The Vashon model by Tiny Innovations was one of the more thoughtfully designed tiny houses on wheels to come out of the Pacific Northwest. Built in Gresham, Oregon, it packed 272 square feet of living space — including an 80-square-foot sleeping loft — onto a 24-foot DOT-approved trailer. What made it stand out wasn’t just its size, but how intelligently it used every inch.
At the heart of the Vashon’s design is a Murphy bed system that doubles as a full dining nook, complete with built-in bench seating and a fold-down table. When you don’t need the bed, you have a proper place to eat, work, or host friends. When it’s time to sleep, the table folds away and the bed drops down into the same footprint. It’s the kind of dual-purpose engineering that separates a well-designed tiny house from one that just happens to be small.
The build quality reflects a professional approach throughout — from closed-cell spray foam insulation and mini-split HVAC to a Nature’s Head composting toilet and pre-wired solar readiness. Let’s take a closer look at what made this model a standout in the tiny house on wheels category.
Modern Craftsman Exterior with Clerestory Windows
Images © Tiny Innovations
The Vashon’s exterior strikes a balance between modern and craftsman that gives it genuine curb appeal. Gray LP lap panel siding provides a clean, contemporary base, while white trim around the windows and roofline adds a traditional finishing touch. The bright blue front door is a smart design choice — it gives the home personality and makes it feel welcoming without adding any construction cost.
What really sets the exterior apart is the row of clerestory windows running along the roofline. These high-mounted windows serve a dual purpose: they flood the interior with natural light from above (especially important in a narrow space where wall windows can only do so much), and they add visual height to the roofline that makes the home look larger than its 24-foot footprint suggests. The dual-axle trailer is DOT-approved with highway-rated braking and lighting, meaning this home was built to travel safely, not just sit in one spot.
Murphy Bed Dining Nook: Two Rooms in One
Images © Tiny Innovations
This is the feature that defined the Vashon. In its daytime configuration, you’re looking at a proper dining nook with built-in bench seating on both sides and a sturdy table in the center. The benches are wide enough to be comfortable and likely offer storage underneath — a common move in well-designed tiny houses. Open shelving above holds books, plants, and everyday items within arm’s reach.
The white shiplap walls keep the space feeling bright and open, while dark wood trim around the windows and structural elements adds warmth and visual contrast. Notice the large window to the right — it brings in generous natural light and connects the dining area to the outdoors. The gray vinyl plank flooring is practical for a home on wheels, handling temperature changes and foot traffic better than hardwood while still looking clean and modern. This is the kind of space where you could comfortably work from home during the day, share a meal in the evening, and never feel like you’re compromising.
The Same Space Transformed: Murphy Bed Deployed
Images © Tiny Innovations
Here’s the same space with the Murphy bed folded down, and the transformation is remarkable. The table tucks away, the bed drops into place between the built-in benches, and suddenly you have a main-floor sleeping area that doesn’t require climbing a ladder. This is a significant advantage for anyone with mobility concerns, guests who aren’t comfortable with loft access, or simply nights when you’d rather not climb.
The bed appears to be a full or queen size, which is generous for a 24-foot tiny house. The shelving above remains accessible in both configurations, and the overall space doesn’t feel cramped even with the bed deployed. This dual-function approach effectively gives the Vashon two rooms where most tiny houses of this size would have one — and neither configuration feels like a compromise. For builders considering their own tiny house layout, the Murphy bed dining nook is one of the most space-efficient solutions available, and the Vashon executes it as well as any model we’ve seen.
A Kitchen Built for Real Cooking
Images © Tiny Innovations
The Vashon’s kitchen is a masterclass in fitting full-sized functionality into a compact layout. Butcher block countertops provide a warm, natural work surface that’s durable and easy to maintain — and they look beautiful against the white shiplap walls and white cabinetry. The propane range with gas cooktop and oven gives you real cooking capability, not the two-burner-and-a-microwave compromise that plagues many tiny kitchens.
Look at the wall-mounted stainless steel spice racks flanking the range hood — they keep cooking essentials visible and within reach without eating into counter or cabinet space. Upper cabinets extend to the ceiling to maximize vertical storage, and the pull-down kitchen faucet is a practical touch that makes cleaning larger pots and pans far easier in a compact sink. The apartment-sized refrigerator (not visible in this angle) rounds out a kitchen that genuinely supports daily cooking. As the builder put it: “You asked for a place for all your pots and pans, to be able to keep your clothes, and still have your home looking tidy, so we made it happen.”
