(New 2018 Update! My husband recently started a Tiny House blog called TinyHouse, BIG Design. Please visit it for more info and also for a copy of our complete floor plan!)
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I have an exciting announcement about a little project our family has been working on behind the scenes for the past year. And by "little," what I really mean is "tiny" - we've built a Tiny House on Wheels (THOW) to use in the mountains! Here in Charlotte, NC it gets hot hot HOT in the summer (I'm talking highs in the mid-nineties with crazy humidity), so we've long dreamed of being able to regularly escape to the nearby mountains. With just a 2 or 3 hour drive you can cool off by about 15 degrees (or even more on a good day) and have a whole new set of activities at your disposal ... and pretty views, too!
Why Tiny?
As I mentioned, we always dreamed of being able to spend more time in the nearby mountains, but buying a cabin or vacation house is just not in our budget. So, after putting loads of thought into our options (and being inspired by our recent RV trip and HGTV, of course!), we decided if we went tiny we could realize this dream sooner rather than later.
One of the things we loved about our time in the RV was just how simple life was. It was such a small space to clean and keep up with and didn't require much in the way of housewares or other "stuff" in general. But, at the same time we are also very much sticklers for things that are well-made and high-quality, so building a tiny house seemed liked the best of both worlds.
Our tiny house is 300-square feet (not counting the sleeping lofts) and, since I am a food blogger and cookbook author, you can probably guess my priority when we were figuring out the design - the kitchen, of course! Many Tiny Houses on Wheels have equally tiny galley kitchens - some even just have a small beverage style fridge and no oven. But, it was super important to me to have a kitchen with plenty of room for cooking and recipe testing. So, here is what we came up with! I honestly love some aspects of this kitchen even more than my kitchen at home!
See our Tiny House Plans
My husband recently started a Tiny House blog called TinyHouse, BIG Design. Please visit it for more info and also for a copy of our complete floor plan (to scale).
Tiny House Video Tour
Only our Most Used Kitchen Tools for our Tiny House Kitchen
We've got all sorts of fun kitchen gadgets at home that only get occasional use - such as our panini grill and waffle cone maker - but of course there's no room for luxuries like that in a tiny house kitchen. So, I thought it would be fun to share the list of our most used kitchen tools and appliances that made the cut for our tiny house. Between inexpensive finds at Ikea, sales at a variety of kitchen stores, and pots and pans that were factory seconds - I've been a busy little bee trying to find the best deal on everything we need.
Kitchen Tools and Appliances in our Tiny House
- Pots and pans: 3 Pots (1 quart, 2 quart, 4 quart) and 3 Pans (8" skillet, 10" skillet, 3 quart saute pan) - all factory seconds!
- Cast iron skillet: Great for homemade tortillas
- Cutting boards: A combo of wood and plastic all from Ikea
- Good set of knives: Most were a gift from a blog sponsor (yay!)
- Kitchen shears
- Colander and small strainer
- Salad spinner: I honestly didn't even own a salad spinner before cutting out processed food, now I use it all the time for lettuce, greens and even fresh herbs!
- Steamer basket
- Set of graduated mixing bowls: I hope the big ones can double as serving bowls
- Baking dishes
- Big and small casserole dishes: Also from Ikea
- Pie plate: It's an extra one from home, but we make quiche enough to warrant having one
- Small baking sheet: A regular sized baking sheet won't fit in our tiny oven, but it came with one that I hope will work
- Cooling rack: Obviously great for baked goods, but we also use ours for oven-cooked bacon!
- Muffin pan
- Loaf pan
- Cooking utensils
- Basic cooking spatulas/spoons
- Rubber spatulas
- Small whisk
- Tongs
- Roux spoon
- Other small kitchen tools
- Box-style cheese grater
- Carrot peeler
- Small zester/microplane
- Silicone brush
- Can opener
- Potato brush
- Stainless steel measuring spoons/cups
- Glass measuring cups: Both 1 cup and 2 cup size, good for liquids
- Lemon juicer
- Apple slicer
- Small ice cream scoop: Great for spooning muffin, cupcake and cookie batter!
- Wine opener: Of course!
- Meat thermometer
- Small rolling pin
- Small Appliances
- Electric hand mixer
- Slow cooker: Cannot live without this one
- Basic toaster
- Hand-held immersion blender
- Waffle maker: This was our one "not really necessary" splurge, but the girls talked me into getting a Belgian waffle maker (ours at home is just a regular waffle maker, not Belgian), and I liked the idea of having something special like this that we only get to have in the mountains!
- Misc. Items
- Handful of jelly jars and lids
- A couple cookie cutters: I use these when making biscuits
- Milk frother: So I can make my Maple Mocha
- Still deciding
- What type of coffee/espresso maker: We tried a French Press and it didn't go well
- Food processor: Not sure if we'll have room for one (big or small) and will go without for now
- Full-sized countertop blender: Hoping the hand immersion style will do for a while and hopefully forever
For direct links to some of my favorite kitchen tools and appliances check out my Kitchen Essentials Page.
