet,
very strong,
very energy-efficient.
- Okay.
So easy to cool,
easy to heat?
- That's right.
- That's awesome.
I do like the fact
that the wood is light,
but I'm wondering if there's
a way we can make it feel
just a little brighter in here.
Sure. We can paint
these white,
which make it look a little
larger and give it more space.
I think she's nuts.
She can't be
covering up the wood.
The wood is a great
feature of this house.
Did you notice all these
industrial touches up there?
I do notice
the industrial touches.
And I think
I saw some more in the kitchen.
So I like this light
that you have here,
a little more
industrial-feeling,
love the faucet and the sink.
- And you have great storage.
- There's a lot of storage.
It's surprising
in this small space.
But you know what?
You need to be realistic.
You have no room
for a stove.
Yeah, I know.
That's true.
But you're
under budget $10,000,
so we can build
a larger kitchen,
and I can get you
the appliance package
you're looking for.
- Awesome.
Could it include
these awesome doors?
Yes. These doors
are beautiful.
It's mortise and tenon
200-year-old barn doors.
I love that.
And I love the bathroom,
how you have some of
the industrial elements in here,
as well, the rain showerhead.
And whereas it's spacious,
I really wanted a tub.
- Right.
- That small bathroom
and not having a tub
may be a deal breaker for me.
It's something for me
to think about.
Yeah. We've only got
210 square feet,
so we got
to maximize space.
- True.
- The only option is,
I can build you
a bathroom outside
and call it
an outhouse.
- Uh, no.
- No!
Hey. You know, this is
a nice cozy little bedroom area.
It does seem cozy,
doesn't it?
- Right.
- Ow!
Watch your head.
The loft space is
a little tight for me.
The claustrophobia idea
creeps in a little bit.
- King-size bed?
- Yup.
Hmm, you know, you have
no storage here, girlfriend.
Yeah. I would have to get
some storage in here.
I mean, there really is a need
for that in this loft.
And you also have this
other storage loft as well.
- That's a good idea.
- Oh, that's true.
So I can store
some things over there
that I don't use every day.
I really,
really wanted a tub.
Also, you know, there's a nice
loft that you could,
you know, take the bed down
to a queen versus a king.
I don't know.
I might need more space.
And you had the cupboard
space in the kitchen,
which is really great.
- Yeah.
But a drawback
for the kitchen, for me,
is that there's a cooktop
and a dorm fridge,
and I really like
to cook and entertain.
So we can extend
your kitchen
a little bit,
make some modifications.
So, overall, I really
like this house.
I just don't know if it's
enough square footage for me.
They're now looking
at a larger option
that should appeal
to Lucy's industrial style.
Look at the metal
and the wood.
Oh, hey, Lucy.
How you doing?
- Good, how are you?
- Good. What you got?
- I have an elephant.
- Ooh, elephant!
What do you think
about that?
- There you go.
- Isn't that pretty?
Lucy is looking
to free up time and money
so that when she's not
on the road for work,
she has less house to maintain
and more financial freedom.
With her friend, Eileen,
along for advice,
they're looking at portable
tiny homes
in Martinsville, Virginia.
They've seen a 340-square-foot
modern home
that has a ground-floor bedroom
and the full-size kitchen
Lucy is after,
but it's above her
$60,000 budget.
They've also seen
a 210-square-foot rustic cabin,
and while Lucy doesn't
love the style
or compact size,
it's portable,
and the lower price tag means
she could upgrade the kitchen
and paint the interior
to her liking.
Wanting to see something bigger,
they're looking
at another one of builder
Connell Rouse's model homes.
The land it sits on can be
rented for $435 a month.
Look at the metal
and the wood.
I know!
Definitely looks
industrial, huh?
It does.
- Knock, knock?
- Come on in.
- Hey.
- Hey, Lucy.
- How are you?
- Good. Come on in.
- This is beautiful!
- Oh, wow.
- Thank you.
- It's so nice.
It's so bright in here.
This house
is 312 square feet.
It is $62,000.
- Okay.
So it is a little bit
over budget.
It is
a little over budget.
It definitely has a lot
of those industrial touches
that I like.
- Exactly.
- Good. I thought you might.
- So I'm already noticing,
like, the lights
and the exposed conduit,
which is really cool.
And the windows,
Eileen... I know.
They give you the privacy
because they're up high.
- Awesome.
- Oh, wow.
Now, there's
in-the-floor storage.
- Oh, wow.
- Oh, wow. That's really cool.
That is a really
good use of space.
I love that.
- So tell us about this.
This is
a propane fireplace.
Oh, that's so cute.
I like that.
- Yeah. Isn't that adorable?
It is adorable.
I am loving this kitchen.
I love these countertops.
- That's really pretty.
That is so beautiful.
- Aren't they pretty?
What about
these appliances, Lucy?
I mean, it is smaller
than any stove I've ever had,
but it's a stove.
- It is.
- And it has an oven.
- This is true.
- What is that?
Is that what I think it is?
- It is.
If you're thinking
a dishwasher drawer, it is.
No way!
Wow. That is so cool.
And this sink is huge.
And a full-size refrigerator,
isn't that great?
Never seen this in a tiny house,
which is so nice.
Mm-hmm.
Is all this stuff
included in the price?
No. The $62,000
is for the base.
Hmm.
These upgrade appliances
are additional.
That's gonna mess
up your budget.
Yeah. We're already
$2,000 over budget.
The kitchen in this house
is amazing. I love it.