Spacious 80 Square Foot Sleeping Loft
Images © Tiny Innovations
At 80 square feet, the Vashon’s sleeping loft is generous by tiny house standards. The tongue-and-groove wood plank ceiling adds warmth and texture overhead, while the white shiplap walls keep the space feeling bright rather than cave-like. Dark wood trim around the windows provides the same craftsman-style contrast seen throughout the rest of the home.
What makes this loft particularly livable is the window situation. Large windows on multiple sides — including what appears to be three separate openings — mean you’re waking up to natural light and cross-ventilation rather than staring at a blank wall inches from your face. Combined with the clerestory windows along the roofline visible from below, the loft gets significantly more light and air circulation than many tiny house lofts that rely on a single window at one end. For a home that also has a main-floor Murphy bed option, having a loft this spacious and well-lit means two adults could sleep on different levels, or the loft could serve as a dedicated bedroom while the Murphy bed stays in dining mode full-time.
Design Details
- Model: Vashon by Tiny Innovations
- Builder Location: Gresham, Oregon
- Length: 24 feet on a DOT-approved dual-axle trailer
- Total Living Space: 272 sq ft including 80 sq ft sleeping loft
- Insulation: Closed-cell spray foam (ceiling), fiberglass (walls), rigid foam (floor)
- Interior Walls: Tongue-and-groove knotty pine, painted white
- Exterior: LP lap panel siding with metal shed roofing
- HVAC: Mini-split heating and cooling system
- Water Heater: Tankless on-demand
- Bathroom: Nature’s Head composting toilet
- Kitchen: Propane range/cooktop, apartment-sized refrigerator, stove hood, pull-down faucet, butcher block countertops
- Solar: Pre-plumbed and pre-wired for solar panel installation
- Laundry: Washer/dryer hookups included
- Certification: RV and DOT certified with highway-approved braking and lighting
- Historical Starting Price: $65,000 (when available)
What Makes This Build Worth Studying
- The Murphy bed dining nook is a blueprint for dual-purpose design. Rather than choosing between a main-floor bed or a dining area, the Vashon proves you can have both — and execute each one well. This is one of the best solutions we’ve seen for the eternal tiny house dilemma of sleeping vs. living space.
- Two sleeping options eliminate the loft-only limitation. With both a spacious loft and a main-floor Murphy bed, the Vashon works for a wider range of people — couples, guests with mobility concerns, or anyone who simply wants the flexibility to choose.
- Professional-grade insulation and systems. Closed-cell spray foam, mini-split HVAC, tankless water heater, and composting toilet represent a thoughtful approach to off-grid readiness and year-round comfort. These aren’t upgrades — they were standard.
- Clerestory windows solve the light problem. Many tiny houses on wheels struggle with natural light because wall space is limited. The Vashon’s roofline clerestory windows bring light in from above, making the interior feel significantly more open than the 24-foot footprint would suggest.
- Solar-ready from day one. Pre-wiring and pre-plumbing for solar means the electrical infrastructure is already in place. Adding panels later is a weekend project rather than a major retrofit.
- Full-sized kitchen in a compact home. A propane range with oven, butcher block counters, and wall-mounted storage prove that a tiny house kitchen doesn’t have to feel like a hotel kitchenette.
About Tiny Innovations
Tiny Innovations was a professional tiny house builder based in Gresham, Oregon, known for models including the Vashon, Cayman, and Catalina. Their builds were characterized by clean modern-craftsman aesthetics, board and batten siding with knotty cedar accents, and a focus on practical livability. While Tiny Innovations is no longer in active operation, the design principles and construction details in the Vashon remain excellent reference points for anyone planning a tiny house build — whether DIY or with a professional builder. Similar professional tiny house builds in this size range and quality level typically start in the $65,000-$90,000 range.
Highlights
- 272 sq ft of living space including 80 sq ft loft on a 24-foot DOT-approved trailer
- Innovative Murphy bed/dining nook system provides both a main-floor bed and a proper eating area
- Clerestory windows along the roofline flood the interior with natural light from above
- Full kitchen with propane range, oven, butcher block counters, and apartment-sized refrigerator
- Closed-cell spray foam insulation and mini-split HVAC for year-round comfort
- Nature’s Head composting toilet and tankless water heater
- Pre-wired and pre-plumbed for solar panel installation
- Tongue-and-groove knotty pine interior walls painted white for a bright, modern shiplap look
- RV and DOT certified for safe highway travel
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Alex
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To “Live”, is making the right choice…..” Living is the rarest thing in the world, most people exist, that’s all”….. Oscar Wilde
…and that my friend is unfortunately so, so true.
If there were a fire or other emergency while one is sleeping they would need to lift the bed to get out, or let help in.
True, they should have set the door to open outward…
“The hope is that feathered thing that settles on the soul…., sign melodies without words….. and it never ends…”
Emily Dickinson