Two people stand inside a small, cozy kitchen with a loft bed above. Shelves with jarred goods are visible, and a refrigerator and stove are in the foreground. The space, reminiscent of a Tumbleweed Tiny House, boasts a rustic wooden interior.

Introducing newlyweds Adina and Ian, who are close to finishing construction on their own custom Tiny House RV in Boulder, Colorado.

The young couple built their tiny dream after being inspired by Zack Giffin and his mobile ski house. The foundation they chose? A 20′ Tumbleweed trailer.

“The ease of starting our build with an ‘industry standard’ was settling,” Ian explained.“The confidence to know our foundation is solid goes a long way.”

Adina spent months with papers and photographs strewn across her living room floor, hashing out the design. The couple knew they wanted a real kitchen with a big oven and a large fridge. They also wanted their space to feel light and uncluttered. As far as “must haves,” Adina wanted a place to study; Ian wanted a wood stove.

When construction began in July 2015, Adina and Ian were eager to get started, but neither of them had any real carpentry experience. Their build site happened to be located on a salvage yard, and the owner of the property (a trained architect) was a big help. He gave them access to his shop and advice when needed.

A man and woman stand together smiling in front of a tiny wooden house in a snowy outdoor setting, resembling an inviting scene straight out of a winter wonderland.

“The kitchen, by far, is my favorite part of the house.” Adina told us. “I also love the timber framing we did with the reclaimed wood from a whiskey distillery on both of our lofts.”

They budgeted for $25,000 and ended up spending $30,000 during the build, with splurges on the Kimberly Wood Stove and Dickinson Propane Heater. Adina and Ian estimate the total to come to $35,000 after they finish their awning, plumbing and interior furnishing and decor. 

Adina and Ian are currently researching graduate schools, and they intend to park their Tiny House RV near the school they choose. Later on, the couple dreams of starting a farm and using their tiny as a guest house.

Adina and Ian’s gorgeous front door was built by their friend Randy. They painted the door blue, which really pops against the dark wood siding, and placed the door on the side of the structure. 

“The door has a unique history. It is made out of Colorado pine from the same valley we used to live in and it has traveled and lived in Joshua Tree, a climbing mecca and one of our favorite spots.” – Ian

A tiny house, resembling a charming tumbleweed cabin, with a turquoise door stands in a snow-covered area, surrounded by various outdoor objects.
A small wooden cabin with an A-frame roof, resembling a charming tiny house, sits on a snowy landscape, surrounded by trees and cut logs. A snow-covered pathway leads to the entrance.

Adina and Ian’s Advice for future DIY Builders:

  • Building a Tiny House RV may seem tough, but board by board and nail by nail it’s one of the easiest things to understand.
  • Dive into the journey. Your design is extremely important but it also changes and grows as you build.
  • Use your community. Talk to people and feed off the knowledge of various skilled and practiced individuals. These relationships are so valuable.