Modern Tiny Living Catalina: A Retro Saltbox Tiny House with a First-Floor Master Bedroom

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The Catalina is Modern Tiny Living’s luxury model, and its standout feature is something many tiny house buyers ask for: a private bedroom on the first floor. You walk into the master bedroom instead of climbing a ladder to it, and a king-size loft above adds room for kids or guests. Built in Columbus, Ohio, the 28-foot Catalina has a bold retro saltbox shape with a black steel roof, black siding with cedar accents, and a flip-up bar window that opens the kitchen to the outdoors.

Modern Tiny Living Catalina at twilight: retro trapezoidal saltbox, black steel roof, black LP and cedar accent, warm windows on a trailer
Modern Tiny Living / moderntinyliving.com

A Retro Saltbox with a Flip-Up Bar Window

The Catalina’s trapezoidal saltbox roofline gives it more height on one side for the loft, and a distinctive retro look from the road. Outside, black LP siding pairs with cedar accents and a black steel roof. The flip-up bar window is a fun detail: open it and the kitchen counter becomes an outdoor bar, great for serving drinks on the deck or just letting in a breeze.

Aerial view of Modern Tiny Living Catalina: black steel roof, black LP siding with cedar accent, flip-up bar window, dual-axle trailer
Modern Tiny Living / moderntinyliving.com

A First-Floor Master Bedroom and a King Loft

A main-floor bedroom is a big deal in a tiny house. It means no ladder at bedtime, which matters for older owners, anyone with bad knees, or anyone who just doesn’t want to climb. The Catalina adds a king-size loft above for extra sleeping space, so it sleeps four to six. A large picture window brightens the bedroom.

Modern Tiny Living Catalina interior: living volume toward first-floor master bedroom with loft ladder and king-sized loft above
Modern Tiny Living / moderntinyliving.com

Kitchen and Bathroom

Inside, stained maple plywood walls give the home a warm, modern look, with luxury vinyl plank floors underfoot. The base kitchen has a large sink, open shelving, wood or butcher-block counters, and a wood waterfall bar. The bathroom has a barn-door entry, a flush toilet, and a large shower. Upgrades can add a spa-style bathroom with a standalone tub, plus a gourmet kitchen with an oven, cooktop, and full-size fridge, like the original Catalina build.

Modern Tiny Living Catalina kitchen: stained maple plywood, open shelving, large sink, LVP floor under the saltbox volume
Modern Tiny Living / moderntinyliving.com
Modern Tiny Living Catalina bathroom: barn-door bath path with large shower as printed on the quote-builder base
Modern Tiny Living / moderntinyliving.com

Design Details

  • Builder: Modern Tiny Living, Columbus, Ohio
  • Model: Catalina tiny house on wheels
  • Size: 28′ long, 8’6″ wide, 13’6″ tall; about 300 sq ft
  • Weight: about 18,000 lbs on a custom 28′ trailer (21,000 lb GVWR); a one-ton truck is recommended for towing
  • Sleeps: 4–6 (first-floor master bedroom plus king loft)
  • Exterior: retro trapezoidal saltbox, black steel roof, black LP siding with cedar accents, flip-up bar window
  • Windows: six double-pane, tempered-glass windows
  • Interior: stained maple plywood walls, wood waterfall bar, LVP floors
  • Kitchen: large sink, open shelving, wood or butcher-block counters
  • Bathroom: barn door, flush toilet, large fiberglass shower; standalone tub upgrade available
  • Systems: closed-cell spray foam insulation, 50-amp service, electric wall heater, Rheem electric water heater
  • Price: starts at $139,000

What Makes the Catalina Special

  • A private, ladder-free bedroom on the main floor.
  • A king-size loft for kids or guests.
  • A flip-up bar window that connects the kitchen to the outdoors.
  • A bold retro saltbox shape you won’t confuse with any other tiny house.

See Modern Tiny Living’s most recent Catalina build, the Sangja, and the original Catalina with a full soaking tub.

Learn More

Modern Tiny Living Catalina
Gallery: moderntinyliving.com/catalina.html
Quote builder: moderntinyliving.com/catalina-quote.html · Pricing
Contact: contact@moderntinyliving.com · (614) 259-7042
Instagram: @moderntinyliving
Photos: Modern Tiny Living. Pricing as listed on moderntinyliving.com in October 2026.

Highlights

  • 28-foot luxury tiny house on wheels from Ohio
  • First-floor master bedroom
  • King-size loft; sleeps 4–6
  • Retro saltbox with a flip-up bar window
  • Warm maple plywood interior

Explore More

Would a first-floor bedroom be a must-have in your tiny house?


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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

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Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.

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