≡ Menu

Amazing 100 Sq. Ft. Tiny House on Wheels Built by Architecture Grads


This post contains affiliate links.

I wanted to show you this tiny house on a trailer that’s in West Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

I’ve been exchanging emails with the owners of the home and was up for sale for an asking price of $20,000 CAD.

Tiny House on a Trailer for Sale in Canada

The little home was built by two architecture graduates, Lauren Aarntzen and John McFarlane.

The trailer has a 5000 lb capacity and the house can actually be detached and installed onto a regular foundation if one wanted to.

There are lots of things that I like about this tiny house and the first thing I’m going to point out to you is the front porch.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

Photos Courtesy of Lauren Aarntzen and John McFarlane

I know you may have thought about downsizing before, but have you ever considered going this small?

At less than 100 square feet, this house offers a queen-size bed in the loft, a bathroom, 7′ desk, and a kitchen with a double sink, stove, fridge and oven.

Plus there’s a sofa and plenty of shelving and storage. You’ll get to see all of that in the photos below so don’t miss that along with all of the other details of the house below.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

As you can see in the photo above the house is attached to a trailer and is completely mobile. In most cases this would be considered a custom built recreational vehicle.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

The white walls and windows make up the bright interior while the wood counters, flooring and ceilings give you a natural feel.

The house is highly insulated and weather tight so that you can use it throughout all four seasons.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

Did you notice the window on the ceiling in the photo above? Recycled or reclaimed materials were used for the windows, flooring and insulation.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

I like the kitchen’s classic styling and the relatively large windows throughout add a nice touch and help make the home feel spacious.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

The kitchen appliances are small which is really convenient in such a small space. If you want to browse through available compact appliances you can order, click here.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

The house is ready to be hooked up to water, sewer, propane and electricity.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

In the photo below you can actually see the storage cabinets in the kitchen.

Tiny House on a Trailer less than 100 SF

If you were wondering what that was to the right, here it is below.

Tiny house less than 100 SF

There’s a sit down area with the pillows, the ladder storage to get into the sleeping loft, and the entrance to the tiny bathroom.

Finally, let’s head upstairs to the sleeping loft for a nap.

Sleeping Loft in a Tiny House less than 100 SF

I love the wood accents in the sleeping loft, the large skylight and the fact that it fits a queen sized bed comfortably.

Plans for this Tiny House

First of all let me go over the dimensions with you below.

Dimensions
Exterior 12′ x 8′
Square Feet 96
Interior 11′ 4″ x 7′ 4″
Kitchen 4′ 7″ x 5′ 3″
Bathroom 4′ 7″ x 2′
Deck 3′ x 8′
Road height 13′ 5″
Loft height 4′
Ceiling height 6′ 8″
Ceiling at peak 10′ 10″

Floor Plan

Tiny House Floor Plan Tiny House Sleeping Loft Floor Plan Second Level

What did you like about this tiny house? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

For more information on this tiny house visit Smaller Housing. If you’re interested in purchasing this house contact the owners here.

This post contains affiliate links.

The following two tabs change content below.

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!
{ 60 comments… add one }
  • sesameB
    November 7, 2011, 2:37 pm

    Excellent. Just Excellent.
    Barefooin’ in rural sunny Arkansas, living small, less is more and small is beautiful

  • William J Zaspel
    November 7, 2011, 2:48 pm

    Very nice design that includes simplicity with wonderful use of light in both daylight as well as color. Good work!

  • November 7, 2011, 2:52 pm

    Rock on sesameB!

    Thank you William, appreciate your comment!

  • Holly
    November 7, 2011, 3:07 pm

    I love the light and airiness of it, but my concerns, as someone who might actually want to live full-time in a little house are: 1) What about HVAC — heat, ac, fans? 2) storage seems skimpy — I’m not sure the kitchen has enough room for dishes, cooking utensils, and even basic pantry goods. 3) the ladder — for those of us who aren’t too good with ladders this is the main drawback of most tiny houses. I’d like to see a tiny house that incorporates a useable, if narrow staircase which included shelves, drawers, and a closet (where the bench is in this one.) 4) is that loft window big enough to get out of? Always good to have a way to get out of upstairs. Again, I love the look of it, but would design mine differently! 🙂

    • mtnme
      November 8, 2011, 12:07 pm

      I agree Holly. They did what architects do best, which is to give the space a sense of light and airiness and interesting architectural details. I love the unique shelving system (very cool!), their choice of woods and finishing materials really gives the place an upscale urban look-and of course, those big windows.

