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NW Minim Tiny House


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This is the NW Minim Tiny House on Wheels. It’s a slightly modified (larger) version of the Minim by Brian Levy. What do you think? Could this be a tiny home on wheels that you could live in comfortably?

Modified, Larger, NW Minim Tiny House on Wheels: 288 Sq. Ft. (12′ x 24′)

Highlights

  • ‘NW Minim’
  • Modified version of the Minim by Brian Levy
  • This version is longer and wider
  • Concrete countertops and windowsills
  • Folding workstation
  • 12’x24′ (288 sq. ft.)
  • Full kitchen
  • Full bathroom
  • Offered at $87,500
  • Located in Eugene, Oregon
  • Learn more at tinynw.com

Summary

We currently offer one model, the NW Minim, and are working on designing additional models. The NW Minim is Brian Levy’s brilliant design reimagined for the Pacific NW.  Longer and wider, it measures 12′ x 24′, 288 SF, giving a sense of spaciousness not common in tiny houses.

Learn more at: tinynw.com

Our big thanks to Bill Mitchell for sharing!

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 59 comments… add one }
  • Dan
    September 14, 2017, 4:31 pm

    I really like this design and the use of a wider design. If you’re using a tiny house for your residence and not as an RV, you’re unlikely to need to move it more than once or twice. That being the case, it’s easy enough to get a wide load permit when needed. It’s a much better compromise to get a far more liveable design.

  • Betty
    September 14, 2017, 5:14 pm

    Nice😊

  • Emily c.
    September 14, 2017, 5:44 pm

    Like it! I really like the width 12 ft. Since I’m not planning on traveling around the country with it, it would be fine for me. But, if this was for me I rather have a longer house so I could have an actual bedroom.

    • Bill Burgess
      September 30, 2017, 1:52 pm

      Please feel free to view some of my designs at 4Fathoms Designs on Facebook as I too feel a 400 sq.ft. design offers minimums for actual full time living unless you are built like a jackrabbit and are always feeling super. Real life people do age I have found, and almost nothing is designed for the segment that needs it most. If you have a female in the household another half bath is almost a requirement as well. This unit has most of the best housing Items and I like it a lot for the young and ambitious. For seniors not so much, as we need our bedroom separate.

  • Rusty
    September 14, 2017, 5:47 pm

    Nice, but i would make some changes. I would want a 10 cubic foot refrigerator/freezer, less stainless steel. A small island to separate the kitchen from the living area. I would make it all one level and the elevated area a bedroom with barn doors or a pocket door for privacy and closet. It needs to be 12 x 30 to accommodate the changes. Instead of a long sofa there would be 4 comfortable chairs; a conversation corner. It also needs a washer and dryer. I like the bathroom and floors.

    • Bill Burgess
      September 30, 2017, 2:03 pm

      I like your thinking Rusty. A brace of wall saver recliners would work with some small chairs with legs maybe. I am a fan of the SMG style Refrigerator with a freeze on the bottom, cabinet depth 24″ wide. As I would add the powder room I would take the length out to 32′. Many of the materials used are exactly what is needed and not a lot that you don’t need. I would make the windows smaller as well unless there is a view. I have five major floor plans I work from on my 4Fathoms Designs Facebook page.

      • Eric
        February 3, 2018, 4:30 pm

        Freezers should ALWAYS be at the bottom. One uses the refrigerator infinitely more often than the freezer so why would you want to always be bending to get stuff out of the bottom? Sometimes I think designers Just. Don’t. Think.

        Also don’t understand the American way of putting microwave above the stove/range. Why? All the moisture and heat surely shortens the lifespan of the microwave. I’d have an extractor above instead. And one that extracts outside not recirculates inside either.

    • Kay
      February 7, 2018, 1:42 am

      One of the things I love about the Minum is the way the table works… Including as an island bench.

      I guess everyone has their own idea, so often I read “I don’t want the bed up stairs”… I love the way which the bed is on ground level, but the owner can still use the space above the bed. I think that the Minum is my fav tiny house of all time.

  • Raynola
    September 14, 2017, 6:21 pm

    I love it! Brilliant design and style.

  • vivian smith
    September 14, 2017, 6:27 pm

    Nearly perfect. Really, I’d only make some cosmetic changes. The TV area would be the bedroom, the TV can be mounted any where. The media center becomes a closet. Add in some cabinets, as I’m not a fan of open shelving (I have bunches of kitchen stuff that would be too messy to look at) and it is perfection!

  • Dominick Bundy
    September 14, 2017, 7:08 pm

    OMG!! $ 87,500 you’d probably have to get a mortgage ., For only one room and no closets to hang clothes…or store mops brooms etc..

    • Phatkhat
      September 15, 2017, 10:07 am

      No kidding. We bought 20 acres, and a 14 x 36 unfinished cabin, plus infrastructure improvements for about half that. If you want a really fancy house with wheels, the manufactured home industry can fix you up with a 16 x 80 for that price.

      • Phatkhat
        September 15, 2017, 10:07 am

        With 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, at that.

