Video: Tiny House Nation: The Birds’ Nest
Interview with Simon and Lindsey:
What are your name(s)?
Simon and Lindsey McNeny
How many people (and animals) will are living in your tiny house?
Currently, there are 2 adults (us) and an Eastern Screech Owl name Pigwidgeon.
Where do you live?
Our house is parked just South of Downtown Dallas on 20 acres.
Why did you decide to go tiny? What are you hoping to get out of living tiny?
Our decision to go tiny stemmed from many things. Leaving a smaller footprint, owning vs. renting. We had no idea where we wanted to end up so on wheels made sense so we could move when and where we wanted. And since we have lived in it for well over 2 years we have surpassed our expectations as to how it would change us. We devote so much more time on things that we enjoy doing such as: training birds, blacksmithing, gardening, baking and cooking. We save water with out Seperatt Composting toilet. We have changed to all natural shampoo’s and conditioner and use baking soda and coconut oil as our toothpaste. We have also become better communicators to each other. We don’t have the space to be mad for extended periods so we work out our problems and find ways to grow.
How did you first learn about tiny houses?
We first saw BA Norrgards house (A Bed Above My Head) in Dallas right after she built it. We fell in love and built ours the following year.
How long did it take to finish your tiny house?
Because we were on Tiny House Nation (Season 2 Finale) our house was constructed in just 8 days. I did design the entire floor plan myself during our first months of planning before the show was even a thought. But after the show paperwork was signed designer Kim Lewis made our dreams a reality. From paperwork to completion was 6 months. We weren’t allowed to be involved much with the construction but were very excited to have Lindsey’s dad (a professional builder) come out and help with the build.
How did you find a place to park and live in your tiny house?
We met Kathy Rogers of Rogers Wildlife rehabilitation center right when we decided to build. She immediately offered for us to park out on her rehab centers 20 acres and start our business. We jumped at the opportunity and have been here since.
Before going tiny, what was life like?
Life before tiny was typical American suburban life. We were renting a 1,400 sq. ft. house with a small backyard for twice what we pay now. Always working our restaurant jobs and struggling to start our business of Animal Education.
What benefits are you experiencing after going tiny?
An appreciation for quality vs quantity. Saving money. Feeling better about the life we live and the resources we use. We now really truly are living the life that we are trying to educate people about doing more!
What about some challenges?
Some of the challenges with our Tiny House is crawling around in our upstairs loft and making the bed is still a challenge today, but we are slowly getting better at it. Getting used to a composting toilet and changing it is a bit of a challenge, but after 2 years it’s becoming more normal.
What makes your tiny house special?
The amount of reclaimed material is special to us. We also have 23 birds just outside our window that we work with everyday. We also have a drawbridge porch and a secret exit under the gooseneck.
What is your favorite part of your tiny house?
We both love our kitchen and bathroom the most. The kitchen is very functional and has a great cozy kitchen feel. The bathroom is roomy and efficient with a great rustic outdoorsy feel.
What helpful advice would you give to others interested in going tiny?
Start pairing down, learning to not be afraid of letting go of things is very freeing and helps you realize what is important. We still have the rule of if we buy a shirt we have to get rid of a shirt, it’s a great way to live making sure you get good use of clothes vs wearing something once or twice in its life.
Do you have a website, blog, or social media page where we can follow along?
Our website and social media pages are for our Animal Education business but we often post pictures of our tiny house.
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