Tom began his professional career in the North Carolina furniture industry working in fabrication, showroom design, and eventually landing as a buyer at the International Home Furnishings Market. After apprenticing with his late grandfather, a master carpenter, Tom began working in carpentry full time building intricate interior pieces and decking for large custom homes. In 2001, along with Johanna, they began “flipping” their first home. “We were instantly hooked on reclaiming something that seemed forgotten and making it beautiful again.” In 2014, their friends (now the worlds most traveled tiny house RV), popped the big “tiny” question, “Will you help us build a tiny house?” and the rest is history. Tom’s days are now filled with hand drafting framing plans (his preferred method) and overseeing the construction of every Perch & Nest tiny house RV. “These are our babies. We hate to see them go but love to see something we love so much loved by others.” When Tom’s not building tiny, he (still) enjoys spending free time tinkering in his wood shop, restoring their 125-year-old farmhouse, and crafting and throwing the football with the kids.

Hailing from a 15+ year career in both public accounting and personal organization, Johanna also brings a past of house flipping, thrift store shopping, crafting, and reclaiming things “destined for the dump” to the tiny table. (And not to mention, she went to Culinary School and holds a Hospitality degree!) As Perch & Nest’s lead designer and project manager, Johanna understands what it takes to achieve practical design along with practical budgeting. “Designing tiny brings everything we love into one venue. Every day feels like a coffee date sharing ideas with friends. I can’t see us doing anything else!” When Johanna’s not designing small spaces or managing the Perch & Nest Airbnb fleet, she’s mom-ing, cooking, raising chickens or snuggling their potbelly pig, and overseeing the restoration of the Elsner’s 1894 farmhouse.