        • Bill Burgess
          September 30, 2017, 2:12 pm

          James D has some very good points. However, the Manufactured Home industry is making minuscule changes that improve livability and longevity of their units as the recent hurricanes have shown. I have been to eleven factories coast to coast and unfortunately the factory owners either have never been IN one of their homes much less LIVED in one to know what is needed…And never will, it is just a business to make them money…WE the consumer have to force changes. This model has what should be basic in ALL Manufactured Housing. IMHO.

      • James D.
        September 15, 2017, 2:17 pm

        As the recent articles on properties in places like Olympia, WA show, what prices to expect actually can go quite high in some areas and thus what you can get for a given price range won’t be the same everywhere…

        A manufactured home is also not built to the same standards, doesn’t offer custom building to design it to the individual owner, isn’t as easily movable, and you don’t get the choice on materials so it can have plenty of chemicals that will off-gas.

        So while it may be a good choice for you, it’s not for everyone…

        • Eric
          February 3, 2018, 4:34 pm

          …if materials off gas then as far as I am concerned they are not for anyone. Period.

          Materials that off gas should be banned world wide.

        • James D.
          February 3, 2018, 5:18 pm

          Hey Eric, unfortunately the use of chemicals in home construction is one of the reasons people are looking for alternatives to even the point they may pay more to ensure the home is made of materials that are ethically sourced, environmentally friendly, and ensure a healthy living environment for those living within…

          Even the old homes that you may be able to get for a lot less may have issues like lead paint, and homes from the early 1940’s through the 1970’s can have asbestos… You mainly just avoid off-gassing with really old homes because after so many years the chemicals are eventually spent and inert but any renovation can re-introduce them and all homes eventually need repairs and renovations.

          While there’s a myriad of other things that typically get put into a house that not everyone will accept because there are other things that can potentially effect one’s health.

          The problem is better alternatives tend to cost more and those seeking the most affordable homes often have to compromise but is why the more choices are available, the better… But shows cost is only one of many things to consider and even whether to build a traditional house or something made of more natural materials and other alternative ways to construct a house…

  • Renee
    September 14, 2017, 7:27 pm

    Love the set up. Only thing I would change is add an apartment washer/dryer and closet where the chair and table is now.

  • Alison
    September 14, 2017, 8:10 pm

    The re-positionable table is an interesting idea. It wouldn’t work well for me though, because I tend to accumulate stuff on my tables. Good for a tidy person or minimalist. I’m also not a fan of having to pack away my bed every day, but I’m sure one could customize it and make that office area into a dedicated bedroom. Overall it has a good feel–good dimensions. The draining grooves in the concrete counter are a nice touch.

  • Larry Burns
    September 14, 2017, 9:47 pm

    I have a plan, zoning is always complaining that tiny home small. If I build a 10′ x 30′ home thats 300 sq ft. If I build a 2nd home same size and add a porch 10′ x 30′ between the two homes. That gives a total of 900 sq fi. That will pass Any zoning law.

    • James D.
      September 15, 2017, 2:14 pm

      It’s definitely an option, though local zoning may disagree on whether to count it as a combined sq ft house…

      • Connie
        September 29, 2017, 4:52 pm

        They are getting to fancy and to expensive!! It’s a shame that the tiny house I loved 5-6 years ago has doubled in price. Bring back the rustic cabin, quaint and simple without all the bells and whistles, sad!!

        • James D.
          September 29, 2017, 7:01 pm

          Hey Connie, in terms of the whole market they haven’t actually changed prices… There are just a wider range that they can be built.

          Many you use to see were improvised, DIY, made use of cheaper materials that was mostly reclaimed, and more basic in design and construction.

          Those are still around, especially if you choose to DIY but now people can have them built to much higher standards, have a much wider range of amenities and features included, and can have everything built with new and sometimes even exotic imported materials for those seeking to keep it environmental and making sure they only use environmentally friendly and ethically sourced materials.

          Builders also offer additional things like solar, off-grid functionality, certification so you can get financial support and insurance, and special features for things like wheelchair accessibility and other special needs for those that need them.

          So in no way does this one example represent all that are out there… There’s just a lot more available for a wider range of consumers but there are still lower priced options available…

          You should check out builders like Incredible Tiny Homes, based in Tennessee as a good example of a growing company that still offers good prices.

          Also, there’s others examples like you can check the Youtube channel for “Houses Built Tiny” that shows a builder making a pretty decent Tiny House for somewhere around $16,000 (originally intended to be $15,000 but went a little over) that still offers a good range of conveniences and features.

          And there’s a number of others as well… It’s just like anything else in the mainstream markets, unless you do it yourself then you just have to shop around…

          Mind, some builders can offer better deals if they’re located in areas where it is cheaper to operate a business, can locally source materials without needing to import, etc, for example.

          It also varies depending on what you want the end product to be but there are ways to do it… Just do your due diligence and research before putting any money down…

  • Larry Burns
    September 14, 2017, 10:06 pm

    Im sorry but If I spend 87,000 on a home I want 2 car garage, 3 bedrooms, and a large lot. Gp to home depot buy a shed for 3,000 and finish the inside for about 5,000 total of 8,000.

    • James D.
      September 15, 2017, 2:13 pm

      Larry Burns, yes but that’s not a option for everyone as it depends on location as there are parts of the country where what you ask would cost into the millions and not everyone has the option to just move to a more affordable area.