      I’m curious about the deck area. Is that just cantilevered out from the trailer frame? If so, this is a BIG design detail I want to know more about! (Like how to do it, LOL!)

      Unfortunately, it is also a lesson in why God created kitchen designers: The space doesn’t work well on a practical standpoint if you actually want to cook or prep a meal. The hood is too high up to work properly(24″-30″ off of cooktop for that type. 36″ max on a few models) The double bowl sink takes up a lot of useable countertop for which a large single bowl would have worked better. Shoving the range into the end makes using what counterspace there is in the corner near impossible to access without shoving your hips into the oven door handle. In the bathroom, a wall hung toilet (though expensive) would have given some better egress. I agree with Holly here too. Definitely need more storage if you want to live in the space full time. Unless one plans to just eat out. Hey, just sayin’… 😉

      • November 8, 2011, 4:26 pm

        Great points you bring up mtnme. Thank you!

      • Mary
        February 6, 2014, 6:03 pm

        I agree on all but one point. The way I cook, I need a double sink. I’ve had singles before. Hated it. And I don’t want a dishwasher. However, there are options for doubles with the second sink smaller. Or, sinks with covers, so you can reclaim that counter space when you need it.

        For me, the goal of a tiny house should be the marriage of best use of space and best aesthetics. My design challenge is currently creating a livable design with enough book storage for our ever-growing library. This blog gives me so many ideas.

    • Lisa E.
      October 24, 2014, 1:43 pm

      A while ago, Alex had a story about a young man in Japan who was living with his mother and built a TH on top of a one car parking space. In that article, it talked about a staircase this young man designed. Basically, he took a square column (of air), walled it in and then put a staircase inside this wood column. He used triangles to make the stair treads. It worked. And I remembered it because it worked. I am going to use a modified version of this idea in my own THOW since ladders and climbing are out for me and mine. But, the THM should revisit this article and see if his wood column staircase is something that could be incorporated in another, new THOW design for people who must have a staircase.

  • November 7, 2011, 3:15 pm

    So glad you expressed your input Holly. Those are some great points. On their site they mention about the air circulation. There are ducts, etc. I just didn’t write anything on it.

  • Claudia
    November 7, 2011, 3:27 pm

    Wow, what a beautiful interior — love all the light flooding in, it makes everything feel spacious and airy. Great touches of colour, plus the wood accents are amazing.

    Of all the tiny houses I’ve seen so far, this is my favourite interior. Just gorgeous.

  • terminalcitygirl
    November 7, 2011, 3:31 pm

    I love the big windows but it doesn’t appear that they open. I like the use of white and wood, the space certainly feels larger than other tiny houses which have larger square footage. The roof overhangs seem too small to me, I worry about water damage, especially in a place like raincouver. And no storage for clothes, coats, boots?

  • November 7, 2011, 3:42 pm

    Thank you for your comments Claudia I’m really glad you came by and were able to see it. I think it’s one of my favorite interiors too.

  • November 7, 2011, 3:45 pm

    Great points that you brought up Termincalcitygirl.. Yeah, looks like some windows open and others don’t. Not sure. Roof overhang does look small, they probably did that to take most advantage of interior space as possible while keeping the exterior dimensions up to code with road regulations that way it’s legal tow it on public roads without requiring a special driving license, etc.

  • yolanda lopez
    November 7, 2011, 3:48 pm

    I love it! I would buy it if it were closer to home. I live in San Diego, CA. Unless they plan to deliver there is not way I could go up and get it. They did a great job. If they deliver, give them my email and let’s begin the process. Thanks for posting

    • November 23, 2011, 4:43 pm

      Hey Yolanda, thanks, glad you like it! Sorry I missed your comment originally, not sure how.. But anyway, if it’s not too late, I’ll get you in contact with them.

  • William DeRuyter
    November 7, 2011, 3:54 pm

    The Design is Great . The front Stairs again Great Design. These students should sell plans for this design also. Thanks

  • November 7, 2011, 4:11 pm

    WOW — THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE TINY HOUSE.
    I looked at their site and every single picture that is posted. I just sent him an email saying that I think he will have a HUGE future in the tiny house movement. All he needs to do is pull that little beauty to Seattle and start taking deposits and orders. While I normally dislike anything that looks modern I have to say I am now a convert for the first time in my life. This little home is AMAZING. The white walls make it look larger. Well thought out layout and design, even the ladder, the adjustable shelves, storage nooks and a slide-out step, just outside the bathroom is awesome. The loft space is spacious also. The window placements create a spacious feeling as well. When looking at individual shots you would never guess that house is SO tiny. The mini pink refrig is my favorite (non built item in the little home. This house has it going on. LOVE IT. I bet that little house will soon be on TV. I don’t do space book (oh, i mean face book) and all that other stuff but I bet this house will be all over the world within the hour.

