Tranquility Inspired Designs LLC | Tiny House | Hayward, WI

From digital nomads to new retirees, people across America are embracing the flexible lifestyle offered by campers and trailers. These mobile structures provide a sense of home while allowing their owners to explore new destinations. 

However, this lifestyle often comes with trade-offs, such as sacrificing amenities like fully equipped kitchens or washers and dryers. Additionally, finding a camper or trailer that matches personal design preferences and quality standards can be challenging, making it harder for these spaces to feel like home.

These common challenges in camper and trailer living inspired Renee Redalen from Tranquility Inspired Designs LLC to forge a new kind of mobile living experience that doesn’t spare the luxuries found in traditional homes. “I wanted to create a tiny house on wheels that can be taken anywhere but is equipped like a regular house,” she shared. 

With a goal of building a tiny house community, Redalen reached out to her long-time business partner, Chris Burdick of Burdick Builders. Although Burdick had extensive experience building custom homes, this was his first venture into mobile home construction. 

The duo began by designing and building a 425-sq-ft (39-sq-m) model home, which will serve as the blueprint for additional tiny houses. The model includes a main floor, loft, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, featuring all the luxuries found in one of Burdick’s usual custom home builds. 

“We built the tiny house as we would one of our custom homes, using high-end materials and tall ceilings,” Burdick said. “The tiny house features a fully equipped kitchen with our standard appliance package, including a fridge and freezer, as well as a full-size bathroom with a regular shower and vanity. These areas are typically lacking in traditional campers or trailers.” 

When selecting materials for the home, Redalen prioritized aesthetic appeal and durability. “My main goal when choosing products for the model was to ensure they not only look amazing, but also stand the test of time,” she said. “Our selections have to weather the elements, as they could be exposed to cold climates with below-zero temperatures during the winter.”

These considerations led Redalen to incorporate surfaces from RAUVISIO House lines throughout the tiny house. “I have used RAUVISIO lines several times, including a home I designed for my neighbors,” she said. “They have lived there for almost three years, and despite their kids drawing on the surfaces and bringing their toys around them, the surfaces remain indestructible.”

She continued, “I love all the colors and finishes available across RAUVISIO lines — there are so many options."

For the tiny house model, Redalen selected RAUVISIO noir monotonic matte surface in Casa Blanca for closet doors, closet drawers and lower kitchen cabinetry. To optimize every square inch of space, Redalen also incorporated closets covered in RAUVISIO noir within the staircase leading to the loft. “RAUVISIO noir offers a smooth, modern matte finish,” she said. “It’s an especially good choice for people with kids or pets.” 

RAUVISIO noir is irresistibly lush with its soft-touch matte finish, but lends durability with fingerprint, impact and scratch resistance. The anti-microbial surface is suitable for contact with food and is resistant to bacteria, mold and stains, making it perfect for those who love to cook. 

Burdick noted, “RAUVISIO noir looks very nice aesthetically, but is still durable, which is important for campers and trailers.”

Redalen also chose RAUVISIO terra soft, textured HPL surface in Coastal Oak for the upper kitchen cabinetry, floating shelves, pantry and master bathroom cabinetry. “I absolutely love RAUVISIO terra because of its realistic features,” Redalen said. “Although it’s a laminate, it looks like real wood.” 

“I love the natural look of RAUVISIO terra,” Burdick agreed. “I even used this surface on cabinets in my own cabin because I wanted something that would stand up for the long term. Everything looks so consistent between the cabinetry doors and appliance fronts — no one has any idea it’s not wood.”

Inspired by the forest, this engineered wood delivers all-round durability. RAUVISIO terra provides a deeply textured wood look and feel but offers superior impact and chip resistance compared to TFL and melamine. The durable surface also resists deterioration, making it ideal for designed spaces in harsh climates.

The cabinetry was finished with REHAU LaserEdge technology, creating a seamless joint between the edgeband and board that offers exceptional heat and moisture resistance. “There is no way for liquid or moisture to penetrate with the way the surface is edgebanded,” said Redalen. 

From refined yet resilient RAUVISIO surfaces to the eye-catching multi-colored kitchen backsplash, the tiny house reflects intentional design choices that infuse the space with mid-century modern luxury. The high-quality build also includes Cambria counters in Minnesota Snow, full-size Fisher & Paykel appliances, a Bosch induction cooktop, a mini split system for heating and cooling, and 50 amp LED lighting service for all lighting, including sconces and a rattan chandelier. 

Burdick noted, “The combination of RAUVISIO surfaces, nickel gap shiplap integrated into the high ceilings and unique lighting choices make it feel more like a home rather than a camper.” 

While the tiny house includes all the comforts of a traditional home, additional factors had to be considered throughout the design and construction process. For instance, the home had to be 13 ft and 7 in or lower to be hooked to a trailer and maintain a light weight for towing. This led Redalen and Burdick to use a powder-coated aluminum roof, which is half the weight of traditional roofing material. 

They also addressed structural issues common in traditional campers and trailers. Redalen explained, “Campers or trailers typically have paper-thin walls, but our tiny house is a high-quality build equipped with a steel bottom, 2x4 spray foam insulation and sheet rock. This results in an air-proof, sound-proof structure that keeps unwanted elements out.” 

High-quality windows were another important consideration. Redalen noted that campers or trailers typically use inexpensive thin, tinted windows. To appreciate Wisconsin’s blue skies and sparkling lakes, she chose clear glass Andersen insulated windows, which were placed higher in the living area and bedroom for a light-filled space that maintains privacy.

Reflecting on the process, Burdick said, “This was the first time we did something like this. We built our own frame and put axles on it, while treating it like one of our custom homes. Even though the tiny house will be parked on a campground, it has the appeal of a regular cabin or home with its high-end exterior and interior.” 

Now, those who wish to experience an adventurous lifestyle without sacrificing the usual comforts of home can do so with Redalen and Burdick’s tiny houses. Redalen concluded, “I’m excited to offer something to clients that feels like and is built like a home, yet still provides a flexible lifestyle.”