Woman Spent $15K Building Dream Caravan Tiny Home & It's A Sight To See

Oct 05, 2021 by apost team

There is nothing better than getting involved in a passion project and seeing your hard work come to fruition. One woman named Stephanie spent all of her extra time in 2020 building a tiny wagon home for herself and her dog. The entire wagon is 84 square feet, and Stephanie built and installed everything herself, except for the roofing and the propane line. 

The adorable wagon has a whimsical and dreamlike style that can’t help but charm all of its visitors. The ceiling is curved, which gives off the illusion of more space, and Stephanie has provided many hidden areas for storage. Under her bed, there are even two closet racks and drawers for her clothing. The wagon runs on propane energy, but the lights inside utilize solar-powered LED light bulbs. This setup allows for Stephanie to live off the grid for up to five days. 

Stephanie said she does not have much of a background in construction but considers herself to be very handy. This is proven by all of the incredible work she did building her tiny home. The counter and tabletop are also decorated with epoxy, showing off Stephanie’s eye for style. The woman also took care to make the small space extremely functional with hidden storage that keeps the area feeling open and airy. 

The entire build cost Stephanie around $15,000. She said she was able to purchase the lumber she needed before the prices went up. Stephanie also said she was able to use the internet as a guide when she needed any questions answered. She couldn’t be prouder of the tiny home that she built. Keep reading to learn more about this beautiful wagon.  

In 2021, Stephanie gave a tour of her home on the web series “Tiny House Giant Journey.” She started off by saying, “Hi my name is Stephanie this is Misty, my tiny wagon.” The wagon’s name really fits the whimsical style of the home. 

The arched ceiling of the home really adds to the illusion of additional height. When asked her inspiration behind the build, Stephanie answered: “I’m older now and I wanted a little bit more comfort.” The home is the perfect size for Stephanie, who is 4 foot 11 and fits perfectly in the space.

For the walls and ceiling, Stephanie used birch plywood because it was lightweight and added aromatic cedar for the countertops inside. “It smells so good when you walk in,” Stephanie added. “The whole wagon has lots and lots of storage. I splurged and got a little spice rack that I love. In fact, there's even storage on the outside of the wagon, with shelves and compartments where Stephanie can store non-perishable goods and toiletries. 

Back inside, she's decorated the space to feel cozy. Her bed is a memory foam mattress, which was designed so that her dog could climb up on his own. Other special pieces include a copper sink from Egypt and mirrors from Morocco, which help to create a memorable and unique atmosphere. Meanwhile, her clothing rack is hidden away in a space underneath her loft bed. What's more, the windows that feature on both sides of the wagon can be opened so that on a nice day there is a breeze that flows through the tiny home.  

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The little wagon home draws the eye of any passerby, but the owner doesn’t mind. “People want to talk to me about how I did that and I have met so many people. I love showing it off … this is my masterpiece,” Stephanie shared.

Building this home has been a labor of love, and now Stephanie gets to enjoy all of her hard work. She said, “My plan was to build a space where I feel safe and that cheers me up, that makes me smile when I enter, and it does and I’m really happy about that. so if you are interested in building one … if I can do it you can do it.” 

With all of the adventures Stephanie will be going on with Misty, it only makes sense that she created a YouTube channel to document their journey together. Titled My Tiny Wagon, her channel, which she's only recently started posting videos on, features videos of a few trips she's taken as well as some older DIY videos. In the channel's about section, she explains:

"The pandemic forced me to slow down, re-evaluate and re-group my life's purpose and dreams. In the past I was the most happy and fulfilled backpacking around the world or traveling in my van conversion. In all this chaos and uncertainty Misty was born."

She goes on to reveal that she'll be uploading videos about her adventures as well as how-to demonstrations related to her nomadic lifestyle. She adds:

"My goal is to inspire and educate you, so you find the courage to live life to the fullest in a way that suits you personally." 

By living her dream, Stephanie is undoubtedly inspiring countless others to do the same! 

What do you think of this tiny home? Would you ever live somewhere like this? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to send this on to your friends and family.