Motivated by the desire to return to a simpler lifestyle, with lower household expenses and more time together in nature, more and more couples and even families are deciding to leave the city and move into a tiny house to live freely and off the grid. In fact, in the tiny house realm, sustainable and off the grid living seems to be becoming the norm, as most tiny house dwellers seek to unplug from the grid and connect with nature.
Alan and Emily, a newlywed couple from the Gold Coast, Australia, have just moved into their tiny house on wheels surrounded by nature and are living their little dream. It is not often that you come across a compact home built with such attention to detail and such consideration for the well-being and quality of life of its future occupants.
Alan and Emily’s new tiny house is one of those homes. With a modern look inside and out, plenty of creature comforts for comfortable living, and clever storage solutions, this micro-home has the ability to accommodate every need of this young family, without making them feel like they’re compromising.
It was built by Off Grid Tiny Homes, a developer based in Sunshine Coast, Queensland. It is over 10 metres (33 feet) long, 2.5 metres (8 feet) wide and 4.3 metres (14.1 feet) high, so it is quite large. But more importantly, it is so well made and laid out that it feels like a luxury tiny villa.
Photo: Living Large in a Tiny House/YouTube Screenshot
Alan has been interested in tiny living for a while and dreams of one day owning his own compact home. He visited a tiny house expo in Brisbane a couple of years ago and fell in love with the Premium Entertainer model from Off Grid Tiny Homes. But while these structures offer a more affordable living option, they are still prohibitively priced, so he thought it would never happen for him. However, his dream eventually came true thanks to his family, who offered some financial support, and Greg, the founder of Off Grid Tiny Homes, who agreed to build the tiny house without the labor costs.
Alan’s dream adobe is based on a Duragal tri-axle trailer and has been cleverly thought out in all three dimensions. It boasts a stunning modern design, with a matte black steel exterior, three entrance doors (a double glazed front door, a hinged rear door and a living room door that allows for the addition of a balcony) and plenty of windows. It is also designed to allow residents to live close to nature, as it benefits from a spectacular car park with a forest backdrop and a picturesque pond right outside the front door.
The interior layout was designed with practicality and comfort in mind, and every area of this home looks and feels like an actual room in a traditional home. Unlike most tiny homes we’ve seen, this build clearly delineates functional areas, so no open floor plans here.
Photo: Living Large in a Tiny House/YouTube Screenshot
This is a home that has been specifically designed to meet the couple's current needs, while also giving them plenty of room to grow. The ground floor features a large kitchen, cleverly integrated home office, and bathroom, while the upstairs area is split between a huge living room and the couple's cozy bedroom. The layout has also been thoughtfully designed for both indoor and outdoor living, with a bi-fold front door and a huge awning window in the kitchen area, perfect for allowing those inside to connect with their surroundings.
In terms of style, the living space appears truly modern, dominated by a predominantly black and white color palette, conscious minimalism and maximum natural light.
Upon entering the home, you find yourself in a large U-shaped kitchen with sleek black cabinetry with wood accents and a large breakfast bar right next to the gas mullion window overlooking the pond outside. This kitchen comes with plenty of storage space, including a large pantry and wall-hung units. Amazingly, it offers the same level of functionality as a conventional kitchen, as it is equipped with all sorts of modern appliances, ranging from a two-burner stove and oven to a microwave and an apartment-sized refrigerator. There is even room for a dishwasher, which the couple will be adding in the near future.
Photo: Living Large in a Tiny House/YouTube Screenshot
This home's trailer was designed with a drop-down section that allowed the designer to cleverly integrate a home office next to the staircase leading to the upper level. This office space is small but well-configured with a desk and storage for books, folders, and other office supplies.
At the other end of the house, you will find the bathroom. It is a large bathroom with an elegant look and a luxurious feel. It features a large glass shower with tiled walls, a composting toilet, a large vanity with sink, and a huge medicine cabinet with mirrored doors. A large windowsill provides even more storage for toiletries and decorative items, and the room also serves as a laundry room with a washing machine and a large closet for towels and linens.
A single staircase provides access to both the living room and the upstairs bedroom, with a narrow passageway connecting the two areas. The living room in this home might be the nicest we've seen in a tiny house. It's incredibly spacious and bright, and features a plush sofa bed next to a large picture window and a huge L-shaped sofa facing a glass door for a great view. Its size makes it a great place to entertain, but it's also a cozy area to sit and relax with a book or binge-watch your favorite shows.
Photo: Living Large in a Tiny House/YouTube Screenshot
There are also some clever features here, as the designers maximized the use of space and integrated some steps in front of the sofa that are actually storage units. The couple keeps their books and games here. Another surprise is the sliding glass door that opens up the possibility of adding a balcony in the future for another outdoor area.
Finally, Alan and Emily's bedroom is opposite the living room and is spacious enough to accommodate a double bed, a wardrobe for hanging clothes, and a couple of shelves. Narrow windows ensure that the space is bright enough and well ventilated.
In addition to the ingenuity of the design, the beauty of this tiny house is that it offers its inhabitants the opportunity to live life the way they want without the financial burden of a mortgage. It also allows them to more easily commune with nature, slow down, and create space for reflection and self-awareness.
