A Big Problem, a Tiny Solution. Life takes a dramatic turn.

Just when I decided that living in a caravan/tiny home in my parents' backyard was a thing of the past, a twenty-something problem, life took a dramatic turn. 

Life in France was, in a way, coming together. Although I had been stressing and having unexplained anxiety attacks, I couldn't put my finger precisely on what it was that was triggering them. My wonderful husband made me pack my bags and return to Australia to see if seeing my family would help me. I needed to sort out our daughter with a place to live and see my son, my parents, and my sister.

I loved seeing them and found the apartment #1 daughter is now living in. One mission accomplished.

Painting of our Family Home

It was delightful to be with #1 son and have that connection—you know, the type of connection you have with your son who is a gamer. The special times when he has finished the game and comes out of the room for food, drink, a hygiene break, hugs, and "I love you" are nonetheless special.

Mum and I went shopping, walked to the cafe around the corner for coffee and chats, watched MAFS, and filled each other in on what had been happening in each other's worlds.

During those weeks, I spent the most quality time I have ever spent with Dad. We had cups of tea and talked about the town I grew up in, his years of fishing, my life in France, gardening, sports (he was pretty impressed with the Matildas), his take on Australian history, and his politics. 

When I left, I felt ready to return to France with new eyes and a new sense of freedom. Little did I know that I was to find out that, just when you think you are travelling in the right direction, life takes a dramatic turn.

A week later, a late-night phone call changed everything. After the passing of my Dad, I was back in Australia, living in a world of grief and uncertainty, to comfort and be comforted by my family. 

Everything was so different. My Dad was an honest, hardworking, confident man. He ruled the roost. To return to that roost without him there was strange. It was so empty; the sound of Dad's absence was deafening. Poor Mum, it was going to be very hard for her, for us all, but she had lost her day-to-day, the man who did everything.

So now I need to do what feels right for me, to be there as mum has always been there for me, to be there with my children, and to be here with my loving husband. I've thought through many scenarios, including returning to Australia permanently. To go back for a couple of years, to go back and forward. It runs through my mind endlessly, my husband trying to give me the space to work through it, to make my own decisions. 

I honestly, selfishly, want everything. I want to be able to help Mum and my children on the other side of the world, but I also would love to live in France; it was our dream, my husband's and mine. Our village is so unique and quite special, and I know I could never live this lifestyle returning to Australia. I really did find a shiny needle in a haystack with Treignac. It is ancient and beautiful, and the Correze countryside is stunning.

So now I am looking at tiny living, something to put in Mum's backyard so I can be with her, connect with her, and help her navigate life without her husband, the man of the house.

Tiny House in the European Woodlands

In Europe, this type of construction is extremely popular. For people here, a holiday means getting back to nature and being out in the great outdoors—a plot of land in the woods, in the snow fields, by the beach or lake. There are so many options. Australia has been slow to adopt this style of living, but things are changing with the cost of living, the dire rental market, and rising interest rates over the last few years.

There is the caravan option, but they are so horrible. They are made for touring, not a place to set up shop and stay for any length of time. I think I must have some past trauma associated with caravans. After a short time in them, I feel quite trapped and claustrophobic. Somehow, they all smell the same.  

There is the mobile tiny home option. I have found so many companies building the most wonderful homes. They are well-equipped and functional, and some are beautiful. I also need to look ahead to when we cannot scale ladders or stairs. I need to find something that can be added on to, something we have the option to expand upon when we return to Australia.   

The temptation to design my tiny home has me sketching out plans on scraps of paper. Bits of paper were everywhere, and screwed-up pieces flattened out again because there was something I liked and could put into another plan. Looking at the prebuilt options gives one many ideas, and it is surprising how much you can fit into a small space. After living in France, we have realised how much a large home is not what we want. It all seems so excessive now; my husband and I both love to be able to utilise outdoor space, a garden, a tree to sit under in the heat of summer, an open fire, a place for his BBQ and wood-fired smoker, none of which are inside a McMansion. The money and time saved by buying Tiny can be spent on things that enrich your life, such as holidays, parties with family and friends, and bike rides through the countryside. This being said I am on a mission to design my tiny home in Australia and a lifestyle where I feel I am making the most of all that I have, all that I love and all I must do.

Most companies focus on sustainability, offering solar, wastewater treatment, and toilet system options so you can be totally off the grid.

The companies that have recently caught my eye are:

THE SETTLER TINY HOUSE

The craftsmanship in the selection of Hauslein Tiny Homes is outstanding, with a high standard of artistry using quality tools. They choose stunning timbers and the best materials, fixtures, fittings, appliances, and technology for all models. Innovative designs make it feel like a full-size home. You can enjoy functionality and beauty with full-size appliances and an optional innovative slide-out feature to expand the usable living space, which is a game changer. And they are made in Australia. I really like the slide-out feature; giving your lounge area up to 2 metres more makes a huge difference when you intend to use the cabin for longer stays or permanent living.

Fowler & Ward x Base Cabin

Base Cabin builds architectural tiny houses and cabins that do more with less.

Their award-winning small spaces are designed to be transported on a trailer and wheeled into place in the countryside, near the ocean, down a city laneway, or in your garden.

They collaborate with some of Australia's most innovative architects and designers to create flexible spaces with high-quality finishes that adapt seamlessly to their surroundings. You can buy your Base Cabin fully kitted out with everything you need to feel at home or as a shell ready for you to put your own spin on. I am very interested in this idea.

Sustainable by design, they manufacture in very limited numbers on Bunurong country in Korumburra, Victoria. 

Granny Flats (or Dependant Persons Unit) The-Myrtle

Another option is a Granny Flat, and Todd Devine Homes has a range that is worth looking at if you want to take advantage of the Victorian Government initiative to waive the permit requirement on Granny flats (dependent person units), and accommodation that is less than 60 square metres. You no longer need a planning permit as long as your property is bigger than 300 square metres and has no environmental overlays or flooding. The initiative was set up to assist in accommodating families due to the housing crisis in Australia.

Todd Devine Homes are established in the design and construction of high-quality, transportable homes, granny flats (dependent person units), relocatable park homes, tourist accommodations, and lifestyle villages. They provide unique living solutions for families and individuals throughout Victoria.

 All construction for transportable homes and cabins takes place at their manufacturing facility in Lang Lang, Victoria, southeast of Melbourne.

There are many more, and a quick Google search shows companies offering a variety of tiny homes and cabins for all lifestyle needs. You can source ideas and note down companies of interest, as well as ingenious ideas for maximum storage and space-saving. Scouring these sites is also great for discovering small apartment ideas where space-saving is essential.