Tiny homes and accessory dwelling units are having a moment. As housing costs continue to climb, more families are getting creative, converting garages and backyards into cozy spaces for aging parents, college kids or just a little extra space. These multigenerational setups help to keep costs low and they offer a blend of both independence and family togetherness. Others are tapping into the tiny home trend to carve out income-producing rentals, art studios and home offices. Pensacola Magazine caught up with four local tiny home owners to learn how they brought their small-space visions to life and made the most of every square foot.
Style Meets Substance
Homeowner: Cheryl Kees Clendenon | Location: East Hill, Pensacola
Was the home a new build or an existing structure you adapted?
Absolutely—The property is new construction. I own the main house, which sits on a corner lot. I built the largest structure (525 square feet) the city would allow in the backyard. To give the tiny home its own identity, we installed a fence and oriented the entrance toward the side street. From the outside, it feels like its own property—but in reality, it’s part of ours. It was a creative solution that gave it presence.
Was the home designed with a specific purpose or lifestyle in mind?
Absolutely—it was built for my youngest daughter, who moved back to Pensacola to join our design firm. It became a true mother-daughter collaboration. We wanted it to “live large” and reflect both function and personality. We had fun designing something soulful, not just small.”
Tell me a little about the building process—what was that journey like?
Since we do this every day for clients at our design studio, In Detail, the process was joyful and smooth. We partnered with one of our go-to builders, Heath Kelly Construction. Making the process enjoyable is one of our superpowers—especially when it’s your own home. We believe building a home should feel like a celebration, not something that causes stress.
How did you go about designing or planning for such a small space?
Every great small space starts with the floor plan—it must be functional and full of signature touches. That’s my sweet spot in our firm. I love the schematic design process, whether it’s 500 or 5,000 square feet. I often work with clients across the country on creating or reviewing plans for new builds. The challenge here was to give the tiny home its own voice—and I think we nailed it.
What are some features or design choices that make the most of the small space?
Libby loves to cook, so a typical tiny home one-wall kitchen would not cut it. We designed a real kitchen with a pantry (yes, a real pantry!), bar seating for two and a dining nook with a built-in bench. The bedroom includes a built-in makeup station that also functions as a desk. These features create interesting ‘moments’ in the house and built-ins can often save space. But the real showstopper is the vaulted ceiling with storage loft—it brings volume and vertical interest, making the home feel far bigger than it is. And the glass door from the kitchen to the side yard? It’s a nod to the older home kitchens in East Hill, and it expands the space outdoors beautifully.
Were there any unexpected challenges in making the space feel livable and functional?
Not really. This is what we do and the biggest challenge was not buying land and building a bunch of them!
Did you work with an architect or was this more of a DIY project?
We do all design plans in-house with our engineer typically handling the structural components. On larger new projects, we work with a long-time associate licensed architect to present clients with a full-service design team from soup to nuts. It has been an excellent working relationship and creates a creative synergy often missing in new builds.. This is what we do and the biggest challenge was not buying land and building a bunch of them!
Is there anything in the space that really surprises people when they visit?
The scale surprises people—it’s not just livable, it’s spacious. We prioritized the main living/kitchen zone and sacrificed bedroom size to do it. That was the right call. It fits more people than you’d think and still feels open and bright.
Do you have a favorite nook or feature in the home? What makes it special?
I think the kitchen is my favorite place overall, as it really is nicely sized, comparatively speaking, and I love the vaulted ceilings with the box beams. It cannot be emphasized enough—the value created was 10 times the cost to do it.
Any advice you’d offer to someone considering a tiny home or ADU?
Don’t underestimate the design of a tiny house. Small doesn’t mean simple or boring. With thoughtful planning, you can create something packed with function and style. We squeezed more personality into 525 square feet than many homes triple the size. Design always matters— but especially so when space is limited.
Multigenerational Garden Home
Homeowners: James Amerson, Jeff Griffey and Pat Griffey | Location: Old East Hill, Pensacola
When was the property built? Was it a new build or an existing structure?
It was a new build. It’s actually a shed that has been modified and redesigned for living. It was built in 2023-2024. We started it right as we were coming out of COVID-19, so it took about a year to get the contractor to start. It was a two-year project.
Was the home designed with a specific purpose or lifestyle in mind?