      While shed conversions can still cost into this range depending on how they are designed and finished.

  • Jenny King
    September 14, 2017, 10:43 pm

    I actually really like the simplicity of this THOW. It would be absolutely PERFECT if it had a full size refrigerator and a full size range/stovetop. It could also have a small dishwasher to the right of the sink. More kitchen shelving would be a must. On the back wall platform I would have a stackable washer/dryer (NOT the combo) and a large double rod floor to ceiling closet to the right of the washer and dryer with shelf storage above and below. The wall to the right above the platform could also accommodate a “hangers” depth closet along the entire wall with shelving/drawers above and below. I would want a deep soaking tub/shower in the bathroom. It would then have EVERYTHING one possibly needed for living long term.

  • Jenny King
    September 14, 2017, 10:45 pm

    I love it, but the price for this one like it is is absurdly high.

    • James D.
      September 15, 2017, 2:10 pm

      It is high, but compared to something like Will Smiths custom RV trailer house that’s worth $2.5 million, it’s hardly absurdly high…

      The design is just one that not everyone will value equally…

      • Eric
        February 3, 2018, 4:46 pm

        What Will Smith paid for it, and what it is really worth are 2 very different things.

        When celebrities buy they pay what I would call a “stupid tax.”

        • James D.
          February 3, 2018, 5:56 pm

          I think you’re thinking of things like diamond studded iPhones that are basically over priced status symbols that regardless of price get replaced every time there’s an updated model…

          While not everything in it may be what is absolutely necessary, overall Will Smith’s RV is $2.5 million because it is actually worth $2.5 million…

          It has features like it can expand from the size of a travel trailer for relatively easy towing to a two story 1200 sq ft mobile home with everything he and his family needs for both home life and work and can do so no matter where in the country he may end up parking it…

          The level of craftsmanship and technology required to provide everything it has into a package that can still be towed is actually quite impressive and shows what can be done if someone had a near limitless budget and didn’t want to compromise on anything.

          Heck, if you want something that really sets the price for high quality then there’s examples like the ultimate audiophile 5.1 Stereo system in the world is worth about $5 million or about $1 million per speaker… The next down from it is still worth over $450,000…

          So an entire home of the quality and features Will Smith has is actually not bad for $2.5 million, mind custom RV’s can go over $3 million… Just not everyone needs a combo mobile home that nearly the size of a regular house when deployed that’s also a mobile work center with all the technology needed to do work from anywhere, regardless of being near any grid-tie locations.

          While even just well built 5th Wheel RV’s can run over $135,000… Add a motor and it can go higher even with a smaller example like a Airstream Atlas Class B+ motorhome Van is over $217,000 but you still can’t use it in the freezing winter…

          Cost can just vary a lot even if you eliminate all non-essential reasons for cost variations but it really comes down to what you intend to use it for that will determine whether something is priced right for what you actually need or not.

          If you don’t need a home you can run a business, if you don’t need a home that can be off-grid, if you don’t need a home that can withstand extremes in temperature and weather, if you don’t need a home that has to support that many people, if you don’t need a home that is designed to be as efficient as possible, if you don’t need a home to be artistic or otherwise feed your soul, etc. then you can arrive at a home that can be very low priced.

          Just realize there’s a spectrum where different people will fall and what best suites anyone may not be what works for someone else and vice versa…

    • Bill Burgess
      September 30, 2017, 2:33 pm

      Jenny, consider again the materials used…Most builders will tell you the way they make money is with sq.ft. Kitchens and baths are fixed minimum expenses in ANY build. The smaller the space the higher cost per sq.ft. Using closed cell insulation has to be higher cost than the Fiberglass fluff most builders use by at least twice. Lots of upgrades to this unit drive up the price but are more than justifying the price. Yes by using a lesser quality but still serviceable materials the price would come down. Consider this is the builders “SHOW” model to get you to think…They will be glad to spec one for you….Trust me…

  • Brian
    September 15, 2017, 5:43 am

    I’m with Larry on this. Though nice, it’s not great. Whatever happened to the TH movement being affordable? Seems to me that the popularity of TH has brought out the “money hungry” in people. One could simply buy a park model and place it on some land for cheaper than this. Or like Larry said, buy a shed and finish off the inside. It’s a shame that the TH movement is becoming what it started out against. Cookie cutter and outrageously priced.

    • James D.
      September 15, 2017, 2:08 pm

      Brian, what’s affordable is not the same for everyone and what you get for a given price will not always be the same or equivalent.

      Besides, compared to homes that are rising into the hundreds of thousands, even very small homes, the market in some areas of the country makes even this a much more affordable option.

      Just check out some of the recent posts for properties listed in Olympia Washington for an example of what some areas have to deal with in pricing.

      Btw, being judgemental of options other people may want to choose is one of the reasons people are trying to get away from the traditional housing market.

      The Tiny House movement was never just about just pricing…

      There’s also a good level of reality check to understand prices can go a lot higher than this depending on what you may actually want in the final product.

      One of the points of the Tiny House movement is to have the freedom to live your life the way you wish and under your own terms. But you can’t do that if you don’t provide people the freedom to make choices!

      While having more choices doesn’t mean you lose access to previous choices, as nothing is stopping anyone from DIY and using reclaimed materials and there are plenty of builders who will work and a wide range of budgets.

