Photo: Stanley Tiny Homes
Tiny living has evolved over the decades and has changed dramatically in the last five years or so, as it has become the preferred alternative living solution for those seeking financial freedom and physical freedom to travel the country. But the core values of tiny living remain the same.
When they first hit the radar, tiny homes were focused solely on enabling more sustainable and healthy living. They promised a smaller carbon footprint, which translated into lower monthly costs, and a less stressful, more intentional lifestyle, enabled primarily by decluttering and shifting focus to experiences, rather than material possessions.
In recent years, tiny houses have grown in popularity, both figuratively and literally. The economic and housing climate has allowed tiny house builders to market these mobile homes as permanent and viable living solutions for long-term residences. The events of 2020 have helped transform them into the ideal home for anyone looking to get out of the city, live on the road, and therefore combine work and play in a way that was not possible before.
Today’s tiny homes can range from shed-like constructions with just the basics for a weekend getaway to mini-mansions on wheels with super-cool features like fireplaces, second or even third floors, and spa-like bathrooms with freestanding soaking tubs. The latter were almost unimaginable a couple decades ago when tiny homes were just getting started, and they seem to be taking over.
Photo: Stanley Tiny Homes
Portland, Oregon-based builder Stanley Tiny Homes prides itself on being “the only 100% custom tiny home builder in the Pacific Northwest,” is making a strong case for getting back to basics in tiny homes. STH only builds custom units, so they don’t have a production-ready lineup to show, but every once in a while, one of these custom units ends up on sale after the initial deal falls through for whatever reason.
Such is the case with The Rogue, which first went on sale in April of this year. It’s what you’d call a “basic” tiny house, in the sense that it lives by the basic tenets of tiny living: compactness, mobility, sustainability, community, and intentionality. If tiny houses were originally built for the avocado-eating, tree-hugging type, The Rogue is the modern interpretation of that.
The stated aim of STH is to “make a big impact with tiny homes” working with premium materials and local artisans, and involving communities in every aspect of their work. A tiny home like The Rogue is more than just a mobile home that will save the owner money in the long run; it is also a home that helps local communities and marginalized people.
Photo: Stanley Tiny Homes
The Rogue sits on a twin-axle trailer, with a total length of 20 feet (6 meters). It’s quite small because it was designed to be as compact and mobile as the owner wants. The tiny oversizes, those palace-like units that sit on three- or four-axle trailers, are classified as park models, so they can only be moved with special permits and under very strict conditions.
The Rogue doesn’t have that problem, but it sacrifices some fancy features to make it work. The layout is standard single-loft, but it’s made extra cozy by a style that might be described as rustic minimalism.
True to its promise, STH wraps the home in 40-year-old black metal and cedar shingle siding on the exterior and custom wood paneling in contrasting hues on the interior. Even the all-white cabinetry is custom and, while compact, laser-focused on functionality.
Photo: Stanley Tiny Homes
The kitchen, for example, offers a four-burner gas range with a range hood, a deep sink, and room for an oven. Although it’s more of a utility kitchen than a residential kitchen, it has plenty of counter space for meal prep and a decent amount of built-in storage options.
Like most tiny lofts, The Rogue crams a small living room (offered empty), kitchen, and bathroom on the ground floor, with the sleeping quarters relegated to the upper level. Just to give you an idea of how much minimalism there is in this tiny, there’s not even a staircase that integrates storage and leads up to the loft. Instead, you get a simple, clean staircase—what other builders might consider a waste of space, STH repackages as minimalism.
As if to compensate, the builder puts a spa-like shower in The Rogue’s bathroom. The shower stall is one-piece for easy maintenance, with built-in shelves, but you get a five-head shower wall and a rain showerhead. The bathroom also includes a small sink with a tiny cabinet and room for a separate composting toilet.
Photo: Stanley Tiny Homes
The Rogue features a dual mini-split for heating and cooling and RV-style hookups for water and electricity. It has large windows to bathe the interior in natural light, including a picture window that tries to make you forget the small size of the living area.
STH says that another of their main goals is to provide affordable housing for everyone, based on budget and taste. In case you're wondering what they mean by “affordable,” The Rogue is asking $85,000, with everything pictured included.