Tiny houses have to be functional, aesthetically appealing, and very compact, so there's a fine line for them to walk on, with little room for error. This custom unit shows us how they do it.
Tiny houses are said to be more cost-efficient in the long run than brick-and-mortar homes. They're more sustainable, if only because they have a smaller carbon footprint. Tiny houses are mobile, so you can pack up and leave for greener pastures at the drop of a hat. Tiny houses are functional yet incredibly compact.
But these small, mobile homes are also very beautiful, and their beauty seems to be directly proportional to these other qualities.
For the past two decades, tiny houses have been gaining ground over other alternative housing solutions. The international health crisis of 2020, in particular, has fueled a boom in demand for these mobile dwellings, as they promised more mobility, less financial stress, and a reduced carbon footprint.
Photo: Tiny Heirloom
With the boom in demand came more options and more versatility. Like with everything else in life, you can never go wrong with a custom unit, so custom tiny houses are the crème de la crème for tiny dwellers who can afford them. If they do, this Oregon-based manufacturer has just the thing for them.
Tiny Heirloom is a name with a solid reputation on the North American market. They offer a series of standard models and even more custom units to nationwide clients, and they often make headlines for the latter, which employ specific color combinations and unique layouts that immediately get attention. On the tiny house market, distinctive styling is almost as important as cost or features.
And distinctive styling is exactly what these Tiny Heirloom units have! The latest addition to the lineup, which doesn't have an official name yet, is a good example of that.
Photo: Tiny Heirloom
Introduced in late August 2023, the unit sits on a 26-foot (8-meter) triple-axle trailer and offers a living space of 338 square feet (31.4 square meters), including the bedroom loft. It's 10 feet (3 meters) wide, so it qualifies as a park model in most states, which means you require a special permit to tow it to another location, but whatever you lose in mobility, you win in extra comfort.
From afar, it doesn't look like this tiny is any different from the countless models that have flooded the market in recent years. The green door and the slightly rustic silhouette are perhaps the only two giveaways, but it's the former that holds the key to its "magical" secret. That's a very special shade of green chosen as the highlight of the home and extending inside by means of custom cabinetry.
It might seem silly to call green cabinets "magical," but it's what makes this tiny stand out and become a very cozy, highly personalized space. We're taught not to place too much emphasis on physical appearance, but this is one case where it might play the deciding part.
Photo: Tiny Heirloom
The two-tone dark exterior hides a very bright, airy, and cheerful interior, also in wood. White walls help set off the green cabinetry and natural parquet floors, while stainless steel and accent notes make the space even more eye-popping.
Given the fact that this is a park model, there's enough space inside to accommodate an entire family, as long as the family isn't bigger than four. The upstairs loft is made for a king-size mattress, with room to spare for a small storage unit that doubles as a privacy wall. The access staircase integrates storage – and a litter box for all you cat-loving tiny dwellers out there.
Downstairs, there's a brightly-lit lounge with another matching storage unit, but it could be easily swapped for a couch to turn the space into a secondary bedroom or a guest room. The centerpiece of this space is a wood-burning stove that adds to the rustic vibe of the place – and helps with heating, of course.
Photo: Tiny Heirloom
The ground floor also holds a gourmet kitchen and a full dry bathroom, so the unit is perfectly suitable for long-term residency. The kitchen is spacious, and spreads on both sides of the trailer. There's a large farm sink, a range with an oven, a hidden refrigerator, and plenty of counter and storage space.
The bathroom is a three-piece unit, with a composting toilet, a walk-in glass shower, and a sink with vanity. On space considerations, the washing machine is integrated into the stairs under the loft in the kitchen.
Though small compared to a brick-and-mortar home, this custom unit feels less constricting because it's bathed in natural light from all sides, thanks to large windows. Like with other tiny homes we’'e discussed over the years, abundant lighting and multi-functional spaces/items are key to turning these mobile units into self-sufficient, comfortable homes. This unit has both.
What it doesn't have is a price tag. It's customary for tiny house builders not to list the prices of their custom units and this one is no exception. As a reference, a much smaller, production-series Heirloom-X unit from Tiny Heirloom starts at $89,900.
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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