      So no, the Tiny House movement is not becoming what it started out against. It’s just growing and providing people with more and more choices.

      • Phatkhat
        September 16, 2017, 1:08 am

        TH have become “fashionable”, and rich people and celebrities have very fancy and expensive ones as an accessory, like a fur coat or Aston Martin. They don’t LIVE in them. They are, at best, a diversion for weekends, or a rental thing.

        What some of us object to, I think, is the idea that the TH movement started as, sustainable housing, has descended into a money making thing. There is NOTHING “green” about importing Italian marble for your tiny kitchen.

        The house in this article is impractical, though attractive in a minimalist way, and lacks a lot of things ordinary people would want in any home, large or small. It is nothing more than an overpriced art piece.

        IMHO.

        • James D.
          September 16, 2017, 3:53 am

          No, for example, the one Will Smith had made for himself was specifically so he and his family can live comfortably while he’s doing a movie, which can take months to do away from their regular home.

          He also uses it for business meetings and entertaining… So rich doesn’t mean they always get such things just as a status symbol…

          There have also been rich people who basically gave up everything to live in something even as simple as a van…

          So what you stated is really really just perceived class bias… Someone owning and running a business from their home can use a Tiny House to be able to make that business mobile, for example and thus invest more into it than someone who may only need four walls and roof over their head and a bed to sleep on and doesn’t really need anything else…

          Going from one extreme to another can be done for a variety of reasons and not just the two stereotypes you are inferring…

          It is true that Tiny Houses have become more fashionable, though they have been around for most of human history our modern society is only now seriously paying attention to them, but regardless of whether they’re fashionable it doesn’t change what they can be used for and besides, lots of things that became fashionable actually got better over time… Like computers, smart phones, cars, etc.

          There was a time when personal computers were just for nerd type hobbyists but now everyone has them or a Smart Phone that can be nearly as capable…

          So being fashionable doesn’t have to mean it gets worse, especially when it really just opens up new opportunities that would otherwise not be possible.

          Big market means people start investing resources to it that they would otherwise not have and this allows products to start getting produced at higher numbers and in some cases even mass produced, which in turn helps lower costs and increase availability…

          This versus having to make everything from scratch, which can be incredibly expensive, isn’t something everyone can do, and is much harder to replicate to offer to anyone else…

          Look at such markets as those trying to keep discontinued old vehicles still running… The costs of manufacturing replacement parts alone should give some idea how much higher costs could be for creating custom products of any kind if there was no industry backing it and providing the resources to make it more economical…

          I know it’s tempting to go into class warfare but that really is just counter productive and fails to realize what actually helps make things more affordable, better designed, safer, and more widely available to the masses.

          Even bad products still can still lead to improvements in what’s available and competition leads to stabilizing of standards and costs that you wouldn’t have if it was strictly DIY and there were no standards at all…

          Like prior to the commercialization of Tiny Houses people couldn’t just get trailers designed and made for the construction of Tiny Houses but instead had to improvise RV trailers… The problem being they are not designed for building Tiny Houses on…

          Most RV trailers are barely rated for the original GVWR and are usually not pushed to the maximum road legal width as well as simply not stiff enough to provide a very level platform to built a house upon.

          Needing to do things like Galvanize the trailer chassis to protect it from rusting is not a cheap procedure and is far more practical for a company that makes trailers to do rather than individual builders…

          You think prices are high now, try building something like a trailer custom to fit a specific Tiny House design and do all the work yourself and see how much it costs you…

          Instead of being able to get a custom trailer for a few thousand it will quickly cost you over $10,000…

          Or go for aluminum, which in many cases is more brittle than steel and when you need to do repairs welding can actually produce weak spots vs how welding with steel works… Again, not very practical for individuals to do vs an industry…

          Many materials can only be manufactured using very expensive equipment… Again, far more practical to let a company absorb that cost and to keep end product costs far lower than doing that manufacturing yourself, but to get that there has to be a large enough market to justify they be in that business…

          Industry effects like getting certifications that show it was constructed to meet at least minimum standards in turn also allows resources like banks to offer financing options and insurance coverage they would not otherwise offer…

          If we really limited people to just what they could pay out of pocket most commerce would come to a screeching halt and nearly 20% of the population would never be able to afford even a very basic Tiny House…

          While the Tiny House movement originally was about freedom… First it started well before you were apparently even aware of it as many people didn’t really become aware of it until the housing bubble crash in 2008… But even Tumbleweed goes back to 2002 and there are examples going back to the 70’s…

          Never mind all the other forms of small structures that people have been using for most of human history going back thousands of years…

          It’s also an over simplistic view to think of Tiny Homes as only for sustainability and low costs when it was really always about freedom…

          The problems with the present housing market isn’t so much just pricing, that’s just a result of the problems in the system, but rather the root causes that lead to those high prices and why the system is so inefficient and frankly oppressive.

          Things like protecting property values leads to the inability to have choices… Like you may not be able to even paint your house whatever color you want because the local HOA has a rule against it as they insist all the houses look alike to maximum property values.

