Tiny is what tiny does, to paraphrase an old saying. But if a tiny house matches a brick-and-mortar home in comfort and functionality, that doesn't make it any less of a tiny home.
While most tiny homes are still tiny in name and tiny in nature – and highly mobile because of it –the boom on the market of alternative housing solutions has brought many variations to the concept of tiny living. Minimaliste is perhaps one of the best examples in this sense.
Tiny living started gaining incredible popularity in the early 2000s, when increased awareness of environmental issues and the rising costs of living paved the way for the wider adoption of mobile homes as permanent residences, allowing for a reduced carbon footprint and smaller overall costs. They became even more popular over the past five years and aren't showing any signs of slowing down just yet.
Minimaliste is a Canada-based builder known for delivering versatile, durable, and good-looking tinies and ADUs (accessory dwelling units). Their 100th unit is also a new model and the best showcase of how you can option it into an off-grid, self-sufficient home for the entire family.
Photo: Minimaliste
The Nomad series is one of the most popular in Minimaliste's lineup. It's so popular that it's been extended repeatedly after its introduction as a compact 24-footer (7.3 meters) and now comes with a 28-foot (8.5 meters) and a 30-foot (9.2-meter) fifth wheel option.
The latest addition to the lineup is a 30-footer (9.2 meters) that's different from the 30-foot Gooseneck Nomad but still makes ample use of those few extra feet to create a home-like space in every sense of the word. This Nomad is spacious, has sleeping for as many as five people and all the creature comforts of a home, and can go off-grid if you want to – and can afford it.
The Nomad 30' sits on a double-axle galvanized steel trailer that brings the upgrade of an adjustable tongue and removable or adjustable axle sets for a smoother, more comfortable towing experience. Minimaliste says that you can "easily [tow it] with a ¾ ton truck," so it’s designed to travel if that's what you want it for.
Photo: Minimaliste
Once at camp, the tiny can become self-sufficient, with solar panels on the roof, the option of adding a rainwater collection system, and a composting toilet. This model features the addition of a fold-down metal deck with integrated stairs, now operable by remote control for maximum ease of use.
Also on the premise of delivering maximum maneuverability, the Nomad has a single-level layout. It packs a large living area with an almost queen size pull-out couch and a large wardrobe that also hides the 10 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and command center, a residential kitchen with a dining area, a residential bathroom, and a spacious bedroom.
Aside from the main bedroom, which sleeps two on a queen size bed with underneath storage, the Nomad 30' has three more berths: two on the living room couch and one more on the convertible dinette.
Photo: Minimaliste
The kitchen is designed to be functional and good-looking in equal measure, with Furrion premium appliances, plenty of counter space, and custom cabinets. It integrates a washer and drier unit and now features a fold-down countertop extension that adds an extra surface for meal prep.
The bathroom is perhaps the smallest area in the layout, at just 18 square feet (1.6 square meters). But it's still able to offer a small tub with a shower, a composting toilet, and a sink with a small vanity – and somehow not feel incredibly cramped!
The main bedroom is a self-contained space of its own, including storage under the bed and overhead in custom cabinets, a large bed, and space to move around without bumping knees or elbows against furniture. The pocket door creates privacy in a home where privacy is perhaps the rarest commodity given the compact footprint.
Minimaliste takes pride in delivering tiny homes suitable for four-season and extended use. The 30-footer adds an upgraded mini-split for AC and heat and offers dual 36-gallon (136.2-liter) wastewater tanks, as well as a 54-gallon (204.4-liter) freshwater tank that can be gravity-fed through a rainwater collection system. Thick insulation and tempered glass residential windows further help with keeping the space comfortable regardless of temperatures outside.
Photo: Minimaliste
Pricing for the Nomad 30' starts at $91,500, so the unit shown in the video tour below is most likely over the $100K mark since it features all options possible for it.
The new model confirms that Minimaliste tinies are firmly anchored in the premium sector of the tiny house market, just like it confirms that Minimaliste knows how to turn a good thing into an even better one. It's not the most affordable thing, but it sure is good – and good-looking.
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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