Lizz Flowers’ journey into the tiny house movement began when she was just 17 years old. Growing up in the bustling city of New York, Lizz found herself captivated by a Tumbleweed Tiny House pamphlet her mother and sister left on the kitchen table. As she flipped through the pages, she was enchanted by the Cypress model. Over the years, this fascination grew into a dream, one that was finally realized in 2016 when she and her partner, Jason, took the plunge to order their own Tumbleweed tiny house RV.
A Dream Eight Years in the Making
For Lizz, her tiny house journey was more than just a fascination—it was a pursuit of freedom, simplicity, and a closer connection to nature. After years of dreaming and planning, she and Jason flew to Tumbleweed’s Colorado Springs facility to see their custom-designed Cypress for the first time. As Lizz stood outside the home, she couldn’t contain her excitement, “Oh my gosh, it’s so tall! I’m going to get nervous going under bridges!” The anticipation was palpable as she prepared to step inside her dream home.
Customizing the Tiny House to Fit Their Needs
Lizz and Jason’s Cypress is a reflection of their unique style and needs. The house features two exterior doors on the front a side door for added convenience. Inside, Lizz opted for a big farm sink and a spacious tub, creating a rustic, yet luxurious feel in the compact space. The white-painted walls and white-stained wood interior, combined with solid wide plank oak flooring, give the tiny house a light, airy aesthetic that Lizz loves. She describes it as “the cabin you see in fairytales,” a place that “gives opportunities for adventure and a more meaningful life.”
Embracing Tiny: The Good and the Could-Have-Beens
After moving into her tiny house, Lizz shared her reflections on the experience. She discovered that while the house was perfect for their minimalist lifestyle, there were a few things she wished she had done differently. For example, she would have preferred cupboards for clothing on the side of the stairs instead of drawers and found the screen door on the side entrance to be more of a hindrance than a help. She also mentioned the stove burners being too close together, making it challenging to cook with two pots simultaneously.
Despite these minor adjustments, Lizz remains incredibly proud of her tiny house. She has adapted to the compact space, making it her own by incorporating practical solutions like a crib mattress repurposed as a couch cushion and a copper pipe coat rack gifted by her mother. Her kitchen has also seen some creative tweaks, like a unique toaster that doubles as a coffee maker.
Lizz’s Tiny House Inside Look
In her video tour, Lizz walks viewers through her home, highlighting the features that have made tiny living comfortable for her and Jason. The loft bedroom, with its low bed covered by a blue blanket and surrounded by wooden walls, provides a cozy sleeping space under the stars, thanks to the multiple skylights. The kitchen, narrow yet functional, is equipped with LED strip lighting, a large fridge, and a versatile countertop space that doubles as a workspace.
A New Chapter: Future Plans
Looking ahead, Lizz and Jason dream of parking their tiny house on a plot of land along the coast, where they hope to start a small organic farm and café. For Lizz, the tiny house movement has always been about more than just a smaller living space; it’s about embracing a lifestyle that prioritizes meaningful experiences and community over material possessions.
As Lizz reflects on her journey, she encourages others to follow their dreams, no matter how unconventional they may seem. Her story is a testament to the idea that with passion, perseverance, and a supportive community, anything is possible. “I am so proud of this accomplishment,” she shares, “not because I have really accomplished anything, but because the community that supported me and helped me go through the design process has just been overwhelming.”
If you’re new to the tiny house movement, welcome to it, and everyone in the tiny house community will welcome you with open arms. I hope you have the same amazing experience as I did coming into the community.
I hadn’t thought about taxes. Thanks for that. And congratulations. Good luck! and where in CA are you going to have you farm… I am from Mendocino county
Hey Kathie! I tried to sign up so I could see comments but I think I didn’t do it correctly! Orange County!! I was receiving a lot of questions about what I would have done differently with my tiny house and asking for updated videos so I just started (this past week) a youtube channel where I will have videos about only tiny house stuff posted if you’re interested :) (https://www.youtube.com/dashboard?o=U)
We are looking to start a farm in possibly the Carmel by the River area… it might be a small farm with a tiny house community, we are brainstorming ideas now because I am out of school and have a lot of flexibility! Thanks for your comment ;)
Lizz,
Greetings from Maine! You did a great job with your design for the Cypress. My wife and I enjoyed your video. It gave us some design ideas for our future (retirement) Tumbleweed home. Thanks for sharing!
