TINY HOUSE, HUGE PASSION
Snyder family trades in dream home to live in tiny home, start family business
Story by Jacob Karre
Photos by William Houghton
The Snyder family moved from their 3,000-square-foot dream home into a 454-square-foot tiny house not only for the sake of experience, but to also start their own tiny house business.
despite the blood, sweat and tears that went into building their “normal-sized” Kerrville home, Shari and Todd Snyder decided that immersing themselves into the downsized lifestyle was beneficial for their long-term goal.
Their sacrifice on space and material possessions allowed them to start their business, Hill Country Tiny Houses in 2016. A year later, they built the company’s first home – the unit they now live in comfortably.
The couple is all for their business – quite literally, they explained.
With the combined expertise of Shari in interior design and Todd in carpentry, they’ve been able to jump start-start their business – already fully enveloped in their second home.
Shari,Todd and their 12-year-old son, Andrew, live together in the spacious, well-designed tiny house.Shari admitted the move was hard for her and her family, but it was necessary.
“You have to immerse yourself,” Shari said. “You have to live in a tiny house to know what it’s like.”
even though they have only lived in the tiny house for two months, the couple has already seen the reward.
“it allowed us to fund this business, while while also allowing us to talk intelligently about it,” Shari said.
upon entering the home, it is evident a lot of thought went into planning. Not only does the space offer plenty of natural-light, it also has pull-out sections often seen in RVs, a full kitchen with a farm sink, a private master bedroom and full-size bathroom complete with a washer and dryer.
“After a quick tour, guests are often complimenting the Snyders on the home. Even skeptic husbands whose wives made them see the home have been impressed. Guests typically leave with a positive attitude toward the tiny house lifestyle,” Shari said.
“I think that says a lot. They compliment how much space there is and they don’t feel cramped,” Shari said. everything in the home was designed with spacial awareness – the ultimate goal of a tiny home. As the interior designer, Shari admitted she spent an embarrassingly large amount of time measuring and remeasuring, Burt the end result is a beautiful, well-spaced home that leaves little to be desired.
Todd and his son built the home from the 40-foot trailer up. Everything is placed in a specific location, wether it’s to balance the home or support the weight of the the steel-framed pullouts.
“The hardest part was figuring out those pullouts,” Todd said.”But for the most part, it’s basic framing.”
Last year, the tiny house was all over the internet after being highlighted in an Arlington exhibit. To give others a taste of what it’s like to live in a tiny house, the couple has opened up their home to guests on the home-sharing site Airbnb.
Ever since they made the jump, the two said they haven’t really missed the extra things they had before.They’ve fully embraced the lifestyle, with has given them a good idea about what to do when designing for clients.
Ultimately, the business allows the Snyders to work together, something they’ve pursued since they got married. All three Snyders children – Andrew and his older sisters, Christianna and Elisabeth, who are now in college – have had a hand in helping their [parents with their business.
The Snyders don’t want to just build their houses either, they want to open up a tiny house community in the Hill Country. Recently. They toured several tiny house communities in Austin to gather ideas and have talked with Kerrville leader about how to make that dream come to life.
The Snyders want to be on the forefront of the tiny house conversation and open people up to the new American dream through the next generation of homes.
Shari and Todd Snyder and their 12-year-old son, Andrew, have lived in a tiny house for two months while running their business, Hill Country Tiny Houses.