          Then there’s the inability to allow customizations and even when allowed the system is geared in such a way that it quickly ends up costing so much that the only ones who can afford to have custom built homes are the rich…

          The indoctrination of people into this is so strong that people actually think it’s normal to think in terms that we should all live in a certain proprietary way if we wish to be happy and gain value from our homes, which totally ignores the diversity of our natures and that the same lifestyle will never make everyone happy…

          Any and all alternatives are thus demonized to be automatically considered wrong and even harmful…

          Consider, something like solar thermal can be done for a fraction of the cost of a solar power system and would allow millions of people to vastly reduce the energy they need to heat their homes and hot water, which can significantly reduce costs… Yet virtually no one is doing it and it even has a stigma for those few who do as somehow being on the fringe and not quite normal…

          Just to name a few of the highlights of why it’s the system that people are really trying to get away from and that applies to most people and not just those who have no other options…

          Telling people how they should live and in what they should live in is part of the root reasons why the present housing system is failing…

          So it is hardly helpful to bring that same mindset to Tiny Houses and insist it only be done one specific way or else stick to big expensive big houses…

          That’s as silly as saying all people should be a certain height when we’re all different…

          Sure, this NW Minim is hardly the best example of what Tiny Houses have to offer but neither is it the worst and there are ways it can serve the needs of quite a few types of people that may not be served by what you would consider a better design…

          Like what use is a bathtub to someone who never takes a bath… What about people who even have a medical condition where they have an allergic reaction to water on their skin? Among many other examples of why people would not want or value the same things.

          There are people who would use this as a ADU… One on wheels means they can avoid the high costs of most permits, need to include separate septic system from the main house if the main one isn’t rated for enough capacity, etc. that can end up costing them more than even this THOW costs.

          I know you are in a area that clearly doesn’t have these high costs, but that is not the reality for everyone in the country…

          What options work for you thus may not work for someone else who has to live with a different range of options.

          There’s also the fact the interior of this house can be reconfigured significantly and not necessarily with much additional cost… or it could be built from scratch but with more affordable options…

          Custom often means the price is not always consistent… There are 10 foot wide Tiny Houses you can get for less than $50,000, just as their are road legal THOWs that can go over $160,000…

          Price is not something set in stone when it comes to building custom products and is more a guide to see what you can possibly get with a given configuration and materials used.

          There’s also good old competition and this company isn’t the only one who can use the design and there are also other similar designs by other companies as well.

          Like the option to have groups of people pool their resources was pointed out is an option that some people have already done and are doing…

          So let’s not perpetuate defeatism and playing the blame game when there’s really a growing number of options becoming available and a lot that can be done if people just stopped thinking in ways the old system has indoctrinated us to and really free our minds to see the potential out there and take advantage of it rather than divide us and ignore that any other options even exist…

      • Brian
        September 18, 2017, 6:01 am

        All very good points. I suppose I could’ve just said that I didn’t like it without giving any reason or opinion or not said anything at all. Hindsight. I guess I forget sometimes that housing is far more expensive in other places than where I live. As far as the TH movement comment goes. I still stand by my original post. Yes, there is always room for improvement. I still think it’s less green as it started out. Bravo for your opinion though and thank you for sharing your vast knowledge.

        • James D.
          September 18, 2017, 7:31 am

          Hey Brian, you should check out what companies like Incredible Tiny Homes are up to…

          They’re going to start offering products that allow people to take a tank of water and re-use it over and over for a year or so, so they can live off-grid anywhere even where dumping gray water is not allowed or in deserts where it may be hard to get water regularly.

          They’re also offering more affordable solar power…

          Innovators all over are also developing new technology and designs that will start making it easier to go green… Architects, engineers, and designers all over are always trying out new ideas, many of which apply to living in tiny spaces…

          Like GoDownSize channel recently released a video on youtube for a modular building platform someone is developing that can make it much like an erector set to put up the framework of a structure to then complete a building around and should make it much easier for people of lesser skills to opt to build…

          It’s just not always easy to get the word out and not every pays attention to such developments until they’re already popular and widely used.

          Though, presently, not all aspects of going green are yet affordable… Getting ethically sourced products usually means importing them at high cost… Making sure products have no VOCs usually means having them specially made at higher cost and more complicated construction to ensure no VOCs are introduced at any point… There’s also questionable options like getting an Edison battery, which is suppose to be one of the most environmentally friendly options, that can end up costing around $10,000 per battery…

          So there are still things they need to work out but getting more people involved helps start to make those things more affordable as more resources are dedicated to solving those problems…

          Plus there are other ways to go green to consider, like just growing your own food can have a massive impact… Plants can purify the environment, providing your own food not only saves money but reduces the need for food to be shipped all over the country and provides people with even more choices in what to eat, people tend to respect nature more when they take part in it, etc.

          Some of the additional costs people do are for things like having vertical wall gardens, mobile green houses, and other things that help them live a more sustainable lifestyle, for example.

          Growing stuff like micro greens requires very little space and even just certain plants can help keep the house a healthier environment.