    Fantastic job. Thanks for this wonderful post Alex.

    Blessings,
    Tonita

  • November 7, 2011, 4:19 pm

    I agree William, plans would be great.

  • November 7, 2011, 4:23 pm

    Glad you got to come by here and see it Tonita. Thanks so much for leaving your thoughts. I totally feel ya… This house is beautiful. I’d love to live in it and seems very well done.

  • Marsha Cowan
    November 7, 2011, 5:38 pm

    Beautiful! Wise use of space and the combination of white walls and wood accents makes for a pretty abode. I was impressed by the bathroom most of all. I liked the shower. How did they do it? Is it one piece or put together with caulking?

    Thanks!
    Marsha

    • November 8, 2011, 6:41 am

      I’m pretty sure the shower is separate then the rest of the room. They did a great job. It’s really small but works as a great little wet bath. Glad you came by again Marsha!

  • Lori
    November 7, 2011, 5:44 pm

    I think it’s a great design. On their website, they say it is a prototype, so I’m sure that if any changes are needed in the design they will be made in the future. I love the porch too, Alex.

    • November 8, 2011, 6:43 am

      Glad that you brought that up Lori. It would be very exciting to see them do this a second time with any updated design ideas. I think one thing they might have missed is making it easy to turn off the lights downstairs after you climb up into the loft by adding electricity control switches up there. Then again, they may have already done it… Not sure.

  • crystal
    November 7, 2011, 6:33 pm

    I was really inspired by the use of windows, though- I like my privacy, so I’d want to find a way to address that issue in a low profile way, and I didn’t see any way to open the kitchen window, or a few others…
    My other concern is the ladder. I just cant physically handle the climb up or down. My husband and I discussed this floor plan and wondered…..can sliders be built into this type of home? You see them in nearly all campers being built today. Is there a way to incorporate them into a custom tiny home…and if so, have you seen any examples? and last of all….I didn’t see any vertical storage, was there something I missed? Thanks for all your hard work in bringing us so many wonderful and inspiring examples!!!

  • November 7, 2011, 8:19 pm

    Very cool. The outside isn’t so hot- kinda a “seen it 100 times” look- but the inside is VERY nice- I do like the open-feel, the abundance of natural light, and the natural wood- very roomy looking- even though most of it is probably from a wide angle lens- but still, a really nice place- job well done.

    • November 8, 2011, 6:59 am

      I agree… Outside is sort of bland but the interior makes up for it. And yeah, nice use of wide angle lens! I could use one of those cameras. 😀

  • Sarah
    November 7, 2011, 8:39 pm

    What a gorgeous tiny home. Here’s my shout out to anyone and everyone: I’m looking to buy a tiny home on wheels for my husband and I in the next few months, but I only have about $12-$13,000 to get one. ::sigh:: I’m hoping serendipity will shine upon me and one will pop up… but, if anyone is building one and is looking to sell (preferably on the West coast [CA, AZ, WA, TX, NV]), please let me know. 🙂 I have terrible spatial skills and no place to build one for myself. Until then, I will continue crossing my fingers and checking back on this website. <3

    • November 8, 2011, 7:01 am

      So glad you came by and commented Sarah. I’m wishing you the best in finding the right tiny house for you and your husband. If there’s any other way I can help you just let me know!

  • November 7, 2011, 10:40 pm

    Wow, I love it. So clean and modern but warm feeling. Great find. This is so inspiring. Thanks Alex!

    • November 8, 2011, 7:02 am

      Thank you for checking it out Victor, glad you did!

  • November 8, 2011, 9:29 am

    Nice little house. I like how they maximized the width by minimizing the eves. Although I have a concern about the drainage plane. With the minimal overhang, the runoff from the roof will flow down the siding. This from my experience has issues with moisture and water penetrating walls, windows, and getting behind trim boards.

    • November 8, 2011, 11:38 am

      Glad you mentioned this Jim I think it’s a great point, although I also like how they maximized interior space. Any ideas on how they could fix it or have done it differently while maintaining the interior width?

    • November 8, 2011, 5:57 pm

      Hey Jim.. What if you installed rain gutters on it after you park it? And remove them if necessary for travel. Do you think that would prevent issues?

