Popular wisdom will have it that there's no such thing as a one-in-all solution for stuff in life, regardless of what clever marketing tells us. But tiny houses sure seem to come close enough to that, thanks to their clever design, hybrid nature, and versatility.
The Croft is one such tiny house. It's one of the more recent models from the U.S., Virginia-based builder Tiny House Building Company, and, like its siblings, it was designed as a semi-custom model. The Croft is essentially off-grid capable for electricity, and could be rendered fully self-sufficient on a bigger budget, if the owner wishes it.
Tiny houses had been around for more than two decades when they went from a niche fad to the hottest social media-backed trend in housing a few years ago.
Because they're essentially smaller homes on wheels, they're perfect for permanent residency while being more affordable than brick-and-mortar counterparts, more sustainable, and less costly to maintain. Plus, you can travel with them in tow, which, you'll agree, you could hardly dream of doing with your picket fence family home.
Photo: Tiny House Building Company
Thanks to social media and the still-booming wanderlife slash downsizing trend, tiny houses became the hottest type of mobile home around, both in the United States and abroad. It doesn't look like their popularity is about to diminish any time soon, so let's just enjoy the ride.
Tiny House Building Company has been around for years and has, since its inception, established itself as a leader on the local market of tiny houses. Their units cover the gamut of public demand, from oversize park models that can sleep the whole clan to small, very compact units for a family of two, three at the most.
The Croft is somewhere in the middle in terms of accommodation capabilities, as it could theoretically sleep as many as six people. It would be a squeeze, but it could be done.
Photo: Tiny House Building Company
However, what The Croft brings new to the table is full off-grid capabilities and the possibility to further customize it so as to render it fully self-contained. As such, it's ideal for the family that wants to get away from the proverbial maddening crowd – and stay there indefinitely.
The highlight of this home is the 2,000W solar array on the roof, mated to large battery banks, covering all electricity needs. The Croft also has a 42-gallon (159-liter) freshwater tank and a composting toilet in the bathroom and relies on propane tanks for heating and cooking. The builder notes that, like with some of its previous models, the owner of The Croft can further customize it, adding off-grid appliances if they so desire.
The Croft sits on a dual-axle trailer and is 24-foot-long and 8.5-foot-wide (7.3 by 2.5 meters), so it remains towable without special permits. It offers a rather standard dual-loft layout, with the larger loft reserved for the main bedroom and the secondary one for storage or the kids' bedroom.
Photo: Tiny House Building Company
The ground floor holds the kitchen and full bathroom, as well as a small lounge. This area is not furnished, but we reckon it could double as a guest room for sleepovers with the right kind of fold-out couch.
Surprisingly, the kitchen is packed with full-size appliances, from the large, double farm sink to the three-burner propane stove and oven. Granite countertops and plenty of storage options in cabinets and drawers make the most of this compact space in terms of functionality and comfort.
The bathroom is more on the smaller side but still offers a small tub shower, an even tinier sink, and a composting toilet. A laundry station and more storage options are integrated into the staircase leading up to the main loft.
Photo: Tiny House Building Company
With one loft over the bathroom and the other over the lounge, The Croft uses all ground areas as living spaces, with sleeping relegated to the secondary level. This should make the lack of standing height less of an issue, though we assume anyone truly interested in tiny living knows to expect serious compromises when moving in.
The Croft tries to compensate for the constricted floorplan with plenty of windows to bring in natural light, minimalist styling, and a soothing palette of whites and neutrals. Meanwhile, the exterior is a more homey board and batten siding in gunmetal gray, with a metal roof and white trim on the windows.
Even if you're not looking to get into tiny living (and that's ok, downsizing is not for everyone), window shopping can't hurt. An off-grid semi-custom tiny like The Croft starts at $79,800 and goes as high as you want it to, so you get your dream home on wheels.
We've said before, but for the emphasis they place on a tiny way of life, tiny houses are yet to have a... tiny price tag.
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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