How big can you go and still claim you're living in a tiny house? Would a tiny with the same square footage as a city apartment still classify as one? In the case of the Ashleigh tiny, yes, it could, and it's all thanks to a technicality.
The Ashleigh is the first modular tiny house from New Zealand-based builder Shaye's Tiny Homes. Founded more than a decade ago by former professional athlete Shaye Boddington turned tiny house DIY-er out of necessity, it's one of the most well-known builders in the country.
Shaye's designs are the stuff of magical dreams, so we covered them several times before. Her tinies seem to defy all spatial limitations and seemingly even logic, creating new spaces where you feel none could exist. Whether tinies for single occupancy or mobile homes for the entire family, her builds are beautiful, highly functional, and high-quality, which accounts for the fact that her reputation has long crossed national borders.
The Ashleigh is a good example of the kind of work Shaye's Tiny Homes does. This is the first modular tiny in the lineup, and it's this modularity that allows for the creation of a mansion-like space that remains, nonetheless, mobile. Sure enough, you won't be able to just pack up your garden furniture and go, as you would with a smaller tiny, but you can still move Ashleigh around. You can't say the same about your city apartment, right?
Photo: Shaye's Tiny Homes
Ashleigh is made up of three modules connected on-site: there's the main tiny module, the porch module, and the pod module. All three can be transported on the same trailer that comes with the main tiny, and you can start off with just this one before adding the other two. This makes the Ashleigh affordable because the main unit can be customized into a standard tiny.
Ashleigh offers a total of 75.6 square meters (813.7 square feet) of living space between the three modules. The porch unit, which connects the living area to the sleeping area, is enclosed and doubles as a lounge and dining room. Each unit is 2.8 meters/9.1 feet wide, with the pod being the shortest (7 meters/23 feet) of the three (the other two are 9 meters/29.5 feet long).
This modular tiny is not unlike those modular shipping container homes made up of two or more containers joined together or stacked. In theory, it's still a tiny home – and Shaye notes that this might allow to sidestep building regulations – but in practice, it's the most beautiful and quite fancy family home.
Photo: YouTube/Tiny Home Tours
For example, the unit shown in the videos below and the photos in the gallery was designed as a bed and breakfast rental and offers two separate lounges, a large kitchen, a large dining room, and two bedrooms with a sleeping capacity of five. You could sleep two more guests on the sectional sofa in one of the lounges, if need be.
Everything is life-size, from the stove to the entire kitchen, the bathroom, and the space you get indoors, with actual separations between areas, which allows for more privacy and that very distinct home-like feel. Open spaces can be cozy, without a doubt, but Ashleigh is perfect for those times when you might want to retire to your bedroom – and maybe slam the door on the way there, just to show that you don't want to be bothered.
Unlike a city apartment, Ashleigh offers spectacular views wherever you are and even allows you to open half of the porch to the outside so you can enjoy your meal al fresco. Shaye explains in the video tour below that she loves to integrate large windows wherever she can, to let in natural light and to let those inside enjoy the views they chose themselves. To maximize the natural light inside, she even added mirrors that reflect back and seemingly multiply the skylights.
Photo: Shaye's Tiny Homes
Ashleigh isn't made to be off-grid, but it could probably be rendered partly autonomous as a semi-custom version. Everything is possible if you have the budget for it.
This unit features a low-flush toilet connected to a septic tank on-site and water and power from the grid. It uses a mini-split unit for heating and AC and the gorgeous wood-burning fireplace on the porch for an extra touch of rustic-ness.
Pricing isn't mentioned in the videos below. In fact, it feels as if Shaye, the designer and builder, is deliberately avoiding the question, but all the pertinent details are in plain sight on the official site. Ashleigh starts at NZD 328,800, which is roughly $US$197,000 at the current exchange rate.
Photo: Shaye's Tiny Homes
That's a lot of money, but do consider that there are builders who will charge about as much for a single unit, custom as it might be, and you'd be getting a smaller footprint. There's always the possibility to start from just one module and work your way up to three.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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