Matt and Laura built a 120 square foot Tumbleweed Tarleton tiny house in the woods of western North Carolina on a permanent foundation rather than a trailer. Working weekends while living and working in Atlanta, they documented the multi-year build process on their blog “Life in 120 Square Feet.”
Build Details
- Size: 120 square feet
- Design: Tumbleweed Tarleton
- Location: Western North Carolina woods
- Foundation: Permanent (not trailer-based)
- Builders: Owner-built by couple
- Schedule: Weekend construction while working in Atlanta
- Timeline: Multi-year project
Tarleton Tiny House in North Carolina
Photo via Matt and Laura
Lessons from Weekend Tiny House Building
- Permanent Foundations Work: Trailer-free construction creates traditional cabin aesthetic
- Weekend Building Extends Timelines: Part-time construction requires patience but achieves results
- Remote Locations Enable Building: Rural wooded property allows construction that urban areas prohibit
- Proven Plans Reduce Uncertainty: Tumbleweed designs provide tested construction sequences
- Documentation Inspires Others: Blogging builds accountability and helps future builders
Learn More
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Alex
Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.
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Thanks Alex. You have a great site here. It is wonderful to see the interest in tiny homes continue to grow!
That looks very relaxing. It would be a great place to get away from it all (or most of it anyway. 🙂 )
Hi folks. I am wondering what county you did this in? Are there any special building codes? Do you have electricity? Water? My family and I are looking for land now in western NC and wondering what county you built this in as I don’t want to build ours on a trailer either. Thanks and have a great day!