Tiny home living isn’t for everyone, granted.
Still, who can deny the charm freedom affords? The freedom to go in search of balmy weather; to seek nature, set up camp, and breathe the fresh air at the drop of a hat; to soar on the open road from state to state—from New York to Florida, from California to Texas.
But Portland-based realtor Stefanie Fisher, 54, is doing it in comfort.
The home-savvy entrepreneur and empty-nest mom used to love traveling in her minivan. “I had a really good time. So I thought now that, you know, I’m done with family, raising kids, I'd love to travel a little bit more, but I wanted a little bit more comfort,” she told The Epoch Times.
“I had time because of COVID. And with social distancing, my business went down, slowed down a lot, and I had the time. Why not do something positive that I really enjoy doing?”
Ditching her minivan for a used flatbed trailer she found on Craigslist, Stefanie expanded her skillset with an ambitious tiny-home-on-wheels project. A fairly handy gal already—with several interior-finishing jobs under her belt—Stefanie had her work cut out for her.
Her charming soon-to-be Bastian of liberation she dubbed Misty.
Of course, Misty is packed to the gills with practicality, featuring plenty of ingenious storage compartments, tongue-and-groove cedar siding with marine-grade stain, plexiglass windows to prevent breaking, folding ramp (for her dog Ralphie) and patio, hidden closets, gas lines and stove, efficient power and pluming solutions, and other amenities.
But most importantly, she says, Misty is to be “a sacred space for me that I can call home while I’m traveling, and a space that would make me smile when I enter.”
“And you know what?“ she added. ”I have created something much more meaningful than that, it’s amazing!”
She achieved this allure with personal touches: Dutch doors with antique hinges; exotic lamps and mirrors from India and Morocco; epoxy-poured cedar counters with an Egyptian, hammered copper sink; ornate awning; open-concept shelves, adding space; a decoratively-routed arch divider; introspective mandala-pattern shades; royal-blue fabrics; and hammock—all of which oozes comfort.
All told, Misty set Stefanie back some $15,000, she said, which includes the professionally-installed roof and new trailer axel and brakes to ensure safety.
Stefanie and Ralphie have explored California’s Sequoia National Park, the stunningly beautiful deserts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, various parts of Washington, and beyond, with many an adventure—sometimes scary—to tell.
We could hardly articulate in mere words what a cozy, liberating home Misty has made, nor how Stefanie managed the momentous feat making her, but we don’t have to; you can take the tour with Stefanie in her YouTube walkthrough (professional realtor that she is), as she shows off each nook, cranny, nifty compartment, and sliding shelf.
Plus, she has more videos revealing the build from top to bottom, start to finish—from trailer bed, to bunkbed, to roof beams.
“I was very happy with the outcome,” she added. “And you know I love to show it off, of course. Feels like I’ve accomplished something.”
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