Living Large: The Tiny House
GARLAND (CBS 11 NEWS) - Living large doesn't have to be in a big house. For Beth Ann Norrgard, living large is completely the opposite.
Working as a paralegal, two years ago she felt changes coming at work. Worried about her future and her 30-year mortgage on her Lakewood home, she began thinking of ways to break free.
"I was feeling trapped from my 30-year mortgage," she said. "I was just ready for a simpler life."
And, simple life she got! She built a tiny house for herself a small 112 square foot home.
While the house is small but Norgarrd says it's worth the $25,000 she spent on it. "I feel like a kid in a tree house."
The home may be tiny but it has everything a person needs. The bathroom has a shower and a composting toilet. The bedroom is over the kitchen.
"It has two windows, so when I lay in bed at night, I can see the stars, literally from my pillow," Norgarrd explained.
There's room for practicality and glamor. "You have to have a little girl bling, so I put in a chandelier," she said.
And did we mention, it's on wheels. Norgarrd said, "It's techinically an RV. It's rougly the size of a parking space."
With all the downsizing Norrgard is having to make one concession -- she'll have to soon up-size from a Mini Cooper to a truck.
Right now, Norrgard is putting some finishing touches to her brand new home. But, come summer, she hopes to take her little house on a trip to cooler pastures.
Norrgard says she traded space for freedom. "I'm mortgage free, rent free and property tax free."
For her that's Living Large.
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