Advanced Basics Tiny House Is a Smart Home, Yet Defined by Simplicity

For tiny dwellers, a home is a compact house on wheels with features that add to sustainability and fewer expenses, offering the ability to live a more intentional life.

Tiny living has become very popular over recent years, mostly thanks to social media, the so-called #vanlife phenomenon, and the realization that working from home, where home is a mobile house, can be a very profitable business if you know how to sell it online. Of course, tiny living is more than that.

Tiny houses first started gaining popularity in the early 2000s because of the way they helped reduce one's carbon footprint and allow for intentional living. A tiny house is, by the original definition, a mobile home that helps you live in harmony with Mother Nature, with the extra benefit that you also get reduced monthly expenses because of it.

Whatever the understanding of tiny living, a tiny house is meant to be a home, first and foremost. For Howard, that home also meant the realization of a dream, a fresh start in life, and the possibility of finally living life by his own rules. And he did it all as he was nearing 60, so here's that for those thinking age has anything to do with downsizing.

On a market that's becoming flooded with oversize models that are more like mansions on wheels than tiny houses, Howard's tiny stands out. He calls it Advanced Basics, as he says in a recent video tour (video below) because it offers the basics of tiny living but is advanced because it's a smart home. For the rest of us, it's a most welcome example of "simple is best," where simplicity doesn't compromise on functionality or comfort.

The house sits on a triple-axle trailer and is 30 feet long, with a width of 8 feet and a height of 13 feet (9.1 x 2.4 x 3.9 meters). The width allows it to remain mobile without special permits, but Howard prefers it parked. It's currently located at River Edge Tiny Home Village in New Mexico, where it's rigged to the grid for sewage, water, and electricity.

Howard is what you might call an autodidact. He's 62 but still works, running several websites, compiling data, and doing photography work. He's a firm believer that we can all do with less stuff and more experiences – including our planet. His decision to move into a tiny house was a logical step because of that.

Initially, Howard wanted to build the home himself, but he turned to a builder when he realized he lacked the skill for it. After some "contractor nightmares," he ended up with his dream tiny, and he's been living in it for 10 months now. It is, as stressed above, a good example of how simplicity works in such a compact footprint, actually adding to comfort instead of chipping away at it.

Since he lives alone, Howard could afford to have a single-level tiny, with just one small loft for storage. His bedroom is at the end of the trailer, and it doubles as an entertainment lounge thanks to an automated adjustable bed that he can turn into a couch or bed at the single touch of a button. He has storage under the bed and in cabinets overhead.

The kitchen is located in the middle of the house, grouped in a single block. Again, since this is a one-person house, the list of requirements is shorter than what you'd have with a couple, let alone a family with kids. But the kitchen is fully-equipped, despite the compact size: a residential fridge with freezer, two-burner gas stove, two-burner induction cooktop, a large microwave, a small multi-functional oven, a large deep sink, and plenty of cabinets for storage.

Opposite the kitchen, facing an oversize picture window, is Howard's desk, which, we assume, also doubles as a dining table. The height of the desk is adjustable, so he can use it either standing or sitting.

The bathroom is at the other end of the house – it's full-size, too. Not willing to sacrifice personal comfort, Howard opted for a higher ceiling, which meant a lower storage loft. He also added a washer and dryer combo in the bathroom, as well as a full-size walk-in shower.

Another thing Howard was particular about integrating into his tiny house was smart features. On the control panel by the entry door, he's able to monitor various aspects of the house, from the temperature underneath it to exterior weather conditions. The idea is to minimize waste by detecting spots where heat is lost and to monitor his consumption of resources at all times.

On that same note, Howard opted for smart lights and automated heating, so he can adjust both according to the time of day and personal preferences.

Advanced Basics cost $135,000 to build and equip, which Howard admits is "a lot." But, in the end, considering this is his dream home, it doesn't sound like he has any regrets about it.