There were three of us involved in the design of this house. It was built for Jeff’s mom to live in. She had already downsized from another full-size home by moving into a 600-square-foot efficiency apartment in Southtowne where she spent several years. So, moving into this 420-square-foot home wasn’t too difficult. We wanted a tiny house with big amenities, including a full-size kitchen and bathroom. We needed it to be handicapped-friendly but also feel relaxed and comforting. It’s really one large area, which I call a ‘real’ living room because she has everything she needs to live in just one room—other than the bathroom, of course. Her room has everything in it—closets, a bed, recliners, a dining table and chairs and a fully equipped kitchen. We opted out of a traditional sofa because of the small space, but having the front porch with a swing and rocker gives her a comfortable entertaining space for guests. Having the ceiling vaulted in the house and the big porch made the space feel much larger. The addition of not just one, but two French doors, gives it a wonderful open feel. It’s hard to believe that it’s only 420 square feet.
Tell me a little about the building process—what was that journey like?
It wasn’t our first time with a new build, so we expected there to be a lot of delays. My advice to anyone is to take a deep breath and double or triple the amount of time your contractor originally tells you.
How did you go about designing or planning for such a small space?
We wanted Pat to be closer to us as we all enter a new chapter in life and we happen to have enough space in our backyard to build a tiny house. Fortunately, this has really worked out well for the three of us. With the limited space and cost of building materials, we knew it had to be a tiny house. Some of our favorite shows to watch are tiny home programs, so we had given it quite a bit of thought beforehand. After deciding which builder to use, we chose from what options and floor plans they had available and modified it to suit her needs.
What are some features or design choices that make the most of the small space?
Placement of the air conditioner, kitchen appliances, washer and dryer and walk-in shower was challenging. Fortunately, Jeff has experience in design, which came in very handy. He was able to map everything out in the planning stages and when the structure was roughed in, we were able to trace the areas on the floor with tape to see if anything needed to be changed or relocated.
Were there any unexpected challenges in making the space feel livable and functional?
We were lucky in this respect. Again, we’ve experienced unexpected challenges before and weren’t surprised when they came up. Luckily, with ample time to consider the project and it being tiny, everything turned out pretty much as expected. The hardest was carving out a space for the stackable washer/dryer and linen closet. It was the tightest fit, but Jeff found space in the bathroom that worked perfectly.
Did you work with an architect or was this more of a DIY project?
We worked with a local shed-building company. Taking what design they already had and making a few modifications, they did the majority of the work. We installed the cabinetry and appliances.
Is there anything in the space that really surprises people when they visit?
The first thing that absolutely everyone has to say about it is how cute it is and how it looks like it has been here the entire time. As if it were an extension of the original historic home. We put in a lot of effort to achieve that. We wanted it to have the same architectural style and feel as our house, which was built circa 1867. The next thing our guests are amazed by is that it’s only 420 square feet. We knew adding on the full-length porch and two sets of French doors would create the illusion of more space. Opening the French doors up with the swing and rocking chair creates a feeling of space and provides a welcoming, comforting environment.
Do you have a favorite nook or feature in the home? What makes it special?
Personally, I am very proud of Jeff’s design of the whole house, but mostly of the full-sized walk-in shower; it’s roomy and very modern. My absolute favorite feature is the front porch swing.
Any advice you’d offer to someone considering a tiny home or ADU?
My advice is if you can do it, DO IT! We have absolutely no regrets.
Tiny Treehouse
Homeowner: Caroline Jordan | Location: East Hill, Pensacola
When was the property built? Was it a new build or an existing structure?
It was built in 2019, and it was a new structure.
Was the home designed with a specific purpose or lifestyle in mind?
It was designed to be my office for my real estate businesses, Coastal Link Properties and Link Realty Gulf Coast. I loved the tiny libraries all around town, so I called the guy who builds them, Michael O’Donovan. I told him that I wanted to design a tiny library for my office. I did the drawings myself. I gave them to him, and he brought them to life.
Tell me a little about the building or renovation process—what was that journey like?
We chose the corner of the backyard because it was a place that had very sandy soil because of the sweetgum tree that grows there. We can’t grow grass or have a garden there because of the shade it has. It is a place where all the tree branches come down, so it really makes you feel like you’re up in the trees. I wanted it to originally face the pool so I could run a zip line from it to drop in the pool, but my insurance company wouldn’t allow me to do that. So, we faced it diagonally at the corner of the fence, facing the back of the house. I wanted it to be built up amongst all the trees so it would feel like I’m in a treehouse with the birds all around.