But it would be
a lot more amazing
if it was in my budget.
So is this the bathroom?
- Yes.
Awesome.
- Oh, wow.
- Wow!
- Look at this place.
- Amazing!
Man...
Nice sink in front
of the window.
That's awesome.
- It is.
Extra storage here,
I'm assuming.
- Yes, lots of storage.
- Wow, and this tub...
- Oh, look at the tile.
- Look how deep it is.
I know.
And the tile is awesome.
That's what I wanted,
so excited.
- I know.
- So is this a closet?
- It is a closet.
- That's cool.
Yeah. It's not
a lot of storage.
No, but it is a closet
in a tiny house.
That's true.
You want to come
and check out the loft?
As a matter of fact, I do not
want to check out the loft.
I was really wanting
a ground-floor bedroom
because stairs take up
so much space,
or there's a ladder.
Those, I don't
really care for.
If you want a full kitchen
and a full bath
in under-350-square-feet,
you have to have a loft.
Well, let me
show you something.
- Oh, wow.
- Wow. Look at that.
- Whoa!
- That is...
It's out of the way.
So you can get the stairs
out of the way every morning
and have this
whole space open.
- Yup.
- That's true.
And we can let them down.
There you go.
- That's awesome.
Wow, you've got
a window here, too.
- Not bad.
- No. This is good.
Yeah. I mean,
it's got a lot
that, you know,
makes it a great loft.
But the problem is,
I just didn't want
one of those.
I mean, all in all,
this house checks
a lot of boxes
off my list.
It really does.
It has a lot of appliances,
has a tub,
has lots of windows
that add privacy, though,
because they're up high.
- Right.
It has a loft,
which is not what I wanted.
- That's right.
- It is over budget.
- Yup.
- You add all this in,
it's pretty far
over budget.
With several unique
tiny homes to choose from,
it's time for Lucy to decide
on the perfect one.
I have got
to make a decision.
I cannot look
at any more houses.
I know, girl.
I've got
to make a decision.
I cannot look
at any more houses.
I know, girl.
On the road for work
most of the time,
Lucy is searching
for a low-maintenance tiny home
with the help
of her friend, Eileen,
in Martinsville, Virginia.
She has a budget of $60,000
and has seen several homes
from local builders,
and it's time to pick one.
First was
a 340-square-foot
modern tiny home
listed at $68,000.
You did have
a downstairs bedroom.
Yes, and that was
a huge thing I wanted.
And that closet
was very nice.
Yes. The closet
in that house was huge.
- Yes, but it didn't have...
- The bathtub.
And you could still
pull that one.
You didn't have to require
more than what you have now
to pull it.
True. The Rustic House
for $50,000.
- Oh, girl, budget.
- Yeah.
You have so much
to work with there.
This house is just
210 square feet.
Even if I were to add
the industrial touches,
which are lacking,
for me,
it doesn't make it bigger.
I mean, you can make it
your style.
That's true.
I mean, there were a lot
of things that you could change.
- Easy to tow.
- Easy to tow, yes.
The Industrial House
for $62,000...
Right.
This one
is 312 square feet.
It had the kitchen
I loved,
but it had a loft.
It was a nice house.
It did have all the industrial
things that you wanted.
True.
Only one I saw with a tub.
But the appliances,
that's gonna affect
your budget.
It's gonna knock it way
out of the ballpark.
- I can eliminate one.
- Which one?
I think I can eliminate
the Rustic House.
But the budget!
I don't think that when
I envision going tiny,
I envision going
that tiny.
I guess
it really boils down to,
do I want
a downstairs bedroom?
Right.
Or do I want an amazing kitchen
and bathtub?
I'm gonna go
with the Industrial Home.
Are you really?
And I'm gonna buy
all the appliances with it.
Well,
it is over your budget,
but I can see the love
in your eyes,
and so I think
this is a great choice.
I ended up choosing
the $62,000 Industrial Home
with the appliance package,
and that took me up to $72,000,
but it checked off all the boxes
that I really wanted.
I decided to stay in this park,
and it's gonna run me
$435 a month.
- Hello?
- Hey!
- Hi, girl.
- How are you?
Oh, my gosh.
Look at this place.
- I know.
- This looks awesome.
I told you
it was coming together.
Oh, it did. I got you
a little something-something.
- You're so sweet.
- Look at this.
You know what?
I was looking for something
tall for this shelf,
so these are perfect.
- Oh, cool.
I just moved in,
and loft living--
not so bad.
I don't mind it at all.
My favorite part
of this tiny home
is definitely the kitchen.
I love the fact that
I have an actual range,
a big sink, a dishwasher,
which is amazing
to find in a tiny home.
I'm just thrilled with
the full-size fridge.
Kitchen is gonna be
really awesome for me.
And you know what I'm
gonna need tomorrow
for brunch is
Bloody Mary mix.
- Okay.
- I'm having my family
and some close friends
over for brunch.
What do you think
about my house?
I love your house.
- You do?
- Mm-hmm.
- What do you love?
- What do you love?
I love the stairs
and the bed.
You do?
I'm surprised you were able
to get the king-size bed
and a full-sized
couch down there.
I mean, that's awesome.
It folds out,
so you can have guests
and everything.
And we just
cooked breakfast
for all these people
in that kitchen.
I'm so glad
everybody is here.
This house opens up
a lot of possibilities for me.
I can travel.
It affords me a lot of freedom.
Sky is the limit.