A tiny home on a tiny budget

Downsizing to a tiny home doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort and style – a lesson that Rebekah and Robert Sofia learned when they built their charming wagon on wheels for just $15,000. Click or scroll through and let’s take a peek inside their incredible petite property and follow their journey from renters to tiny home builders.




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A passion project

Named The Gypsy Mermaid, their tiny house on wheels was a DIY creation built on an especially tight budget. Thanks to its mobile design, the wagon gave them the freedom they had always wanted, while still offering a cozy permanent place to call home.




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Natural next step

The self-build was a natural step for the duo as both Rebekah and Robert have previous expertise in building and renovation, including masonry and interior design. Rebekah also runs her own interior design business and gets most of her clients through the Gypsy Mermaid Instagram account. 




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Upcycled tiny home

Impressively, the Sofias built their tiny home entirely from recycled and reclaimed materials, including metal and cypress which form the exterior. Their frugality meant the project cost them a grand total of $15,000. Talk about a bargain build!




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Exterior details

From the materials on the outside of the wagon to the upcycled old doors and windows that had to be modified and resized, the project required the couple to utilize a huge range of construction skills – and hone some new ones along the way.




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Construction begins

Their ambitious project started in October 2015 and took 20 months to complete. The couple started by drawing a design for the floor plan and producing artistic renderings for the interior. When building commenced, they started from scratch with the construction of the home’s frame. 




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A labor of love

“We built every inch of it, including all of the wooden beams which were built by Robert and carved by me,” explains Rebekah. The tiny home community shares a lot of their designs online, with #tinyhomes on Instagram affording a huge amount of inspiration and ideas for aspiring builders.  




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Borrowing and recycling

“We used things that we acquired and that other people didn’t want,” says Rebekah. With her creative background, it was a great opportunity for Rebekah to experiment with unusual materials and integrate them into the space through clever design and upcycling techniques.




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Custom-made interior

As much thought was put into the interior as the exterior. This bright and airy scheme combines eclectic European style with bohemian touches. “Everything was custom-made for the space to be comfortable and to fit adequately,” adds Rebekah.




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Mezzanine bedroom


Their tailor-made approach also extended to the layout of the bedroom. Set above the rest of the structure on a mezzanine level, the bed was designed so that there was enough space to maneuver on either side.




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Building a pizza oven

One of the standout features of The Gypsy Mermaid is its small-scale wood-fired pizza oven, built into the structure using concrete and bricks. Such heavy materials added considerably to the weight of the wagon, but as the couple don’t plan to regularly move their genius tiny home it was a sacrifice they were willing to make for fresh home-cooked pizza.




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Handcrafted touches

A decorative focal point with serious wow-factor, the copper firescreen on the front was handmade by Rebekah to cover the oven when it’s not in use. Above the oven, an array of colorful patterned tiles impart personality to the compact space.




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An eye for detail

The rest of the home is full of gorgeous features, including this amazing chandelier. Hanging from a quirky nautical-style multicolored rope, the reclaimed statement piece sits above the living area.




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In three words

Rebekah describes the tiny home as “peaceful, cozy and Hygge”. The use of faux fur, warm wood and white interiors make for a calm and peaceful interior scheme throughout the snug living space.




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Open-plan living

Due to the property’s tiny dimensions, the wagon had to have an open-plan layout to make everything accessible. The different living spaces are set into zones to make tiny living easy for the couple. 




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Private spaces

However, the small bathroom is divided from the main living space with a beautiful narrow archway, designed to give the couple some privacy. We love the unusual glass sink and that characterful stone detailing!




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Time to declutter

Moving from an 800-square-foot cottage in Ocklawaha, Florida to the 221-square-foot wagon was a big challenge for the Sofias, who had to declutter and downsize their possessions. However, it didn’t take them long to overcome the problem. “The fact that it’s filled with all the things we love, without all the extra things we don’t really care about makes it very special,” says Rebekah. 




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Storage solutions

The only downside of living in a small space? The lack of storage. The couple had to improvise in order to make room for their remaining belongings, using clever storage hacks like these drawers under the sink. Framed with chicken wire, you can easily see the contents at a glance from the side.




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Utilizing every nook

One of the home’s smartest space-saving features are these bespoke drawers under the staircase that put the empty voids to good use thanks to their bespoke dimensions. Colorful reclaimed handles add plenty of personality to this clever storage solution.




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European inspiration

The couple gathered their inspiration for the exterior design from a number of places. “Traveling through France inspired me and I’ve always loved Europe and the way the architecture is there. Their aesthetic is very simple yet refined and I absolutely love it,” says Rebekah.




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“You won’t regret it!”

Looking to build your own tiny home on wheels? For Rebekah and Robert, it’s one of the best decisions they’ve made. “My advice would be definitely go for it,” adds Rebekah. “You won’t regret it, it’s very freeing to live simply. I absolutely love it!” 

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