What are some features or design choices that make the most of the small space?
It’s a 10-foot-by-10-foot space, but I was able to fit the two desks and two computers that I needed. It was also important to have it fully wired for my office equipment and to have air conditioning. I added the little loft area with the thought that I would be taking naps all day long, all the time. That never happens, but I put a bed up there, and I have a ladder. I’ve taken maybe three naps up there, but I dream about naps all the time. My dream was to have a napping room.
I also painted it the same colors as the main house. I bought the yellow half-starbursts, the railings and some of the trim from an architectural salvage place that was on Palafox Street at the time. I just wanted a cute, adorable and cozy cottage.
Were there any unexpected challenges in making the space feel livable and functional?
Not at all. Everything flowed very well until my neighbor had a heart attack about me building this in the yard. He didn’ t think it was right to build something like this in my yard, although there are tree houses all around East Hill. So, that was my only pushback.
Is there anything in the space that really surprises people when they visit?
That it’s so adorable, first of all, and that it’s fully wired. They cannot believe that they have to walk up a ship’s ladder to get into my office. They walk up and they’re just amazed that this is a home office. It’s a great idea for someone who works from their house because you are not distracted by the dishwasher and the laundry machine, like you are in the main house. When you are up there it’s like you’re away from everybody, and away from all the household duties. You’re here to work, but you can still be in your backyard and go in and out of your house as you please.
Do you have a favorite nook or feature in the home? What makes it special?
The office itself is my favorite place in this entire house. I absolutely love coming up here. I am so motivated to go to work on a Monday morning because I get to work up in the trees.
Any advice you’d offer to someone considering a tiny home or ADU?
Do it and do not regret anything that you do with this. It’s the best purchase I’ve ever made. If you work from home, you need to have a separate office where you can focus on work, but also enjoy your backyard.
Comfort in a Box
Homeowners: Keely & Jason | Location: Scenic Hills, Pensacola
When was the property built? Was it a new build or an existing structure?
We built it in 2022. We converted a one-way 20-foot-by-8-foot shipping container into a tiny home.
Was the home designed with a specific purpose or lifestyle in mind?
We wanted to design a minimal and clean space where people could find rest, even in an unconventional dwelling.
Tell me a little about the building process—what went into converting a shipping container into a tiny home?
It took a lot of courage. You need to not be fearful of learning new skills and be willing to learn as you go. Let the space lead the build and design.
How did you go about designing or planning for such a small space?
We had the goal in mind to include only what was needed for a minimal, comfortable stay but also function for everything our guests may need. We selected amenities that would complement the peaceful atmosphere we wanted to provide.
What are some features or design choices that make the most of the small space?
Choosing a loft bed allows for a functional living space that feels separate from the sleeping space. With a small space, compromises will come. Choosing those compromises, such as a larger shower in the absence of a closet, are some of the things we found to make our space feel comfortable.
Were there any unexpected challenges in making the space feel livable and functional?
It’s a great space for one to two people, but beyond that, the space would have the opposite effect we desired. You can find larger tiny homes that can accommodate more people, but we wanted to provide a little getaway—a place where someone’s vacation could be “outside the box,” even though they’re in one.
Did you work with an architect or was this more of a DIY project?
This was a DIY project for the most part! We hired professional plumbers and electricians. Keely is a professional visual designer and Jason worked in New York City building elaborate window displays for Barneys New York, so between both of us, we were able to get the design and carpentry done ourselves.
Is there anything in the space that really surprises people when they visit?
People often comment on our back deck, the large oak trees, private fenced-off yard, and the overall comfort and design of the interior.
Do you have a favorite nook or feature in the home? What makes it special?
Jason loves the loft bed. The wooden ceiling creates a cozy atmosphere for sleep. Keely is proud of the bathroom, and that we were able to achieve a full bath that feels spacious and comfortable for guests.
Any advice you’d offer to someone considering a tiny home or ADU?
Go into tiny homes with the mentality that less is more. Don’t try to get every single creature comfort in there, but find those that add the most value to your life.