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I have been part of the tiny house community since I first saw Jay Shafer on Oprah back in 2008.
We used that inspiration to begin building our tiny house in 2009. As you might imagine, since that time I have seen a lot of other tiny house blogs and become part of the small but growing community of tiny house builders.
There are so many great designs and ideas out there now and many tiny house builders are creating some amazing homes that are smaller than most traditional bedrooms. I thought I might share my favorite tiny houses – in no particular order.
1. Macy Miller’s Tiny House on a Gooseneck Trailer
Photo courtesy of MiniMotives.com
Macy Miller’s tiny house. Macy’s tiny modern house is one I often use as an example of what else you can build on a trailer. Using a goose-neck trailer, Macy designed this surprisingly spacious 192 square foot house with a beautiful kitchen, luxury bathroom, and gorgeous half-loft bed. Since most people are so used to seeing a wood finished tiny home like my own, they are often surprised to see such a modern example of one.
2. Tammy & Logan’s PAD Tiny House
Photo Credit Tammy Strobel / Flickr
Tammy and Logan’s tiny house. One of the reasons I love Tammy and Logan’s tiny house, which was recently moved to California, is because it is the exact same size as my own. It is nice to be validated that two people can actually live in 120 square feet and be happy. Their house, built by Dee Williams, is adorable. I love the loft with the skylight and the French doors. Their house is exceptionally warm and cozy.
3. Laura’s Ontario Tiny House on a Foundation
Photo Credit Tiny House Ontario
Tiny House Ontario. Built by Laura Moreland in Kingston Ontario, this tiny house is a really neat and original design. Laura chose this one and a half story house to stay compliant with local building codes and zoning. This gives the downstairs a very open feel with a small kitchen and seating area. Also, I love the way she makes use of her outdoor living space.
4. The PODom Tiny House
Photo Credit Tiny r(E)volution
Tiny r(E)volution. I have been following Andrew and Crystal Odom’s build since they hammered in their first nail and I love their philosophy and design. They’ve started with a single story tiny house on a trailer with the intention of adding other buildings in what they refer to as their PODom concept, a play on their last name. The PODom will offer space to expand as their daughter gets older. Their house is my go-to example for families living in tiny spaces.
5. Chris & Malissa’s Tiny Tack House
Photo Credit Tiny Tack House
Tiny Tack House. The inviting and homey look of Chris and Malissa’s tiny house in Washington State is another favorite design. Their bathroom is a stand out for me with their tub design. Once again, just like Tammy and Logan and my own tiny life, I love to see a small house function so well for a couple. They live and work out of their tiny space as well.
6. Tall Man Tiny House
Photo Credit Adam Leu
Tall Man’s Tiny House. This house, built by Adam Leu and his brother, is another example of the possibilities of tiny house design. They describe the house as “modern rustic” and the space is positively expansive. A year ago this house was on the market and the website is now disabled, so I do wonder where the Tall Man’s Tiny House is today.
7. The Fortune Cookie House on Wheels
Photo Credit Dreadnaught Darling
Fortune Cookie House. And finally, this little vardo-inspired tiny house is such a neat design this list would have been incomplete without it. The Fortune Cookie looks like the perfect artist retreat and small house combination. I love the round and diamond shaped windows that really play off the vardo styling. The little and functional kitchen looks easy to cook in and maintain. Designed and built by Zyl Vardos.
If you were to pick your single favorite tiny house design, what would that be?
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Laura LaVoie
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My own tiny bungalow. Front door opens outwards to free up floor space. Built on a reinforced travel trailer frame with almost all new material purchased from salvage shops,store demos,craigslist etc. at a total cost of under $5000.
3 years 6 months living happily mortgage free on 5 acres of land. Total expenses under $200 a month.136sqft plus 56 sqft sleeping loft.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOCGd2h1Zxs
video was pieced together before the walls were painted and furniture built,kitchen completed etc.
Always a work in progress and always more to modify or adapt to my desires. getting ready to build a fold down staircase with built in drawers and folding overhead cupboards for the kitchen.
