A COUPLE turned a children’s playhouse into the tiny home of their dreams, but it comes with a risk if you’re not following state guidelines.
Nnyji Whitfield and Santi Gomez, both 27, moved into the tiny home that was placed in Whitfield’s grandparents’ backyard in Philadelphia after their van broke down while road-tripping around the US.
A couple moved into a children’s playhouse after their van lifestyle went up in smoke[/caption]
Their journey started in 2023 when the couple decided to leave their apartment in Hagerstown, Maryland, and embrace the van lifestyle.
“It was COVID-time and more jobs were becoming remote, so we thought we could travel around and see places we always wanted to see while also saving money,” Whitfield, a graphic designer, told Realtor.com.
Whitfield wanted to experience the redwoods in California, while Gomez looked forward to seeing Yellowstone National Park.
However, their dreams turned into a nightmare in February 2025 when their van kept breaking down constantly.
Instead of spending all their money on repairs, the two put their heads together to find inexpensive housing.
“One of us said, ‘How about the playhouse?’” said Whitfield.
Whitfield’s grandparents bought her the 96-square-foot, 9-foot-tall playhouse when she was four years old, which she used as an escape throughout her childhood.
“I had a lot of pool parties, tea parties, and sleepovers in the house,” she told the outlet.
“I never wanted to leave it.”
This wasn’t a typical playhouse; rather one made of sturdy wood that her grandparents spent $4,000 to complete.
Whitefield described it as a log cabin that her parents splurged on since she was the only grandchild at the time.
After getting permission to live in the tiny home, the couple quickly worked on making it livable.
Gomez, who used to work as a medical illustrator, created a 3D model for a design that would fit the couple and their two cats.
Using wood borrowed from Whitfield’s grandfather’s several construction projects, the duo built a kitchen, a desk, a bench, storage areas, shelves, and a catio.
What is a tiny home?
Technically, a tiny home is any house measuring under 400 square feet.
Many tiny homes are built on trailers so they can be towed anywhere, and some are converted from old school buses or vans.
Each state has its own rules about tiny homes, but, generally, they are not subject to the same taxes as regular homes.
However, Alaska, Iowa, Louisiana, North Dakota, New Jersey, New York, Wisconsin, and West Virginia have made tiny homes illegal as permanent dwellings.
Fiberglass and aluminum reflective material were also installed to insulate the home from the elements.
For their appliances, the couple uses a portable power station that can be charged with an outlet in the main house, and they also use a propane mini-gas stove.
“The van life really prepared us,” said Gomez.
“Not just for living in such a small space, but how to have all the things you need to live in one.”
The couple uses the main house to shower and use the bathroom, which they say acts as their outhouse.
The total cost to turn the playhouse into a home was just $766.56, and they share their lives on their YouTube channel, Beanbug, which has more than 27,000 subscribers at the time of writing.
They hope that living in the tiny home will allow them to buy an actual house in the future and maybe even return to van life.
“The playhouse is allowing us to save for that future,” said Whitfield.
“I’m so grateful my grandparents bought it.”
However, the couple said their advice for others wanting to do the same is to make sure it’s legal in their town.
In Philadelphia, a tiny home is considered an Accessory Dwelling Unit, which is legal on the property of a single-family home.
It’s also important to consider that a tiny home will need to be insulated, the amount of storage you’ll need, and if there is a place nearby that can be used for any bathroom needs.
“Go for it,” said Gomez. “Take the leap.”
