Is it possible to throw a dinner party in just 200 square feet? With the Toronto Fall Home Show set to preview the best of laneway homes and tiny houses in its first-ever tiny village display – a “show and tell” setting for showgoers – I thought it’d be fun to find out.
Thanks to the generosity of True North Tiny Homes, an Ontario company created by designer Daniel Ott and his wife JoAnna, I got the chance.
Earlier this month, I was invited for an overnight stay in The Millennial, the first tiny home built by Ott which now operates as an Airbnb in Campden, Ontario, and will be one of five structures on display at the tiny village. To truly ‘live’ the experience of a small space, I invited a friend along and asked a few others to drop by as well.
Proponents of tiny living often say it’s a lifestyle choice. Now I see what they mean.
When space is at a premium, you naturally look for ways to downsize and de-clutter, you grow a greater appreciation for the outdoors, and you soon realize what’s important and what’s not. Like having a place to set your eyeglasses down when you’re ready for bed versus a walk-in closet for reams of clothes you don’t actually need.
We quickly found the Millennial has every comfort of home, plus a few well-appointed ones. As Ott puts it: “You can be good to the earth and you can live tiny, but you can still live in luxury.”
Quartz counters and high-end stainless steel appliances adorn the kitchen, including a good-size refrigerator, oven that doubles as microwave, gas cooktop and efficiency dishwasher. A combination washer/dryer is neatly tucked under the stairs, which lead to a loft with queen-sized mattress. The bathroom is outfitted with a trendy sink, shower and surprisingly odour-free composting toilet.
There was ample room for two people to manoeuvre as we prepared dinner. I have to admit, I felt a strong urge to tidy up and put things away – along the lines of ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’ – and the water pump took a little getting used to.
Transporting cups and plates to the rooftop patio to enjoy the setting sun proved tricky. At five foot ten and slightly older than the target demographic of 30 somethings, the ladder loomed ahead. It took careful attention to footing and a few giggles, but I managed.
Ott has since built a second tiny house model aimed at an older population looking to downsize. Aptly called the Baby Boomer, it features a main floor bedroom, is slightly wider and offers more storage space.
“We probably have 250 leads right now, but the biggest sticking point for people is ‘Where do I put it?’” said Ott, who will be moderating a panel discussion on tiny home living on the Home Show stage, along with Emmanuel Belliveau of Eva Lanes.
One of the biggest challenges, he said, is figuring out how to navigate zoning bylaws and the Ontario building code. Tay Valley Township between Kingston and Ontario is one of the first in the province to allow tiny houses as primary dwellings, and Ott said he is currently in negotiations to build a 225-unit tiny house village in the Niagara area.
As night fell, my friends and I shared drinks and dessert, using the stairs for extra seating. As we listened to good tunes on Google Home, enjoyed rich conversation and shared some laughs killing the odd stable fly, we pondered what we’d do differently if we lived there permanently.
I thought about how relaxing it was to unwind with no TV and only a deck of cards for entertainment (though in the interest of full disclosure, we did use our smartphones.) At this point in my life – and surrounded by 31 years of family ‘stuff’ – I’m not certain I could conquer the necessary purge. But after one tiny night in the country, I definitely see the appeal.
Source: https://bit.ly/2Me3YTW
