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Evan and Gabby Coulson have always loved the idea of just living with what you need, and nothing more. The two of them now live at Camp Ondessonk in Illinois, where Evan works. While they already had a very sustainable lifestyle, about a year ago Gabby was inspired by a story about tiny homes she read on Tumbleweed Tiny Homes. The story stuck with her, and she decided that she wanted to downsize dramatically. "When she said we should look more into these tiny homes for our life, I thought she was completely nuts," says Evan. "But as I began to actually listen to what she had to say, I started to get on board as well." Now the couple is in the final stages of building their Tumbleweed Tarleton home. At about 117 square feet, the home has everything they need — and nothing more.See the home that inspired them After they finish their home, Evan and Gabby will register it as a custom-built RV. Since it's on wheels and was built to be adaptable to an RV park or even a friend's backyard, it's completely portable. Evan and Gabby plan to move around the country, staying in campgrounds that offer year-round rates. "We want to purchase some land one day and run utilities for the tiny house in an area with zoning and housing laws that are compatible with this form of living," says Evan. By Vanessa Brunner, Houzz PHOTOS: See More of This Tiny House![house2]()
A small storage nook above the entry is one of the home's many smart storage solutions. Although Evan and Gabby carefully planned out the storage options, they know they'll still have to get rid of quite a lot before they move in permanently. "Paring down our belongings and deciding what to take with us, what to keep for later use and what to repurpose will be difficult," says Evan. "But it's also the part we're looking forward to the most." MORE: Browse Beautiful Cabins![house3]()
The sleeping loft is above the kitchen and bathroom, opposite the home's entry. Custom closet doors in the loft swing open to provide a sense of privacy. This area is one of Gabby's favorite parts of the house because it's so tucked away and cozy. Gabby and Evan plan on installing a full sized bed by putting two latex rubber mattress cores inside a custom organic and cotton wool mattress cover. MORE: 7 Instant Backyard Getaways![house4]()
The two sleeping-loft closets, shown here with the doors closed, are what Gabby is most proud of. "The idea that I'll be scaling down my wardrobe to fit in such a small space is very gratifying," she says. "It's a feat that I think few women would be brave enough to do." The inside of each closet door is covered in cork board, which Gabby plans on using to tack up patches she's collected from travels and adventures. MORE: Tiny, Happy Eco-Friendly Home![house5]()
Evan later installed his Christmas gift from Gabby — a training board for rock climbing — just under the loft entrance. Both love being outdoors, camping and backpacking. "One thing that really caught me was the similarity between downsizing and living in a tiny house and the concepts that are put into practice when backpacking," says Evan. "It's about only taking what is truly needed for basic daily needs." PHOTOS: See More of This Tiny House![house6]()
The electrical needs of Evan and Gabby's home are very small, since they only have a few lights and small appliances — such as the stove, fridge and washer/dryer — to power. PHOTOS: See More of This Tiny House from HouzzTiny Wooden Mobile Home Built for Big Adventure
Newlyweds Evan and Gabby Coulson construct a 117-square-foot home made for the road.
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- Tiny Wooden Mobile Home Built for Big Adventure