          Among other examples, and not all of them even require people scale all the way down to a tiny house to just improve the general way our society is using resources… and every bit helps, especially as more and more of us do our part…

      • Bill Burgess
        September 30, 2017, 2:50 pm

        And consider Olympia area is probably one of the Lesser expensive areas of Puget Sound…And one of the more liberal Zoning areas on the west coast. Also keep in mind that unless you live in Hawaii, they are not making any more land…New construction has to go somewhere…

    • Connie
      September 29, 2017, 4:56 pm

      Brian
      I’m with Larry on this. Though nice, it’s not great. Whatever happened to the TH movement being affordable? Seems to me that the popularity of TH has brought out the “money hungry” in people. One could simply buy a park model and place it on some land for cheaper than this. Or like Larry said, buy a shed and finish off the inside. It’s a shame that the TH movement is becoming what it started out against. Cookie cutter and outrageously priced.

      My Reply…
      You are so right Brian and it’s so very sad!! Its a shame!! Makes me ill and sad!! How can any average hard working tax payer afford one now, smh.

    • Eric
      February 3, 2018, 5:00 pm

      Not affordable? Go ask that of Mr Trump… think he’ll tell you quite the opposite. Why, because he has oodles of money.

      Not sure on park models quality though, but then I’m a Kiwi not a Yank. So what’s good in the States may not be here.

      Just remember, no one is forcing anybody to buy from the manufacturers. Find someone who is prepared to build what you want, to your specs, with fittings that you want. Then find out how much it is going to cost you. I recall when I first started watching tinyhousetalk it seemed like 7 out of 10 tiny homes were self built, a lot often of dubious construction quality, and often, to me anyway, of very awful layout and tacky as to look at. You may, or may not, agree with me and that’s fine because everybody is different and that is what makes the world go around. It’d be a pretty boring place if everybody liked the same… gosh, it’d be a world full of Stepford wives wouldn’t it?

  • September 15, 2017, 7:12 am

    The metallic effect of the kitchen units are somewhat pleasing, and recall to the dark gray sofa reflected, but if the floor was red mahogany, the atmosphere would to more lively and of character.

  • Michael L
    September 15, 2017, 10:08 am

    I really like the idea of a wider THOW that would be my “base” home. Then a smaller unit, say 16-18 feet, with the standard road limits, that I could use to travel with. I still like the idea of a THOW for traveling vs a travel trailer. That way, I’d have something nice and solid, custom designed for my needs, and furnish with some of my own treasures (aka my junk)!

  • Van
    September 15, 2017, 2:32 pm

    Phatkat, wait until James D explains the why this is a great deal at $87,000 compared to your acreage with the 14×36 unfinished cabin at half the price.
    I always liked this particular design, its practical but doesn’t change the fact that it’s a kitchen with a bed hidden under it and a living area. Basically an efficiency or studio apartment, whichever label you want to put on it.
    Regardless, the idea behind it is pretty good. I like the width of it and must agree with one of the posters who said that as a primary residence, it is very feasible to get the wide load permit for its transportation on the few occasion when it need to be moved. The width allows for a more spacious living space. Also the the level living is nice for those who don’t want to or simply can’t be bothered by climbing up and down ladders or narrow stairs just to get down on bad old knees to crawl around upstairs.
    So kudos for the design, not so much for the price.
    While we should consider of the expenses of any professional builders they have to meet, and their profits etc, I think that tiny homes should be built by the people who will occupying it. Yeah I know, the arguments for building codes and quality of build and all the other arguments one can come up with to justify these prices. My answer to that is, the people instead of complaining about those things should exercise due diligence and research those codes and build accordingly. Learning the skills to build an stick built home is not that difficult to learn and people can come together to pool knowledge and experience to do a professional job and cut out the “professional” builders. Until that happens, the basically sound idea of tiny house living will be nothing more in the long run, than a way for the well to do to show off their acquisition of the latest fad. I maintain that for this to be a lasting movement in the right direction, commercialism should be removed from the equation..
    I’d rather pay a reasonable fee for the plan and do. Y research and build my own house than get into debt which is exactly I would want to avoid by going small and simple.
    I would be the first to say that the designer should be payed for his plans S/He drew up, but beyond that it’s not above most people’s skills.
    My thought ps on this is, that people can pool their skills and abilities together and build homes as they were built in the old days. It takes only one skilled person to teach others and supervise the construction, one may be good at doing the necessary research on local state and national codes, do the legwork on going to the city or county agencies who deals with codes, perhaps an other is good at acquiring building material, repurposed or new, then each using their own funds and drawing on each other skills can build 2-3 homes at the same time, depending how many people pools resources together. This would also help with increasing the purchasing power since larger quantities would be needed there by reducing material cost.
    Yes, it would take some good logistical planning and people who are actually serious and ready to build their homes.
    Other possibility is to hire one person to train and supervise the building process for a reasonable hourly wage as a consultant and hands on help.
    Sort of a paladin of construction…..have tools will travel type of person who prefer to be nomadic and earn as they go and relocate based on the jobs. Good way to get around the country and have a chance to travel and work at the same time.
    Just a thought…..

    • James D.
      September 15, 2017, 9:02 pm

      On this post you have some good examples of how people can choose to do things…

      There are actually some who are doing this already… Like in Australia, there’s a community opening up that will also have the facilities for people to build their own house and they can choose to either rent a spot on the property or take their house elsewhere when it’s done…

      Another example is a builder from California, basically built himself a mobile Tiny House workshop and thus can go anywhere in the country and build a Tiny House for someone…

      There are people who also volunteer to help with Tiny House builds… Sometimes to help learn how to do it themselves and others simply because they feel the need to help… Along with workshops that allow people to bring whoever they want to help them build their house.