Thanks for the wonderful posts!
Robert
TheTinyBungalow
Some of my favorite tiny houses aren’t even houses in the accepted definition. They are creative, easily lived in, and done very well.
This wasn’t easy to narrow down…had i the money to purchase any one of these i would be hard pressed to make a decision. Each has features i want, none have everything…but they all share several traits, good design, high quality, pricey.
http://tinyhouseswoon.com/glam-tent/#more-3704
http://tinyhouseswoon.com/j-j-caboose/#more-3456
http://tinyhouseswoon.com/craftsman-bungalito/#more-2930
http://tinyhouseswoon.com/port-a-bach-container-house/#more-2899
http://tinyhouseswoon.com/tiny-house-with-studio/#more-2888
http://tinyhouseswoon.com/our-tiny-house/#more-983
My favorite semi-traditional tiny house on wheels…i say ‘semi’ because they built it on a really wide trailer. 10′ wide x 20 ‘ long, you can see the relaxing of the 8.5’ width restrictions quite clearly with the bathroom next to the kitchen.
http://micro-palace.com/index.html
Hey! Thanks for giving The Fortune Cookie some love! Your list is fabulous and I’m honored to have my house on it. Special thanks to Abel for making me such a beautiful house!
My FAV tiny house as Alex or anyone who @ fellows built it and it is PERFECTION in every way possible >….That stone shed in Spain (Faircompanies.com) 2friends built it and it and the view are insane. They thought of storage in every step…and the fireplace/stove make my knees weak..And my #1 must have, is a staircase; not a ladder!!! For my hus-bunny who is 81yrs with 2 new knees.
The Tall Man’s Tiny House still has my vote as the best-planned on-wheels tiny home. I mean just that sliding door on the john that uncovers a tiny pantry just screams that some one really looked hard at exploiting every single inch. Even though one doesn’t typically “live” in an entry way, this one has great storage and makes the rest of the space feel bigger. I like that when needed it also provides space for eating at the counter. (I have pored over the inter shots many times!) And it is contemporary looking unlike so many other simple gabled housed. Love it!
All of them aren’t my taste but out of the seven introduced I’m voting for
the Tall Man’s House mostly for the reasons Kathy named before. But it is also the longest one on wheels.
I would add a murphy bed due I don’t like to sleep in a “coffin type”loft. Doing so the overall height could be reduced which makes towing easier.
Loved this post! They are all great in their unique ways.
1. Tall Mans Tiny Cabin (best in design)
2. Tiny Tack House (best in comfort)
3. Macy Miller (best in sustainability practice)
I think the Tall Man’s Tiny House is absolutely fantastic — it’s a real shame that they’ve taken down their website. The attention to detail as well as all the practical touches make it the most livable and appealing of all the tiny houses I’ve seen so far, and I would’ve loved to have gotten them to build one for me.
That said, the Fortune Cookie also holds a lot of appeal with its curvy, unique look.
Laura,
I normally lean toward that cottage style TH on wheels, but this modern park model is winning me over: http://tinyhousepins.com/spacious-and-modern-park-model-tiny-house-on-a-trailer/
The aesthetics, which I favor greatly in tiny house design, are awesome. Tweaks to the floorplan are minimal. Main floor sleeping! Mama likes! Park model size, still on a trailer, again, mama likes. And we all know if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!
Love the Tall Man’s Tiny House and Tiny Tack House, but two of my favorite not mentioned are Mendy’s Tiny House by Tennessee Tiny Homes, the Surfer Tiny House by Molecule Tiny Homes.
http://www.tennesseetinyhomes.com/site/homes/mendy-s-tiny-house
http://moleculetinyhomes.blogspot.com/#!/2012/04/house-2-surf-shack.html
#6 The Tall Man’s House for sure! It has a lot of detail that I haven’t seen in a lot of other tiny homes. I really like the levels they use to separate the space. It’s very well thought out and designed! Hmmm gives me ideas 😉