After losing her home and facing uncertainty, she transitioned into a peaceful tiny home and rural living

Steph’s journey to a peaceful tiny home began most unexpectedly. When the apartment she had rented in Raglan for 6 years was suddenly put up for sale during the COVID pandemic, she faced uncertainty about where she would live.

“I had basically six months to find somewhere and I just couldn’t find anywhere,” she recalled.

Rather than returning to the instability of renting, Steph was offered a unique opportunity by a former client: to build a tiny house on a rural property. Although hesitant at first, time left her little choice.

She began in a small caravan, nicknamed “Teeny Tiny,” measuring just 2 by 3.5 meters, which she shared with her dog and parrot through a cyclone and record summer-winter temperatures. The cramped space taught her patience and shaped her vision for a proper tiny house.

Six months later, she moved into her thoughtfully designed, peaceful, tiny home, now nestled on a rural property surrounded by native bush, birds, and the calming sights of greenery.

Alongside her home, she added a small cabin to run her coaching business, creating a balanced space for both work and life.

Thoughtful design and smart investment

Steph’s peaceful, tiny home is a single-level structure, designed with her elderly dog in mind to avoid stairs. The house measures 10 meters long by 3 meters wide, paired with a 10-square-meter cabin for her work.

Both structures are painted black to blend seamlessly with the New Zealand bush. A future deck will connect the two buildings, allowing easy movement between home and office without walking through the main living area.

“I decided fairly early on that I wanted single level,” she explained. “I also wanted somewhere to work because my parrot’s really noisy.”

The total construction cost for the house and cabin was initially around $168,000. Additional upgrades, excavation, and unforeseen expenses raised the final investment to approximately $250,000.

Steph funded the project through savings, strategic property investments, and support from her mother.

Inside Steph’s peaceful, tiny home: Functional and cozy spaces

Kitchen and Living Area

Steph’s peaceful, tiny home features a spacious, full-size kitchen designed for cooking and socializing. The layout follows the classic triangle between fridge, sink, and cooktop, with ample storage for utensils, appliances, a slow cooker, and a pressure cooker. A large window looks out onto the bush, allowing natural light and ventilation while keeping insects out.

“One of the things that I immediately noticed is the way that the kitchen and the lounge are just so connected,” Steph noted. The living area features a comfortable couch and flexible seating, ideal for conversations or time with her parrot.

Bathroom

The bathroom is generously sized for a tiny home, with a full-size shower, washing machine, and a vanity with drawers and a mirrored cabinet.

Steph chose an incineration toilet for practical reasons. The design allows easy access from the future deck, so visitors can use the facilities without having to pass through the house.

“I find it really good. To start with, I was a bit concerned, but then it’s really easy,” she said of the toilet.

Bedroom

The bedroom provides a quiet retreat with a queen-size bed, a wardrobe, and bedside shelves for essential items like glasses, books, and an alarm clock. Large windows allow views of the bush, birds, and sometimes chickens, making waking up here a peaceful experience.

“I just need somewhere to put my glasses, put a book, and the little, you know, alarm clock because I don’t really want any electronics in here,” Steph said.

A balanced home: Work and life in harmony

Steph’s cabin doubles as a private office for her coaching business, Inside Your Mind, where she helps clients navigate personal growth, identity, and life alignment.

She also teaches neural linguistic programming. Having a separate workspace allows her to maintain boundaries and enjoy her home life fully.

“It fits me perfectly,” she said. “I also like that I leave the cabin and come here… Whereas when I was in the flat, I’d just go and do another email and then I’ve been there for three hours.”

Finding freedom: Lessons from downsizing

Steph describes her downsizing journey as a form of grief. Letting go of possessions meant releasing memories, past identities, and attachments—but it also created freedom.

“It gives you more freedom. You’re not owned by those things anymore. And so that frees you up to do the things that you’re meant to do with your life now,” she reflected.

The move from a tiny caravan to a carefully planned, peaceful tiny home brought her peace, independence, and security. Living in this home has allowed Steph to focus on writing, coaching, and personal well-being.

She documented her journey in her book “Tiny House Diaries: Decluttering, Downsizing and Discovering What Matters Most,” sharing lessons and practical tips for anyone considering tiny living.

A peaceful, tiny home to call her own

Three years on, Steph treasures the security and comfort her tiny home provides. From the spacious kitchen and cozy living area to the serene bedroom and efficient bathroom, every detail is designed for functionality and joy.

The property’s natural surroundings offer daily peace and inspiration, making her peaceful tiny home not just a place to live, but a place to thrive.

Watch Steph give a full tour of her peaceful tiny home as she shares her journey, and subscribe to Living Big In A Tiny House for more inspiring tiny home stories.

You can learn more about Steph’s work on her website: https://insideyourmind.com