This tiny house was built in 2015 by your hosts, David and Catherine Nielsen. We were twenty-three years old, recently graduated college, and nearly broke. We were living in Catherine’s parents’ basement, and thirsting for freedom. To that point, we had swallowed the conventional wisdom hook, line and sinker: get good grades, go to college, get a job at a big company, etc.

But something was wrong. Neither of us were very happy, and despite how hard we worked, we were struggling to get ahead. We knew we needed to make a change, but weren’t sure what to do.

Life went on as usual for a couple weeks until we were introduced to the tiny house movement. Within a few minutes of watching a tiny house tour on YouTube, we were in. We knew building (at least we thought we did), and this was our ticket to freedom.

Several frustrating months followed as we scraped together money for materials and got to work. Because of our tight budget, we ended up using mostly salvaged and repurposed materials for the build. In the end, we spent just over $17,000 to complete the home. We moved in September of 2015 and lived here happily for six years. It wasn’t until the birth of our second child that we upgraded to the barn loft apartment (400 sq-ft).

Our tiny house, fondly named The Black Pearl, is situated on an acre of land just outside of town. With the forest on one side and the garden on the other, you will feel cozy and close to nature. From the covered stone patio, you can look over long-range mountain views.

Though it’s only 240 sq-ft, the Black Pearl feels like a comfy studio apartment. The kitchen and bathroom have 6' 2" ceilings, so taller folks might find the space too tight. If you are more Hobbit-sized, you will be more than comfortable.

The steps leading to the main bed are a bit steep making it feel bright and open. The secondary loft is above the bathroom and has a regular twin mattress. The access ladder is steep and not suitable for people with disabilities.

The full-sized couch is built-in and comfortably seats three adults. There’s a small table with two chairs that is good for sharing dinner or for laptop work.

If the weather is nice (it usually is in Asheville) you can sit on the covered stone patio which has four chairs and a large table.

In the kitchen you will find a medium-sized fridge/ freezer, three burner gas range with through-the-wall venting to preserve air quality, full-sized sink, microwave, and no less than three ways to make coffee.

Climate is controlled with a mini-split ductless heating/ cooling system with remote control. If you are visiting in the fall or winter, there is a small woodstove to supplement heat.

There’s a 43-inch smart TV, Blu-ray player, and high-speed internet.

Another rental is located on the property, 100 feet uphill from the tiny house. Although they are in close proximity, the topography preserves privacy for both homes. We have planted a natural cypress barrier between the homes, but as they say “The best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago”.

Similarly, this 1-acre property is nestled in a wooded neighborhood. While neighboring homes are close-by, the trees and topography increase privacy for tiny house.