The result was the San Juan, Greg and Stephanie´s personal tiny house which has traveled more than 5,000 miles to different tiny house festivals across the country. Besides serving as their personal living quarters, the San Juan is a model house they use to showcase their building talent. We asked them a few questions about their home.

You wanted to connect your tiny home to the San Juan Landscape. How did the local landscape influence, inspire, or shape the building of your home?

Stephanie: The reclaimed barn wood ray featured on the front side of the house reflects the vast quantity of sunny days we have here in southwest Colorado. The wave of the roof is symbolic of the waves of the San Juan and Animas rivers. The blues on the back side of the house represent the various hues of the distant mountains at dusk. The inside features a southwest/Native American motif since the native Ute, Southern Ute, and Navajo people remain important in this area. Our counters are made from mesquite, a gorgeous and durable desert wood, and inlaid with Arizona turquoise. The San Juan would likely feel at home in any part of the country, but it was important for us to pay homage to this unique part of the country, where the desert meets the mountains. 

What reclaimed/recycled materials were incorporated into your home?

Stephanie: Most of the reclaimed materials were used on the exterior siding: the local reclaimed corrugated metal and the barn wood. Even the shakes were left over from older projects, so we were able to put those to use. On the interior, the flooring was milled from 200-plus-year-old elm barn beams, and we also used some antique fixtures. 

What unique, creative storage ideas did you incorporate?

Stephanie: One was finding a unique way to stow our bed in the ceiling and bring it down at night to have a main floor sleeping area. The loft got old for us in the old tiny (home). Other favorites are the dog food storage in the bench for the dining table, the toe kick drawers for important paperwork and warranty items, the pullout pantry, and the drawers for shoes under the platform when you first enter the house.