Other Kitchen Items
- Simple white dishes: Dinner plates, salad plates, bowls all from Ikea
- Basic set of silverware + serve ware
- Cloth napkins: At home we keep our cloth napkins on our chair so we can reuse them a few times before washing, but since we don't have a table at the tiny house (we hope to mostly eat outside) everyone just has their own designated color
- Glasses: Very durable and also will nest
- Coffee cups: These were a fun splurge to add a little visual interest to our open shelving
- All-purpose wine glasses: Good for red or white, also from Ikea!
- Serving platters: I have the same elongated simple white set from Ikea at home and use them all the time
- Water pitcher: Also from Ikea and can double as a vase for mountain wildflowers!
- Tupperware: I love Lock & Lock brand for being completely 100% leak-proof, which means perfect for picnicking
- Pot holders: These will also have to double as trivets
- Little "nut" bowls - The other anthro splurge, just to add some character other than white dishes to the open shelves
- Insulated thermos cups - great for picnics and hikes without added waste from plastic water bottles!
Whether you live in a small space or need help figuring out what items are most critical when it comes to making real food (or even need ideas for a wedding registry) - this list might be a good place to start!
Also, I've never had open shelving in the kitchen before, but it's obviously great for many reasons in a small space. My plan is to keep glasses upside down and to dust a lot, I guess. Anyone else with open shelving have advice on how to keep things clean?
More Pics
Here are a few more pictures for those who are interested! If you have (or want) a Tiny House on Wheels as well I'd love to hear about it in the comments! :)
Colleen Wheeler says
I love the look of your tiny house and would love to see more pictures! I have a million questions though - where do you park it in the mountains? Do you have to rent a space like a camper? Where do you keep it when you aren't using it? I would really enjoy reading a post about the house and process, it's just beautiful and sounds fun!
JFW says
Splurges from Anthro are so worth it!! Everyday I love my coffee mugs.
Try the AeroPress for coffee/espresso. Awesome and compact.
Enjoy your beautiful retreat!!!
K Wheaton says
Any chance you have plans for this? It's beautiful!
Heather Gleason says
Perfect! Absolutely love your design choices! Who made those small appliances? Are you happy with them?
Sharon says
Love, love, love! Instead of the cabin at the lake, we are planning to build you may have convinced me to go the tiny house route. It's just perfect in every way. Did you order plans or have them drawn up/draw them up yourselves? I wish, if you can, that you would provide a list of products since I and so many people have fallen in love with some of the furnishings and colors you used. As to the coffee, my son swears by pour over https://www.amazon.com/Melitta-Coffee-Single-Pour-Over-Brewer/dp/B01I4NPKF4/ref=sr_1_14_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1501607690&sr=8-14&keywords=melita+pour+over, I always liked our 4 cup Mr. Coffee with a metal pot when we used the RV.
Deborah says
Love your tiny house! What a great job you did!
Margaret Shettel says
I love the rug in front of the couch! Can you give details about where to purchase?
Cami says
In the video she says she got it from World Market.
Kim Schmidt says
This is fabulous!!!! Awesome way to have a mountain retreat. Small will force you outdoors, too. Curious if you will park it in one spot or move it around to various mountain locations.
Juli says
Love! I really like the open shelving, but where will you store those items when moving the tiny house?
Elizabeth says
Yes I am curious as well as to how things will be when traveling.
Christine says
me tooooo, also my first thought was how secure stuff would be during travel. Love the look and design, very pretty..
Christin says
It's a beautiful house! I really like all of it, but that rug under the sofa would be perfect for our house. Would love to know where you got it.
Cami says
In the video she says she got it from World Market.
Sheila says
Love it! We just got back yesterday from a trip to the mountains in North Carolina and were able to tour a couple of tiny homes there. Would love to do that ourselves but sadly we are a 14-hour drive away. :(
Rebekah Desloge says
what a fun project! getaways to the mountains of NC sound amazing. have you ever tried an aeropress coffee maker? they are very reasonably priced, don't take up much space and it's my favorite coffee at home method (i'm a barista by trade and quite particular). there is a bit of a learning curve, but lots of great tutorials (stumptown roasters has a great one) for the method of using an aeropress.
Nicole says
Love this! We are traveling the world and all of the kitchen implements that I have deemed necessary and carrying with us are in your kitchen. The microplaner is a must!
Stacey says
Coffee maker recommendation: we have and love the Aeropress system. We bought it for camping, but love it so much that we use it exclusively at home now too. It cleans up much easier than a french press, and the coffee is so good. Basically, you are making espresso / americanos with it. Love, love, love! I have no affiliation with the company, I just really love the ease of use and taste of the coffee. http://www.aeropress.ca/
Stephanie says
Thanks for sharing all of the pictures, I would love this, and the mountains to go with it... After seeing the picture of the open stairway, all I could picture was my 5 year old son gleefully leaping from the landing onto the couch, he would love that!
Phyllis Malone says
Love the design! Would love to see the rest of it. Several people commented about open shelves and traveling. I assume you are leaving the house in one place and then placing the items on the shelves.
