A Hawaii-Based Couple Build a Luminous Tiny House in Just 25 Days

This Hawaii tiny home by Taylor and Michaella Mcclendon was realized during this pandemic. When the pandemic brought things to a halt on the Hawaiian Islands, Taylor and Michaella McClendon found themselves suddenly without work. “[We] moved to the Big Island two years ago to run our destination wedding photography and videography business,” says Taylor. “Two weeks into the shutdown, I woke up one morning with the idea to pursue my tucked-away dream of building a tiny house.”

Taylor knew just who to recruit for the job: his brother-in-law Ike Huffman, a finish carpenter, and Ike’s parents Greg and Joy, an experienced builder and interior designer, respectively. Built-in just 25 days, the airy tiny house was such a success that they’ve decided to turn it into a full-time gig.

Inside, the floor plan prioritizes an open living area and kitchen, with numerous windows and doors to maximize natural light throughout. A simple palette of materials and lighter finishes adds to the airy feeling—as does the 13-foot ceiling.

Taylor considered the project an experiment to test out ideas for improving the design of Hawaii tiny home Taylor Michaella McClendon. A big focus became adding more windows and leaving spaces open rather than filling every nook and corner.

This tiny home was built over 25 long working days. Its backyard construction project was also balanced with regular visits from Taylor and Michaella’s two children, Caedmon and Iona.

“Our first hurdle was finding the right trailer,” Taylor explains. “We researched and found the exact one we wanted from Iron Eagle in Oregon. However, due to COVID-related delays, we likely would have waited a month for it to arrive in Hawaii.” 

To the soundtrack of Neil Young, we finished the subflooring the first day.”

At one end of the Hawaii tiny home Taylor Michaella McClendon, the living area features a set of custom vertical windows with a small loft area above. A window seat with built-in storage occupies space over the trailer tongue.

“We have seen a number of tiny houses that could simply use a few extra windows,” says Taylor. The approximately 250-square-foot space offers nearly a dozen windows, including a set of four clerestory windows running along both sides. “The northwest cedar tongue-and-groove cladding is another favorite [element]. It adds an elegant and natural softness to the contemporary and minimalist design. And it smells amazing!”

Corresponding with the exterior facade, cedar runs along the ceiling and interior walls. The back half of the home features a galley-style kitchen with full-size sink, stove, and fridge.

Concrete countertops surround a 36″ apron sink in the kitchen and top a seating area at one end. The counters were designed to flush with a large window in the back. Thus, allowing for easier passing of items through to the outside.

A mini closet provides space for a washer and dryer while space underneath the stairs adds even more storage.

“Big kitchen? Small bathroom? Living area? We asked ourselves what we valued most, and for us, it was the kitchen and living space,” he says. “We wanted the bedroom and bathroom to be functional, but not the primary focal points. We also valued empty space and didn’t feel the need to build out every corner.”

At the rear of the Hawaii tiny home Taylor Michaella McClendon, the bathroom offers a 42-inch-wide shower, as well as a central vanity and toilet.

Both traditional and composting toilets are available to accommodate off-grid living.

The group worked on the project Monday through Friday for five weeks straight. “Greg, who has remodeled and built dozens of homes, often stayed up at night solving technical problems,” says Taylor. They all quickly realized the need for precision planning, as a miscalculated inch here or there would affect the entire design. Taylor adds: “Throughout the process, Greg would often say, ‘Building a tiny house is like constructing a skyscraper on a postage stamp—you can’t afford to mess up your measurements, or else it offsets everything.’”

A view from the bedroom loft.

The bedroom measures 10′ x 8′ and features windows along one side and a corner.

Other features of the design include flexible options for off-grid living. The home can also connect to any form of water or electricity needs. Orders for the made-to-order tiny home start at $99,800.

This fall, the couple will be moving back to the mainland and have decided to begin a tiny house construction business based in Dallas, Texas. “I’d encourage others to step out while the world is resetting and changing.”