Susan is a former dialysis social worker who wanted to retire but couldn’t afford to without selling her home. She hired Movable Roots to build a custom tiny house, downsized, and moved to Circle Pond, a Florida tiny house community. After two years, she hasn’t looked back.
She designed her home as a “forever home” with features customized to her needs. At 4’11”, she requested a shorter staircase so she could stand fully upright in her loft bedroom. The home includes a small front deck, a sleeper couch where she relaxes with her dog, and a kitchen with bold blue tile backsplash.
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Custom-Built Tiny Home by Movable Roots
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Living Room with Sleeper Couch
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Kitchen with Blue Tile Backsplash
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Circle Pond Tiny House Community
Images via Tiny House Giant Journey
Video Tour: Retiring in a Tiny House Village
Design Details
- Owner: Susan
- Previous Career: Dialysis social worker
- Current Status: Retired
- Builder: Movable Roots
- Cost: $160,000
- Design Intent: “Forever home” with custom features
- Owner Height: 4’11”
- Staircase: Custom shorter height for full standing room in loft
- Bedroom: Loft with standing headroom
- Living Room: Sleeper couch
- Kitchen: Blue tile backsplash
- Outdoor Space: Small front deck
- Community: Circle Pond Tiny Community, Florida
- Time in Home: Two years
- Pet: Dog
Lessons from This Home
- Tiny Houses Can Enable Retirement: Susan couldn’t afford to retire while keeping her traditional home—selling it and going tiny made retirement financially possible
- Custom Builds Accommodate Body Types: At 4’11”, Susan had the builder create a shorter staircase so she could stand fully upright in her loft, proving tiny homes can be tailored to individual needs
- “Forever Home” Thinking Justifies Investment: Spending $160,000 on a professional build made sense because Susan designed it as her permanent residence with exactly the features she wanted
- Communities Provide Support for Solo Retirees: Living in Circle Pond gives Susan neighbors and community connection, important considerations for those retiring alone
- Bold Design Choices Work in Small Spaces: The blue tile backsplash adds personality and color to the kitchen without overwhelming the compact space
Learn More
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- Designer’s Off-Grid Tiny Home for Retirement
- Retirement in a Bus Conversion
- Dorothy’s Retirement in Tiny House Village
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Alex
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Finally! Someone made it so a big screen TV is across from the sofa! Thank you!