Big Change, Small House

“Leaving a pair of pants out can be a tripping hazard; shoes could cause you to fall and chip a tooth,” says Dee Williams. That’s not true in most places, but in the limited space of the 84-square-foot house Williams built and currently resides in, every loose item of clothing...

By Robin Edwards

April 24, 2014

Audio By Carbonatix

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“Leaving a pair of pants out can be a tripping hazard; shoes could cause you to fall and chip a tooth,” says Dee Williams. That’s not true in most places, but in the limited space of the 84-square-foot house Williams built and currently resides in, every loose item of clothing needs to be accounted for.

After being diagnosed with congestive heart failure, Williams decided to take stock of her life and downsize from her multi-bedroom house into a residence she refers to as “the little house” all by herself in Olympia, Washington. “I wanted to walk my talk as an environmentalist differently, and the little house did that, and I wanted to be able to work part-time, so the little house made that possible,” says Williams.

Her new book, The Big Tiny: A Built-it-Myself Memoir, details her experience of building and living in a tiny house on wheels, along with the ways in which it made her feel more connected to her environment and community. Williams will discuss and sign her book tonight at 7 p.m. at the Tattered Cover LoDo, 1628 16th Street, as part of the Rocky Mountain Land Series. For more information, call 303-436-1070 or go to tatteredcover.com.
Mon., April 28, 7:30 p.m., 2014

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