Daniel Dessinger says
That's gorgeous. Just wondering... what happens to all that kitchen stuff when you hit a speed bump?
:)
sarah says
Pour over coffee. It's simple and delicious. Making it is therapeutic.
Tamara says
Yes, completely agree! We also make ahead in the evening and use ours as a pitcher for iced coffee in the fridge.
Lauren says
Oh my goodness, this is the only tiny house I've ever seen that's made me want a tiny house. Beautiful!!
Cannot recommend the Bialetti stovetop espresso maker enough. Especially if you already have a milk frothier. It's inexpensive, simple, and works great!
Nicole says
We were able to combine a few bulky things with this gadget. It stores nicely on a base. Then you could have your food processor. We have had ours for years and love it in a tiny space!
https://www.brevilleusa.com/products/the-all-in-one?variant=33819308241
Jennifer says
Gorgeous! Do you have a bathroom, shower? Would love to see a pic if you do.
Anne says
Love it! I live in 175 sq ft in Manhattan and I cook all the time! My list of kitchen items is pretty similar to yours. I have glass Tupperware that doubles as serving dishes, and a waffle iron too--life isn't complete without waffles! To save on pantry space, I keep spices and some things like nuts in my freezer. I have a basic set of white Corelle dishes that stack well and take up little space.
Angela says
So cute!
I read your French presses have not worked out in the past. I had tried several glass French presses and never liked them and/or broke them. I found this one on Amazon and have been using it for several months now. Love it!
French Press Coffee Maker | 34 Oz | Best Premium Quality Stainless Steel Cafetiere - Keeps Coffee Hotter Longer With Vacuum Insulated Sides - FREE Mini Coffee Storage Canister https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UWJAW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8A-FzbG5FCAF9
Sharill says
I absolutely love it. Who did you do your cabinets with? I love them. And where are you going to place the glass items on the exposed shelves when you pull the tiny house?
It all looks beautiful!!!
Libby says
Love it! Seriously beautiful kitchen! Do you have to secure the items on the open shelves when you are traveling, or does it stay in one place and y'all travel to it?
Lauren says
would love to see a walk through, been wanting a tiny house for years. i love the functional kitchen. also where's that rug from?!
Kirsten says
I ❤️ this x100! The kitchen is amazing. My husband and I said if we ever built a house it would center around the kitchen - because that's the most used and loved room in our house. We love to cook and bake. I am obsessed with the tiny house thing and its a big goal of mine. (We live in the desert and need a mountain escape.)
Amazing job!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Esther says
Adorable! A seemingly silly question, but how do you store your items on the open shelves when pulling your tiny home?
Kathrine MAC says
WOW! WOW! WOW!!
I am so in love with your home and would move there in a heartbeat and never look back.
Well done all around.
I an all honesty I am very envious - but so happy for you.
a fan.
Krystin C says
I love it!! Will you pull your tiny house or leave it on a lot? Looks like a blast!
Wendy says
We are considering building one of our own now that it's just two of us. Yours is a beauty! What size trailer did you build on?
Meghan says
It looks amazing!!! Do you have a plan for when you move it? Like all of the stuff on the open shelves, do you have designated storage?
Kelly says
Your tiny house looks gorgeous!!!! And that kitchen is amazing for being in such a small space!!! It's my dream to have one, and I've got quite a few pins on my Pinterest board! I would love to see your sleeping quartes and bathroom! Who was your builder?
Monica says
This is one of the best tint houses ive seen. The kitchens are never fuctional enough! I'd love to see pics of the other spaces - bed and bath.
Kirsten says
My first thought? Where's the bathroom?
Cami says
Watch the video.
Angela W says
Lovely!! We dream of something similar (for weekends at the lake in Kentucky). Would love for you to share the layout / floor plan and pics of the bed / bath spaces in a future post!!
Charity says
I second the advice above about an aero press! We really love the coffee it makes. You can easily make a regular cup of coffee or turn it into an espresso drink!
Just curious though, why didn't the French press go well? I got a small one for my office (they just have a keurig). It's taking some getting used to, but I think I'm getting the hang of it. You definitely have to grind the coffee coarser, and play around till you get the right length of time for steeping. Even then, there's a distinct French press taste, I think!
Michelle says
oh my goodness, I LOVE your tiny house!! My husband and I have talked about doing a tiny house once the kids are gone (we still have 12 years before that though...) How many can sleep comfortably? Where did you find the house plans?
Graycie says
Try the aeropress coffeemaker. Similar to a French press but a million times better. Very small and compact - initially bought it to use when camping but now use it as my only coffeemaker at home!
Dabney Hargrafen says
Love the kitchen and house! We are considering building a bigger house, to get out of what my husband calls our own " tiny" house. Do you mind sharing your cabinet color and counter top brand ? Love the color combo. Thanks.
georgine BOSAK says
You can make cold brew coffee concentrate before you leave and just store it in your refrigerator. We use the Toddy system.
Do you leave the tiny house on a lot in the summer or do you drive it to different locations?