A 210-Square-Foot Tiny House Didn’t Come with a Kitchen, So This Renter Made One

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updated Jan 11, 2021

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Name: Emily David with Sidly the pug and Baby Beans the min-pin
Location: San Diego, California, Logan Heights
Type of home: Tiny House
Size: 210 square feet
Years live in: 10 months, renting

Credit: Emily David

An IKEA dresser that I covered in contact paper holds my clothes and a drawer of dishes. These small bookshelves manage to hold my collection of books and trinkets

Tell us a little (or a lot) about your home and the people who live there: Technically, my tiny home is a converted garage. We have a bigger bathroom than my last apartment though! The bed is up a ladder in a loft, which gives the living area more room to do things like play with the dogs or yoga or crafting or cooking.

Credit: Emily David

Tiny makeshift kitchen and closet. I got the green cabinet on OfferUp and added the legs and painted it myself

The tiny home didn’t come with a kitchen, so I built my own little kitchen area with electric appliances and makeshift counter and storage. I’m a small business owner; I own a dog-walking company and get to spend my days walking the sunny streets of San Diego, or hanging with a pack of pups at the park or beach. I love to collect vintage of all kinds, but mostly books, clothes, and old pins.

Credit: Emily David

The little convection oven does all my baking and roasting, I have an instant pot and electric wok for all my other cooking needs

Describe your home’s style in 5 words or less: Eccentric, crafty, cozy, modern.

Credit: Emily David

This couch I found on Craigslist on a whim and didn’t even measure to make sure it would fit! Sidly considers this his bed.

What is your favorite room and why? The living area is my masterpiece. Fitting in storage for my clothes, my books, my tchotchkes, and a couch and TV and coffee table! That was when I had to use some creative imagining. Thankfully it all came together with thrifted finds and local dealers and now it’s a cozy modern hang out.

Credit: Emily David

My pin collection and coat rack. A friend painted these wonderful portraits of my dogs!

What’s the last thing you bought (or found!) for your home? I got an Egon Schiele print on eBay and thrifted a beautiful frame for it!

Credit: Emily David

My bathroom featuring collections of hands and little animals

Any advice for creating a home you love? Let your quirks come through in your decor!

Credit: Emily David

The loft bedroom gets tons of beautiful light all day

This submission’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.

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