A 40-year-old man pays $1,600 a month and lives in a tiny house by the beach that’s smaller than a parking lot

From 2020 to 2022, I split my time between two rental properties: a one-bedroom apartment in New York City and a tiny house in Santa Monica, California.

But one day I decided I needed a change. My father-in-law passed away and I was going through a breakup. These losses changed my perspective and made realigning my life to align with my values ​​a priority.

I realized that I didn’t need two places to live, let alone that many belongings. So in May 2022 I sold or donated most of my stuff. I left New York with about five boxes of winter clothes in a storage unit, two suitcases, and a camera.

Now that I’m 40, my little 140-square-foot house in Santa Monica is my primary residence. From the beach he is an 8 minute drive away and there are many places nearby for hiking.

I found the list at hot pad, an online rental marketplace.This house was built by an architect minak design studiois parked in the backyard of a detached house.

The main room serves as the living room, office, walk-in closet and kitchen. I added a few small elements like hooks and accessories, but other than that, the place is exactly the same as when it came.

The glass doors let in plenty of natural light, making the space very spacious. Indoor LED lighting he has 6 adjustable settings. Soft lighting is used at night and only the bathroom lights are on in the morning.

I don’t have a stove in my house, so I have a propane dual burner outside. I honed my girl scouting skills and now cook at home for her at least 6 days a week.

The bedroom area is a small cove that completely surrounds the mattress. There are hidden drawers under the bed for additional storage. To keep things organized, I use soft dividers and zippered pouches.

The only storage space in the bathroom is under the sink, with a 2.5 foot high frame and a small shelf to hold towels. One of my favorite features in the house is a sink surface made from recycled rubber, functional and easy to clean.

Designed to be energy efficient, the temperature is regulated by concrete panels. This means you won’t need air conditioning and a portable heater will keep you warm enough during the winter months.

Most days I work from home running a kids brand. big little universe. You spend a lot of time here, so good organization is not an option, it’s a must.

Living intentionally in a small space has many benefits. You’ll save time, energy, and money (especially after getting rid of your $4,500 a month New York apartment). Very calm and grounded. I have only one high quality version of everything and each item has its own place.

I also became more mindful of social initiatives. Only one person can come at a time. And I travel to visit family and friends in New York every few months.

Thanks to my new lifestyle, I have come to understand the art of slowing down. It keeps me in the moment and helps me keep my cool.

I imagine myself living in a tiny house forever and hope to one day use my design experience to build my own tiny home community. But I will always cherish this pivotal space and moment in my life.

sunyu is the founder of big little universeis a children’s brand that incorporates minimalist design into versatile toys and products. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Parsons School of Design. Her past clients include Birchbox, Dermalogica, L’Oréal Her Paris, Victoria’s Her Secret. follow her on her instagram @biglitlluniverse and @sungsationor on Tiktok @biglittleuniverse_co.

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