Tonita Fernandez has a beautiful home in Seattle, Washington that she describes as “shabby chic.” The interior is decorated with refurbished Craigslist and thrift store finds, pretty lace, and rustically charming decor. She decorates for the holidays, loves entertaining guests, and tends to her chickens that live in a coop on her property. Fernandez’s life sounds typical for someone living in the wilderness of Washington state, except for one tiny detail…literally. Her adorable home is only eight feet wide and 24 feet long.
Inspired by a childhood playhouse and a small cottage she previously lived in, Fernandez decided to have a home away from home custom-built for her. To save for the cottage, she gave up her $100/month cell phone. She dubbed her house “the menopause cave,” and uses it as a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Check out her fairytale-worthy abode below.
Fernandez had her house custom-built in Arkansas, even though she lives in Washington. It took her seven years to save up for the dream living space.
When the house was finished, it was transported to Washington with a U-Haul.
The adorable house is only eight feet wide and 24 feet long. It has a cute porch that sits four adults comfortably.
On Fernandez’s property she has a chicken coop, her tiny house, and a storage shed. The storage shed is actually bigger than the house!
The cottage features a small kitchen and living area, two loft “bedrooms,” a reading nook, and a small bathroom. Here it is all dressed up for Valentine’s Day.
Fernandez enjoys entertaining in her house, and says four people have no problems eating at her tiny table.
Naturally, one of Fernandez’s Christmastime guests is Santa Claus. Here he shows us just how big the sleeping lofts are. Be careful not to fall off, Saint Nick!
Fernandez gives her house holiday makeovers throughout the year.
The cottage even has a small, fake fireplace. She found the mantle on Craigslist for $100.
Behind the table you can see a bookshelf for storage and a few cabinets. She bought many of the fixtures and decorations secondhand, and enjoys imaging how they were used in their “first lives.”
Here’s a view of the galley kitchen. The white surface is a stealthy two-burner stove top.
The refrigerator and freezer have plenty of space for food.
The bathroom has a fully functional toilet, which Fernandez notes is rare for a tiny house. It also has a small, shallow bathtub.
Naturally, the chicken coop is just as adorable as the tiny home. The chickens enjoy pink wallpaper and a chandelier in their house.
Her chickens and roosters seem to approve.
(source Shabby Chic Tiny Retreat)
Tiny houses always make me consider simplifying my life. To think that Fernandez gave up her cell phone to save for seven years — that blows my mind! But the house also shows me that even if you don’t want to commit to living in a tiny house year-round, it’s still a great way to get away from the stress of everyday life. What do you think of Fernandez’s woman cave? Could you give up your smartphone for a little slice of heaven?
