A family of 3 lives in a nearly 100-year-old tiny house that has a mini garden

"We moved into this home simply because we fell in love with it, as well as with the Venice Canals neighborhood," Morris told Insider.

"We weren't necessarily on a downsizing mission."

Morris and Winkleman got married on the front stoop of the house almost four years ago, and today they live in the home with their son West and two dogs.

They call the house the Tiny Canal Cottage.

The Craftsman cottage was built in 1924, and it was designed with "space-maximizing features" such as pocket doors and vaulted ceilings, according to Morris' website.

The living room, kitchen, and office are all in one space, while the single bedroom and bathroom are separate. 

The home also features a shared porch and a tiny private garden.

The home's outdoor spaces give the family's dogs room to play.

"The garden and the canals help us give the pups an indoor/outdoor life in which square footage (or lack thereof) becomes irrelevant," Morris said.

Morris listed vertical shelving and plants as a way to decorate and save space, as well as using strategically placed mirrors both indoors and outdoors to make the home feel bigger.

She also said that "foregoing purely decorative accents and opting instead to decorate with our everyday items helps to maximize the space."

Morris started her website to share their lifestyle with the world and also became a professional small-space lifestyle consultant as a result of their home.

"We make the changes as they suit our lifestyle," Morris said.

For instance, they changed their closet into a nursery when their son was a baby, and then later changed it back once he grew older.

"While we see no need for major overhauls, it's nice to keep the space a bit fluid as our lifestyle and tastes evolve," she added.

"I love the bed, as the headboard has built-in windows," she said.

"And there's a skylight overhead so we can see the moon and stars on clear nights."

"We opt for reusable goods over single-use or disposable items," she gave as an example.

"This saves money, decreases waste, and frees up space."

Her book, "Small Space Style: Because You Don't Need to Live Large to Live Beautifully," has over 200 tips about living tiny. 

"I want my child to have what he needs in order to feel safe and secure in his life, but it's far more important for me that he's forever able to go outside and breathe clean air and turn on the faucet and drink safe water than it is for him to run around in a giant house full of things none of us truly need," she said.

"For us, tiny living has put us on a path to a more sustainable lifestyle, and we hope to have a positive impact by focusing next on regenerative practices that benefit the earth."

"There's zero chance that we could afford to live in this neighborhood in a 'normal'-sized home," Morris said.

"In addition to paying less for the house itself, there's the benefit of reduced utilities, as well as the savings from buying fewer home furnishings and accessories."

"Plus, there's less to update over time when something breaks," she added.

"Thanks to our tiny garden, our 3-year-old has room to roam and explore, and yet our proximity ensures that we can always monitor him for safety," she said.

"When inside, he's learned to keep himself entertained in an area that's basically an eight-foot square for hours on end, thanks to the help of library books and creative play."

"This home works so well for us," she added. "Better now than ever, in fact."

The family's backyard features a custom sofa, an outdoor shower, and mirrors to make the space feel larger.

"When my business began to grow, folks told us we couldn't continue to operate it from our tiny home, as it'd be too difficult," she said.

"And when I became pregnant, everyone told us we'd need to move, as 'babies require so much stuff.'"

"But so far we've found none of that to be true," Morris added.

"More time. More adventure. More quality time with one another."

"The next time you're traveling — or away from home for a night or more — use it as an opportunity to evaluate what you really need in order to feel content and comfortable," she advised people.

"Upon returning home, take that study and translate it into something tangible and lasting by stopping the influx of new, unnecessary goods into your home."

You can learn more about the Tiny Canal Cottage on its website, and follow Morris on Instagram here.

And you can learn about how Morris and others who live tiny are dealing with the pandemic here.

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