The two-story cabin is small housing at its best and most portable, with a great layout
Tiny living, whether in actual tiny homes or RVs adapted for permanent residence, has been around for decades, so the international health crisis of 2020 doesn’t seem to have brought anything new in this regard. But it has boosted the tiny house industry in unprecedented ways, and that means more diversity for customers.
Photo: Western Colorado Tiny House (composite)
Due to several factors, ranging from the desire for greater mobility, increased awareness of environmental issues, and most importantly, the housing and financial crisis, tiny houses have proven increasingly popular as permanent housing solutions. They’re smaller and sit on trailers, so they’re cheaper to maintain and can travel with the owner whenever they want, putting them at the intersection of homes and RVs.
Tiny homes also encourage downsizing and intentional living, focusing more on life experiences rather than owning material things. If you ignore the fact that most mini products remain priced like premium products, you can see why they are a popular alternative with people of all ages and from all walks of life.
The increasing demand has led to a wide range of options, and the market has not yet reached the point of over saturation. Western Colorado Tiny House is a relatively newer presence on the scene, having been founded by Danielle Kennedy in 2018, but they’ve been working hard to disrupt the status quo with what we would describe as the most unusual — and very cool — layout for tiny.
Photo: Western Colorado Tiny House
The builder offers only three models with a limited number of options for each to speed up timelines and reduce costs. The mid-range, two-deck cabin model introduced last July is the best example of this unusual design mentioned above, and for this reason, we’re focusing on it today.
Most small appliances will use a single or dual design to maximize the available space. When you’re working with such a small size, there are many ways you can achieve the basics in terms of features and comfort. You can use multi-functional spaces and furniture, or you can expand upwards with lofts.
The two-story cabin opts for the latter, but avoids the more common form of the loft bedroom. Instead, it creates a complete second level on and almost completely surrounding half of the ground level surface. The vaulted ceiling and the use of expanded glazing (skylights, windows) and mirrors help to create the feeling of a larger, more airy space by flooding it with light from all sides.
Photo: Western Colorado Tiny House
The master bedroom is accessed via a simple metal ladder through a hatch-shaped doorway. This makes the cabin less suitable for people with a fear of heights and tight spaces, but that seems to be the only visible compromise it makes.
The ground floor has a lounge that can serve as a secondary or guest bedroom, an L-shaped kitchen that feels like a separate space, an office next to an oversized window, and a bathroom. Additional storage on the walls is possible via floating shelves built into the construction, which, as it happens, help keep the space tidy and clean.
The kitchen comes fully equipped, with a built-in two-burner stove, residential refrigerator, oven, extractor, deep sink, and plenty of cabinetry for storage and prep space. A separate nook on one side fits the washer and dryer unit or is used for additional storage.
Photo: Western Colorado Tiny House
The bathroom is on the narrow side but no smaller than you’d find in a small city apartment. It still offers a walk-in shower, a small sink with vanity, and a toilet, so it does what it’s supposed to do – nothing more, nothing less.
The exterior is Scandinavian gray wood over a white interior with neutral colors for contrast. You get a little more living space outside, thanks to a smaller, integrated balcony.
The two-story cabin offers 350 square feet (32.5 m2) of total living space and can be ordered with a U.S.-manufactured steel trailer body but is not offered with one as standard. Since it’s 10 feet/3 meters wide (and 20 feet/6 meters long), if you choose to put it on a trailer, it will become a garden-style tiny house in most areas, so you’ll only be able to move with special towing permits.
Photo: Western Colorado Tiny House
This affects mobility, but does not completely eliminate it. As with all other park models, you’ll still get a motorhome, but you won’t be able to pack up your belongings and go with it anytime you want — as you would with a small or small RV, for example.
The two-story cabin starts at $69,000, or $67,000 if you opt for a half loft instead of a full floor that fits a full-sized mattress and some storage options.
(Tags for translation)Western Colorado tiny house