      • November 9, 2011, 9:59 am

        Hey Alex…Gutters are a possibility in southern climates, and with steel roofs in northern climates the snow and ice would slide down and tear off the gutters. It would be nice to have 3″ minimum for steel roof deck to overhang the side walls. Or make doubly darn sure that the other drainage planes will keep water from leaking in. If there are any types of exhaust fans in the tiny house, then the only good solution is maintain an overhang. With an exhaust fan, water can be sucked uphill through any tiny opening in the walls and windows, as the fan blowing air out will create a negative pressure in the house. And that negative pressure will suck air in through any crack in the house.

        • November 9, 2011, 10:31 am

          Got you. I understand now. Thanks!

  • Mark
    November 8, 2011, 2:07 pm

    What a well thought out design. Perfect for a little hide-away. I wouldn’t want to live in it full time. Actually, with my arthritis issues I wouldn’t want to live in it at all. But, it is a really practical and compact design. I’m just afraid that after one trip up to bed on that vertical ladder I’d have to be scraped up off of that floor.

    • November 8, 2011, 3:52 pm

      I’ve climbed up into one of those lofts before so I know what you mean. Those ladders really aren’t for everybody. Thank you, Mark!

  • November 9, 2011, 11:41 am

    I like the layout with the open area over the kitchen instead of the living room. Good use of natural lighting with the roof skylight. I also noticed a vent cover on the wall next to the toilet in the bathroom, Is this for an exhaust fan? Neat Idea with the shelving in the kitchen area with slots to adjust.There is also additional space for storage benches in the loft on either side of the bed. Use of LED (Puck)lights on the ceiling in the living area could also go well in the sleeping area loft. Smart choice using low energy lighting. The tile in the kitchen and backspash was also nice.

    • November 9, 2011, 12:12 pm

      Hey Norbert. I liked the adjustable shelving in the kitchen too, that was a cool idea. The LED lighting is great, too. Thanks for commenting!

  • BigWarpGuy
    November 9, 2011, 9:53 pm

    I think it is an ideal place for a single person or as a guest house.

    • November 9, 2011, 10:04 pm

      Would be an awesome little guest house. I’d live in it if single.

  • sesameB
    November 14, 2011, 5:35 pm

    PS: The USA has more single adults than any other nation in the world except for china and India. There are more single head of household than there are married households with children. America has gone from being “Married with Children to Home alone” — Bella DePaulo is author of Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After. She is a visiting professor at UC Santa Barbara.

    • November 15, 2011, 2:43 pm

      Interesting stuff and so glad you shared! America has gone from being “Married with Children to Home alone”. Wasn’t aware of Bella’s work before, thanks!

  • Eddy Vergara
    November 20, 2011, 2:25 am

    Less is More…!! i like your designs…….

    • November 23, 2011, 4:35 pm

      Eddy, thank you! Glad you liked the house.

  • yvonne
    November 23, 2011, 3:47 pm

    Any idea where it is legal to situate a live in trailer like this? Does it have to be in a trailer park, or could it be on a small lot in a city? I just don’t know much about building codes, but find the idea intriguing.

    • November 23, 2011, 4:33 pm

      Hey Yvonne it really depends on the area. Typically you can park one wherever an RV is allowed. There are gray areas sometimes too which some people are comfortable with and others aren’t. Otherwise your options are RV parks and rural areas. I talk a little more about the legal “loopholes” in my ebook which is free. You can get it below, maybe it will help you get started.

      http://tiny-house-plans.com

  • Mr Planet
    February 6, 2012, 12:00 am

    Is that drywall? Air ducts lol? Open a window, it’s right beside you. Too much LEED on the brain methinks. Loved the skylight and nifty kitchen shelf.

  • April 29, 2013, 7:32 pm

    Wow, I’d forgotten the excellent level of feedback here! When built this several years ago we had no idea it would be so well received, even with our non-professional photographs (wide angle lens – I wish!). Thank you all for the great feedback.

    I’m happy to report that this prototype house has been sold to a wonderful buyer who has been happily living in it full time. We learned a lot from designing and building it and from the owners experience about what to do again, what to change, as well as what not to do.

    We’ve recently decided to revisit the project, and have created a company and a redesigned version which is ready to order – you can take a look here: http://www.camerabuildings.com – don’t be dissuaded if you don’t see exactly the design you have in mind though – we’re still trying things out on the web and are looking for beta customers to work with more closely to develop a series of new options. Let me know if you’re interested! ( [email protected])

    Among the many good design points, just a few comments:

    Eves: moisture is a big issue in tiny houses due to the compact volume, and I’m happy to say that the rainscreen and air barrier wall assembly with rigid insulation we designed has been problem free and energy efficient so far. In heavy rainfall areas (such as Vancouver – the buyer moved the house to a drier region of the province) or specific sites where less drying will take place, adding gutters in place can be a good idea (yes, taking into account potential snow and ice problems). The building maximizes its width without requiring a highway permit, which is why these are not included outright.