      There’s also schools who use building a Tiny House as a tool for teaching and these houses end up being given to those in need… Among other examples…

      It would be nice if this was more prevalent, as obviously not everyone is even aware of these options, but those are good examples of how people can be able to do this even with otherwise very limited resources and budget…

      Though, there also needs to be more infrastructure to support these endeavors… Things like resources so people can become aware of these options being one example… Being able to have the ability to make group buys of materials in an organized and efficient manner is another as the logistics can be a road block if not properly done… Being able to have resources distributed to where it is needed is another example…

      But it is certainly doable if enough people get involved…

    • Phatkhat
      September 16, 2017, 1:17 am

      Totally agree. We opted for the pre-built cabin because hubby drives a truck and doesn’t have time to build from scratch. I do all the electric and plumbing and a lot of finish work, but he’s the framer.

      We have no codes in the county outside of town, and the state only really regulates sanitation and water. There is no opposition to using a shed as a house, and THs are fine except in town, where the zoning people don’t like them.

      You are right – building a house isn’t rocket science. And commercialism is not good for the movement as sustainable housing. I don’t mind tradespeople making a profit, but these glossy, slick houses don’t really have much soul.

      IMHO.

      • Bill Burgess
        September 30, 2017, 3:13 pm

        You, obviously do not live on the Left Coast west of the Cascade/Sierra Mountains. And although I agree with a lot of what you say I still think materials and labor costs for this unit are in line with what is offered. Having been a full-time RV’er for eight years I picked up on a lot of Ideas and observed a lot of lifestyles from FloriDUH to Alaska and almost everywhere in between. As desirable as the west coast is for lifestyles, it costs a TON of money to live here…I can live in Arizona for about 1/3 of what Pacific NW costs are. Of course, age has more to do with how comfortable you can be and physical ability can limit what can be expected for the DIY. And in southern Arizona, you will have HEAT….LOTS of HEAT for nine months…Designing for THAT has issues as well. For many years San Diego was considered the premier place to live because it never got too cold or too hot…(That was back when I had hair)….Now you had better have a Trunk Full Of MONEY to even consider living there.

        • Eric
          February 3, 2018, 5:07 pm

          FloriDUH …. ha ha, love it. 2 opposable thumbs up! Made my month and its only day 4.

  • Van
    September 15, 2017, 2:55 pm

    Sorry Phatkat, I was late, James D already explaining why these prices are so great. I don’t really care what anyone says about the costs of the different regions of the country, all that is well and true. My problem is, that there are people who are willingly pay these prices rather than say that enough is enough of this greed driven way of life. Yes, a level of greed is healthy in any society, it drives innovation, but there’s a limit on how much people can and will take.
    So whilst James D can come up with all the arguments and reasons why getting screwed is a good thing for us, he has absolute right to voice his opinion, to us mere mortals this is still nothing more than a blatant hijacking of an idea by commercial entities driven by nothing more than profits. Bottom line, many builder got on the bandwagon because they’ve seen an opportunity to make profits, perfectly reasonable, not because they really care that much about the environment or the economy of the middle class. I’m sure there are exceptions but I always question the motives behind every commercial enterprise, most of all nonprofit. Not that this is that.
    So again, the basic premise of Tiny Homes were good, when it was at is infancy, now, not so much.
    However, having said all that, I do appreciate the creativeness of individuals who come up with great designs and cleaver ideas on how to maximise space. Not all of us have the gift of creativity. That worth something and they, as well as anyone contributing anything positive to the world, deserve to be compensated well, and reasonably.

    • James D.
      September 15, 2017, 6:45 pm

      Van, incorrect, I did not state these prices were great but just that it’s a reality check that prices can go very high depending on multiple factors…

      Things like insisting on environmentally friendly materials that don’t off-gas is a choice that adds costs… There are just other ways to deal with the effect of chemicals in a house, such as vapor/air barriers and proper ventilation systems but means accepting that those chemicals are in the house.

      But there are always trade offs to consider and you’re doing yourself no good if you refuse to understand those trade offs and just assume everything is directly comparable and that the differences don’t matter…

      Like getting a house cheaper because it has less insulation may seem like a deal but if you’re living in a place where it can get very cold and/or very hot then you’re going to end up spending a lot more than the insulation would have cost on heating and cooling the house.

      Many costs don’t exist in a vacuum where only the immediate concerns are the only things you should consider…

      There’s also the reality check that we’re usually discussing custom made products. The point being, they’re custom made!

      When you can choose how something gets made in literally every aspect then how someone else had theirs done doesn’t matter anymore, except perhaps to give someone else ideas or just to see what other people may prefer.

      Rather than act like what you see is the end all and be all of the product, which simply ignores the whole point of having something custom made, you should try to use your imagination to see how the space can be made to suit your needs and preferences.

      So no, the concept of Tiny Homes never really changed… You’re understanding of it was just flawed by assumptions that did not appreciate what it was actually offering.