As for humidity control, we are considering a Panasonic Select Cycler house ventilation system. It looks like it would help with humidity control and indoor air quality. Just a thought.
Thank you for the tip! I responded to your post below :)
I think this is a very cluttered, unorganized house. There’s nothing pretty or cozy about it. Water can get around the kitchen sink. Having the things in the sink looks sloppy. The shower curtain distracts from the tub. Overall, I’d give this design and furniture, etc. a D+ Ugh!!!!
I don’t understand,
I understand your problem with being so jealous that you’re finding fault but you’re in very sad ???? shape ???? to say such things publicly! This is a beautiful tiny house ????
I am so thrilled for you. Your design ideas are great. I’m from San Diego but can there be any land on the coast to buy?
This THOW is perfect! I also want a bath, not just a shower. This is ideal what I am looking for! I hadn’t considered the taxes either…I don’t want to stay in Colorado though. I’m in San Diego County. ^_^
Beautifully designed layout, color scheme on both the interior and exterior. You have given me many great ideas! Best of luck to you!!
So happy all your dreams are coming true.
Happy your dreams are coming true.
BEAUTIFUL!! Congratulations! I am curious about taxes in Florida..I am so excited about getting my Tiny Home someday soon!!
Hi Everyone! I don’t receive notifications when you post unfortunately (I do on my youtube channel but not on here). So sorry for the delay!
Kathie: Our farm we were considering NorCal or Oregon but we looked in the Salinas area also!
Gary: I think we have a dehumidifier system in the A/C but we have to be plugged in to 50 amp service which we haven’t done so far so we don’t know if it works well yet! Good luck on your TH journey! If our built in dehumidifier doesn’t work well once we get 50 amps then we will consider your option for sure!
Terry: Each to their own of course! We designed this house to be perfect for our needs and taste! We haven’t decorated really at all, we only had spent a week and a half in the house when this was filmed. There is no furniture. As far as clutter goes, tiny houses are designed to have every square inch used, not for looking pretty, and anyone who wants to look at empty space better not buy a tiny!
A little info for those considering Terry’s suggestions:
Around the sink is sealed thoroughly with a clear coat and clear caulking. The shower curtain is actually the only way you can expect to seal a shower or tub in a tiny house. Tiny house builders making tile or hanging door showers are making tiny houses that cannot be driven down the road because they *will not* stay sealed. The houses shift and when weight is put on one and not all of the wheels evenly (like when driving into a crappy diesel station), the house is torqued and shifts slightly. This will break any shower seals unless the house is extremely light. This one was made for durability and weighs 14,500 lbs. We love our home, so if Terry wants to hate it we don’t mind, but I wanted to share some info about why we made certain design decisions and how we executed them :) D+ for manners Terry!
Gail: I also do not understand :)
Rozalyn: There is coastal land but in San Fran it is too expensive!! Every now and then there is a piece of land that has some problem that people don’t want to deal with (like easements) and the price is low. You never know!
Melissa: I am in Orange County right now but the tiny is up in Monterey! Yeah taxes bit me in the tush!
Jim: Thank you!!
Celia: Hi mom!! Thanks!
Ebony: Good luck on your TH journey!
Thank you everyone for your comments and compliments :)
Hello everyone! I just wanted to let you know that because of all the questions and requests I get, this last week I launch a YouTube channel just for my tiny house, the link is https://www.youtube.com/dashboard?o=U
I will customize the link to youtube.com/thetinychristmas as soon as YouTube allows me (they require 10,000 views on the channel now before I can customize the name) just for those of you that see this post in the far future :)
Thank you everyone please don’t hesitate to reach out on my youtube channel if you have questions, I check my comments there often!
Love,
Lizzy