21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Stuck in a Rut? Live in a Tiny Home on Wheels.
For Chloe Barcelou and Brandon Batchelder, building a tiny home wasn't just about having a cute, compact place to live — it was a way to get out of a rut. As production designers working on film sets and photos shoots in the 2010s, it seemed like they were continually struggling to scrape together enough money for basic necessities.
'We were sharing the same vehicle to go to multiple jobs, juggling this really insane schedule and feeling like we worked all the time but never had enough money to make ends meet or even spend quality time together,' said Ms. Barcelou, now 35, describing the couple's life in Nashua, N.H. 'It was just this frustrating situation of, 'How do we get out of this?'' Image A pop-up roof provides light and a 10-foot-high ceiling inside. Credit... Morgan Karanasios, via Rizzoli New York
When they were tapped to design the sets and costumes for the 2015 independent movie 'Aimy in a Cage,' it was both a dream job and a lifeline. Between the money they earned and the materials they could reclaim from the set after shooting was over, they figured, they would be able to build, well, something.
Wanting a home of their own that would allow them to stop sinking money into rent, but lacking the resources to buy a conventional house, Ms. Barcelou happened to see a tiny, towable home online, which seemed like a possible solution. Shelves made of wood, acrylic and threaded rods provide storage. Credit... Jenn Bakos, via Rizzoli New York Ms. Barcelou and Mr. Batchelder in the kitchen. Credit... Jenn Bakos, via Rizzoli New York
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