One of the many reasons I love Bryan Fuller’s TV show “Wonderfalls” is that his characters all have a unique space to call their own. Even though the main character, Jay, lives in a trailer park, her trailer is one-in-a-million, complete with warm toned fabrics draped around the interior, a privacy screen, and several objects collected from Jay’s work. While outside it might appear to be a regular trailer, inside it is clearly Jay’s safe haven from the world. I was reminded of this recently upon viewing the transformation of a trailer to a tiny home by designer Ruthie of House of Rumors.
“Something to talk about in every room” is Ruthie’s motto, and by the look of her work, she’s right on target. Her interiors are warm, inviting, cozy, and yet still modern, clean, and crisp. Her own personal project, the trailer turned tiny home, follows those same guidelines and the result is, quite honestly, stunning. While Pinterest seems to have been the catalyst for the transformation, Ruthie’s own design expertise and know-how really pulled the place together.
Remember how dull and cheap a trailer can look? The scuffed, patchy linoleum covering parts of the floor, dingy carpet that should have been cleaned six or seven years ago, the dirty windows, the cramped feeling of a lack of space? No matter how small your home is, you don’t have to let it feel crowded. You don’t have to put up with poor quality materials. Even if you don’t have a big budget, there are small changes that can be made to brighten the place up and make it feel more like home.
Ruthie gave herself two weeks to turn the trailer into a piece of art. She ripped up the old linoleum and carpet, replacing it with easy to vinyl that mimicked wood planking. Tossing out the tired old upholstery fabric, Ruthie decided to go for a classic, chic look with a striped fabric. To get rid of the gloomy feel, she repainted the walls and added a few choice decorations, which brightened up the rooms. With a few other alterations, the trailer became a place to entertain, get comfy, and rest after summer activities like hiking, fishing, and outdoor barbecues.
If you want to explore Ruthie’s new tiny home, you can do so either at Mobile Adventures or on her own site, House of Rumours. Even if you don’t want to do a major overhaul of your own personal space, you can glean ideas from the blog and maybe splash a new coat of paint on the walls or make the feel of a room different with a throw rug and some pretty wall hangings. And of course, you can follow Ruthie on Pinterest for even more decorating and re-designing spaces. You can also like her Facebook page, follow her on Twitter and Instagram, or sign up for her e-mail newsletter. And if you’re living in Arizona, you can contact her for a consultation.
