You can always count on the Internet to deliver (more or less curated) inspiration for whatever you might need inspiration for. But few of those who specialize in posting this kind of content are as relatable and seemingly genuine as Stefanie Fisher is.
Stephanie Fisher is a German-born Canadian and former real estate agent whose business took a massive hit with the international health crisis. The latter part is of the utmost importance, because it represented the catalyst for the decision that would change her life. When half of the world’s population was baking sourdough bread and the other half was binge-watching on streaming platforms during lockdown, Stefanie built herself the dream home.
She calls that dream home Misty, a Vardo-style, gypsy-wagon-like tiny home that she’s been using to travel the world and connect with people, have new experiences, and live life to the fullest. All these might sound like cliches, but Stefanie’s story is anything but: it’s the perfect motivational story for anyone thinking of making the transition, because, she says, if she can do it, anyone else can.
Misty is a DIY (do it yourself) project that Stefanie started when she realized she could get around social restrictions by hitting the road. She’s honest about her experience: in her youth, she used to travel in a Dodge van, so she knew all there is to know about making do with the tiniest of spaces, and she’s also had experience with carpentry, having done remodels on a couple of houses and a coffee shop. She was no builder though, but she was willing to learn so she’d build Misty just the way she wanted it, which in this case, means a tiny with clear Romani inspiration.
Photo: Stefanie Fisher / My Tiny Wagon
Although Stefanie initially wanted a larger home, of about 200 square feet (18.5 square meters), she compromised in favor of a lighter towable. Her Misty, which is just 84 square feet (7.8 square meters), with an additional 30 square feet (2.7 square meters) for the fold-out deck at the rear, can be towed even by a passenger car – though Stefanie tows it with her RAM 1500 truck, in which she carries extra stuff.
Sitting on a single-axle former toy trailer (with a new axle and new brakes), Misty has cedar tongue and groove siding and all-around thick insulation. The interior is birch plywood on the walls and the roof, with aromatic cedar for the counterops. The wood is left unpainted for a more rustic, Vardo-like vibe, and for easier maintenance.
Inside, Misty offers a complete kitchen, with a propane fridge and cooking range with oven, a custom copper sink fed by a foot pump, and ample storage. Two five-gallon (19-liter) containers hold freshwater for the sink, while another five-gallon is for the greywater.
The dinette is made up of two benches with integrated storage, and a pull-out table. Under the table is a pull-out ramp that Stefanie uses as a step for herself and Ralphie the dog to get inside the bed in the loft. The interior is cramped, but the angled walls and the rounded roof create the impression of more space; plus, Stefanie is rather on the short side, and that helps in her case as well.
Photo: Stefanie Fisher / My Tiny Wagon
Under the bed is a small compartment where Stefanie keeps her flushing porta-potty and the garbage can. Remove these, and you get access to drawers on both sides, in which she stores all the stuff you need on a regular basis, from toiletries to toilet paper and linens. Also here is a little crawl space at the end of which are two pull-out racks for hanging clothes. The more you look at Misty, the more it reveals itself as a little wonder with hidden features.
There are more storage options up in the bed, with cabinets built into the frame on which sits the full-size foam mattress. In keeping with the Vardo styling, the bed is framed by a plywood arch, decorated with Indian mirrors and Moroccan light fixtures. Exterior storage is also available, where Stefanie keeps her leveling jacks, propane tanks, and outdoor cooking utensils, including an exterior range with oven.
Misty doesn’t have a bathroom, but Stefanie doesn’t have to rely on public restrooms. There’s the flushing porta-potty inside, and a water heater system, which connects to the exterior propane system and a handheld outdoor shower. Stefanie says this solution works well for her.
Though very small, Misty can go off-grid for about five days, once everything is filled up. Stefanie initially wanted solar panels on the roof, but the guy she contracted for the job bailed out on her, so she opted instead for portable panels. She also uses LED light bulbs and LED strips that run on solar power, while the kitchen appliances run on propane.
Photo: Stefanie Fisher / My Tiny Wagon
Perhaps for a younger traveler, this setup seems a tad too… basic, but it works wonderfully for Stefanie and her adorable dog. They get to travel, they get to spend time outdoors, and they get to chill on the fold-out rear deck, where Stefanie also installed a hammock chair. She’s documenting their adventures on several platforms, including on her own website, with the hope that they might inspire other city dreamers to take the leap and just follow their dreams.
As far as inspirational stories go, this one is impressive. Especially if you consider that it only cost $15,000 to build, over a period of one year.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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