    Beds and Ladders: the ladder worked well in that it’s prevented from sliding to either side and it’s easier to move from climbing the ladder to sitting to the side onto the loft than it is climbing up onto the loft straight on. Any climbing at all is a concern for many people, however, and we’re designing a larger version that can include main-level sleeping.

    Kitchen, Bathroom and Storage: Yes, storage is important, especially for full-time inhabitants, and should be balanced in this size of space with the areas left open. Similarly, given the tight design it’s much easier to work directly with a client to and to create the spaces around their lifestyle and habits, especially for the kitchen and bathroom.

    Insurance and Siting: No one mentioned here, but the regulatory status of the house becomes important when considering where to put it and how to insure it. After much research and work with the regulatory inspecting company, we’re happy to be able to offer two options in this regard: the first is (as most tiny houses online are) not to have it certified, in which case the trailer and building can be insured separately, and the building itself will be treated similarly to a homemade camper. This is fairly easy to site in recreational and rural areas and is generally similar to using a camper on the property. Because the building portion is not certified to a code, however, it may be difficult or more expensive to insure.

    It’s great to be able to offer the second option: a fully certifiable tiny house. It’s taken significant preparation, but we’re glad to be able to offer tiny houses certified as park model trailers, for either in the United States or Canada. Using this recognized construction standard, lenders are able to finance them and insurers are able to insure them, all in a pre-existing category. There are increased costs associated with material sourcing and construction inspections, but if you’re looking for clear insurance or financing or verifiable construction standards, this is the option for you.

    It’s also possible to deliver a building without the trailer (lowering both the price and finished floor height), but this may require local planning permission depending on your situation – contact us if this would suit you.

    Pricing: we were happy with the outcome of this prototype, but please note that our pricing to reproduce this or a similar design is starting around $25,000 to account for the market rate for labor – studios or other less complicated designs as well as some DIY deductions can lower this further.

    If you’re interested in having us build a house like this one for you or would like to be a beta customer and work with us in our case study tiny house program to create new design options, contact us at [email protected]

  • September 10, 2013, 10:29 am

    Wow! Alex! THIS IS PERFECT! Windows, stove, flooring, sleep loft–the entire build is absolutely perfect.
    Although only SLIGHTLY over-priced BUT, come on people: You can see, each piece is made by a person with their blood, sweat, tears, and sheer dedication I am certain! You are not just paying for ie-square footage and more; you’re paying for a work of art. Besides, to those that think it’s “too expensive” take a look around other websites where there are tiny houses for sale. They’re an embarrassment next to this MASTERPIECE, and there they ask RIDICULOUS prices (for “junk yards” if you ask me!) Last one I saw which was no where even in the proximity of this CLASS & exquisite design/decor was $39,000.00 !?
    Please, do more research before insulting this absolute dream affordable castle of hard-work and love! You can just feel how much the builder cared for this space during creation…
    I am SUPER IMPRESSED!
    Thanks Alex for this superior-interior share ;D

  • Brian
    September 11, 2014, 6:10 pm

    Super cool and great design points inside. Some more thought for the exterior as it is a little bland but obviously the creative hand of a design student is evident inside. Thankyou so much for sharing. Great addition Alex. Cheers from Australia.

    • Brian
      September 11, 2014, 6:29 pm

      After studying the exterior of the TH I believe it could be visually improved by the use of a paint scheme using some light colours with contrast between the siding and trim. Just a thought 😉

  • Karen
    October 24, 2014, 1:35 pm

    Perfect and beautiful for those who want truly small space and don’t mind a tiny, wet bath and a ladder to a loft bed. We all want different things, and that is what makes tiny houses so fun! I HAD to have a bath and a half, downstairs bedroom and a washer/dryer; others consider those items frou frou. But I got them into barely more than 400 square feet . . .

    • Dawn
      October 24, 2014, 11:38 pm

      Karen,

      Do you have any pictures? How in the world did you fit that in 400 square feet?

      Thanks,
      Dawn

  • Karen
    October 24, 2014, 11:57 pm

    Please email me at [email protected]

  • Glem
    October 25, 2014, 7:23 pm

    This house contains some lovely and well thought out features but the bathroom is just too small.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.