Stephen Marshall of Little House on the Trailer designs and builds tiny houses on wheels from his base in Petaluma, California. Starting at age 21, Marshall has created small structures for a variety of uses, demonstrating the versatility of tiny house construction.
Stephen Marshall Tiny Houses
Builder Details
- Builder: Stephen Marshall
- Company: Little House on the Trailer
- Location: Petaluma, California
- Specialty: Tiny houses on wheels
- Size Philosophy: Favors around 400 square feet as practical for most people
Uses for Little House on the Trailer Builds
- Backyard Office: Dedicated workspace separate from main home
- Art Gallery: Display and studio space for artists
- Guest House: Accommodations for visitors
- Detached Bedroom: Additional sleeping quarters
- Caregiver Suite: Housing for in-home care providers
- Rural Off-Grid House: Primary residence in remote locations
Video: Little House on the Trailer Tour
Video courtesy of Fair Companies
Lessons from Professional Tiny House Building
- Tiny Houses Serve Many Purposes: The same basic structure works as office, guest house, studio, or primary home
- Size Preferences Vary: While some embrace ultra-small living, 400 square feet suits most people better than 100
- Early Start Builds Expertise: Beginning young allows builders to develop deep knowledge over time
- Wheels Add Flexibility: Trailer-based construction simplifies permitting and allows relocation
- Regional Builders Serve Local Needs: California-based builders understand West Coast regulations and climate
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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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I like what Marshall says–but wonder if anyone knows of a link or other source to support the statement that building tiny houses cuts down on development. That would be a great bit of info to bring to a city council meeting when lobbying for code changes to accomodate Tiny Houses/Granny Apartments in backyards, but to be useful, it needs a bit of documentation.
I also wish he had a minute to go into what happens when your go from 120 sq. ft. to 400 sq. ft.–how is that extra space used?
But overall, great and a nice perspective to add on the Tiny House discussion/movement–thanks to whoever made this video.
(One thought for future: is it possible to even out the sound a bit? The uneven sound–loud bagpipes and not so loud talking = bad mix.)
I like what Marshall says–but wonder if anyone knows of a link or other source to support the statement that building tiny houses cuts down on development. That would be a great bit of info to bring to a city council meeting when lobbying for code changes to accomodate Tiny Houses/Granny Apartments in backyards, but to be useful, it needs a bit of documentation.
I also wish he had a minute to go into what happens when your go from 120 sq. ft. to 400 sq. ft.–how is that extra space used?
But overall, great and a nice perspective to add on the Tiny House discussion/movement–thanks to whoever made this video.
(One thought for future: is it possible to even out the sound a bit? The uneven sound–loud bagpipes and not so loud talking = bad mix.)
I would like to know if I could come by this coming Thursday August 25th to see your tiny homes.
Please let me know if this is possible.
I would be coming up from the bay area.
Thank you,
Linda Wright
We’re in Petaluma for one day today – we’re from Florida – and plan to stop by. Hope we’ll be able to talk with you and see the tiny houses.
Please give us a call when you get this so we’ll know the best time for you to get together with us. We’re heading up from San Francisco soon; sometime between 11 and 2 pm would be best.
303-589-7107
Hi Kari/Kalen — They were giving tours 6 years ago, so I’m not sure that they still do! — Tiny House Talk Team