Looking back
We lived in our tiny house for three years before losing it in the 2020 wildfires. Those years were some of the best of our lives -- not despite the constraints, but in many ways because of them.
What we'd do the same
- Invest in quality -- our higher budget paid off in daily comfort and long-term durability.
- Custom design -- every inch was designed around how we actually live, and it showed.
- Full-size kitchen -- worth every square foot we gave it.
- Document everything -- sharing our journey built a community and a body of work that outlasted the house itself.
What we'd change
- More outdoor infrastructure from day one -- deck, covered area, outdoor kitchen.
- Better sound insulation -- in a small space, this matters more than you think.
- More built-in storage -- you can never have enough.
- Plan for growth -- think about how your needs might change in 2-3 years.
After the fire
Losing our home was devastating. But it also showed us that what we'd built wasn't just a house -- it was a set of skills, a way of thinking, and a community. We took everything we learned and applied it to building Asheville Forest Baths in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The tiny house is gone, but the experience shaped everything we've done since.