How one widow's quest for a healthier lifestyle inspired her to build the beachside 391-square-foot tiny house of her dreams

Hillary HoffowerOct 3, 2020, 19:53 IST

This 391-square-foot tiny house sits on waterfront property.Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

Tanya Jackson lives in a 391-square-foot tiny house in North Carolina.
She worked with builders to design the tiny house as a non-toxic space, which she said cost $120,000.
She also created an enclosed porch which offers waterfront views when she's parked on the intracoastal waterway.

Tanya Jackson caught on to the tiny living life three years ago when she was in pursuit of a non-toxic space.

"My husband died of cancer 11 years ago and that started me on a journey to a healthier existence," she told Business Insider. "I started with clean food, clean water, then non-toxic cleaners."

She realized just how sensitive she'd become to chemical odors after eliminating them from her home. "I then decided that the only way my space could be as non-toxic as I would like was to build it myself," she said.

Jackson, who is retired from the Air Force, also liked the idea of being able to move around since she's single and has a flexible job as a freelance sign language interpreter. A tiny house checked both items off her list.

So, she turned to a local builder to build a 391-square-foot home, working with them to design the house to her liking. For $120,000, she was able to create a non-toxic space complete with an enclosed porch.

Here's a look at the highly customized waterfront tiny house.

Tanya Jackson lives in a 391-square-foot house in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

She said she went tiny because she wanted a non-toxic space and the ability to move at will.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

She turned to tiny house builder Perch and Nest to build the house, but designed the house herself with their guidance.

This 391-square-foot tiny house sits on waterfront property. Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

Her primary focus was creating a non-toxic space, she said, but building on a mobile platform has its limitations: Natural materials weigh more than synthetics and the green building materials market is fairly new.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

Her primary focus was creating a non-toxic space, she said, but building on a mobile platform has its limitations: Natural materials weigh more than synthetics and the green building materials market is fairly new.

She said she was more concerned with aesthetics than building storage.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

"The tall cabinets in my kitchen hold a lot more than you would think," she said. "One of them contains only clothes, and I have way more than I need."

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

She also designed under-counter refrigeration to maximize counter space, making the kitchen more useable.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

Jackson also designed a porch, extending the living area outdoors.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

A hammock creates a lounge area from which Jackson can enjoy the views.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

Jackson avoids conventional lounge furniture to maximize space. She uses floor cushions in lieu of a couch in her second loft lounge area.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

"I feel a movement friendly space is much better for allowing me to move more naturally and avoid sitting for long periods of time," she said. Her best tip for maximizing space is to use less furniture.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

"I feel a movement friendly space is much better for allowing me to move more naturally and avoid sitting for long periods of time," she said. Her best tip for maximizing space is to use less furniture.

She also suggests rethinking your design style.

Courtesy of Tanya Jackson

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How one widow's quest for a healthier lifestyle inspired her to build the beachside 391-square-foot tiny house of her dreams

Tanya Jackson lives in a 391-square-foot house in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.

She said she went tiny because she wanted a non-toxic space and the ability to move at will.

She turned to tiny house builder Perch and Nest to build the house, but designed the house herself with their guidance.

Her primary focus was creating a non-toxic space, she said, but building on a mobile platform has its limitations: Natural materials weigh more than synthetics and the green building materials market is fairly new.

She said she was more concerned with aesthetics than building storage.

"The tall cabinets in my kitchen hold a lot more than you would think," she said. "One of them contains only clothes, and I have way more than I need."

She also designed under-counter refrigeration to maximize counter space, making the kitchen more useable.

Jackson also designed a porch, extending the living area outdoors.

A hammock creates a lounge area from which Jackson can enjoy the views.

Jackson avoids conventional lounge furniture to maximize space. She uses floor cushions in lieu of a couch in her second loft lounge area.

"I feel a movement friendly space is much better for allowing me to move more naturally and avoid sitting for long periods of time," she said. Her best tip for maximizing space is to use less furniture.

She also suggests rethinking your design style.