      It has always been at its core about freedom to live your life as you see fit under your own terms and the fact is people are diverse and how they choose to live will cover a massively wide range of diversity.

      So you’re just missing the point if you insist on a myopic point of view… Along with your obvious bias towards builders and commerce in general, as you also refuse to see the benefits that can only happen when businesses get involved and bring access to resources that we would not have access to otherwise.

      Like the simple fact not everyone can built their own house… If builders hadn’t gotten involved then many people would never have even had the option to choose to live in a Tiny House…

      Along with things like the manufacturing of products specifically for the construction and lifestyles of a Tiny House, instead of having to improvise things that were originally meant for other uses or doing it the truly expensive way by making things from scratch.

      So I suggest you reflect on exactly the source of your animosity and why you find it so hard to understand the benefits of even choices that you don’t want provide to the market as a whole or how you keep missing that you are always free to do it however you want for your own solution…

  • Van
    September 15, 2017, 3:10 pm

    My bad, I did say in my first post that ” bed under the Kitchen” it’s incorrect. Bed is under the office area.
    For those that prefer that office area can be turned into a decent bedroom with some overhead cabinets for clothing, if the bed is against one of the walls, you can even squeeze a narrow hanging locker on there.
    Still, I like this design good as is and lends itself to be improvement though not much of that is needed.

  • Renee
    September 17, 2017, 4:25 pm

    I live in Colorado, and one has to consider local pricing. My 3 br 2 bath house in 1/2 acre… drive time an hour to work, was a deal at $325,000. Just bought lot next door for $35,000 and plan to put a TH for family and guests, and they are legal in my county. However, with well and septic at a minimum of $30,000 ( friend price ) I will still have about $150,000 in a tiny. Cabins are about $200 a square foot, built on site, si lots to consider $$ wise…; )

    • James D.
      September 17, 2017, 10:00 pm

      Yeah, well and septic can add a lot to the costs… Price varies like property values, but also because things like wells are not always an option everywhere and can be a gamble as to whether your property can successfully have one or whether the water table puts it outside your property lines or it’s just not drinkable…

      Some places the water level is so high they can have springs and pretty much don’t need to drill wells, but others may have to go down over 700 feet and may find nothing the first, second, or third try…

      While whatever is in the ground can effect the water and thus it’s not always drinkable…

      Septic are also a pain because they have to be properly sized for your needs and you have to be sure your future needs don’t go past that capacity as otherwise it will cost a lot to change it later or install a second septic that’ll take up more of your property space that you’d have to be careful of never digging into… Never mind long term costs of needing to have them pumped every few years and if they ever fail then you got a real mess that will likely pollute your well…

      So gives some idea why so many people seriously consider options like composting toilets and rain catchment…

      Companies like Incredible Tiny Homes are even introducing a water recycling system that will turn your gray water back into potable water and you can consist on the same tank of water for about a year before needing to change it out… They apparently based it on a system that has been used on the International Space Station for years…

      Going off-grid is in such high demand they also are going to introduce their own solar power system that they’re claiming will be cheaper than the competition but can still run the mini-split off of it… They’re due for a demonstration about next week end or so…

      But yeah, lots of places the costs are either high or can add up real quick…

      Going tiny can help but only so much… Options like Timber Framing still will cost more than Stick framing, cabins will still have more maintenance costs even though they are cheaper to build, etc.

      So definitely lots to consider money wise, unfortunately in far more ways than most people know or necessarily bother to…

  • Shelley
    September 18, 2017, 8:11 pm

    This is really appealing to the senses. Open and airy, lots of light, lots of modern conveniences.
    I only have one thing I don’t like. The bed is too low to the floor. You limit the usability of the home to just young people limber enough to get off the bed. Older people need higher beds. Do you have other options? Could the space above where the bed is stored be modified to accommodate a higher bed? You might want to consider older people as customers because when they retire, downsizing is what they usually do to save money. Also they don’t want to walk around a big home because it gets too hard. They would be a huge percentage of your customers. I know, I’m old, and I really like your design otherwise.

  • September 22, 2017, 8:13 pm

    Too shiny and modern. Not my style.

  • September 22, 2017, 8:23 pm

    I just have to add – this place does not have a warmth or homey feeling to it. Sorry, that’s my opinion.

  • Gabriella
    September 29, 2017, 6:03 pm

    “A green praire ful beautifull flowers,
    A rivulet that the grass around baths,
    A little birds that for love he complains,
    Appease much better our ardours. ..”
    By Lorenzo de Medici (il Magnifico)

  • Mary
    September 30, 2017, 12:29 am

    Too modern and a lot of wasted space.

  • Mary
    September 30, 2017, 12:35 am

    Builders are killing the tiny house market, just like they did with the housing market. Gone are the days you built your own.

  • Kay
    February 7, 2018, 1:59 am

    I have always loved the Minum…
    I especially love the way the table is so versatile… I would choose a couch which is a bit more upright, so it does better when the table is in a dinning position… I think that the bed under the office is such a great use of space… And when I think about how I make my bed (flipping the duvet cover flat), this would be a breeze to then just push the bed away under the office again.

    In the original model of the Minum, they had a media screen, rather than a TV, I didn’t see this in this model (but I might have missed it)

    This is a strong contender for my tiny house

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