Perhaps no other tiny house in the world is more iconic than the Minimotives tiny house designed by Macy Miller. Macy, an architectural designer, began construction of her tiny home in 2011, did the majority of the work herself, and created this stunner for just $11,416.16. This beautiful 196 sf tiny house rests on a gooseneck trailer and has been featured in TIME & Dwell Magazines, and countless online news agencies and websites.  The spacious and modern feel in the Minimotives Tiny House creates a comfortable living space for a single person, couple, and even family with young kids. Macy, her partner James, their two children, Hazel and Miles, and their great dane Denver have created a beautiful life for themselves in Minimotives.

The Minimotives tiny house design could be perfect for you if you are single, living with a partner, and/or have young children (you can build a small addition to the trailer chassis for a kids’ bedroom like Macy did). It has fared very well in cold Boise, ID winters with monthly utility costs of $50 during the coldest months and $8 per month during the other seasons. This tiny house is also an excellent candidate for an AirBnB style destination.  

Notes From the Designer

I designed the Minimotives tiny house in 2011, and started construction before starting to date James in 2012. James didn’t run away at the idea of dating a ‘tiny house person’ and instead picked up a hammer and helped! Our home is built on top of a 24′ gooseneck trailer, yielding 196 sf. The back patio sat on a 5′ extension (dovetail) which was later turned into our children’s’ bedroom bringing the final home to 232 s.f. Our space was built for just under $13,000 (including the addition, original total was $11,416) including lots of reclaimed materials from our shipping pallet siding to new but reclaimed windows.

My goal was to create a light, open, and effective home. It has functioned as a testing ground for lots of ‘green technologies’ like a composting toilet and radiant heat floor. Indeed, this space has been a powerful part of my life in the recent years, and it continues to inspire me to live a life of adventure and family.

Walk Through:

As you enter the Minimotives tiny house, you’ll feel welcomed by the living area which comfortably seats three. A book shelf provides plenty of space for your favorite titles and could also house your TV. Drawers below the book case create additional storage space for your special items. A working desk in the living area can serve as your home office, eating table, or craft space.

Towards the front of the tiny house is the bedroom which is built over the gooseneck portion of the trailer. A set of steps lead to the queen sized bed and doubles as storage space for clothing, etc. Headroom above the mattress is very comfortable, allowing one to sit up comfortably. Below the mattress is the closet with two cabinets for hanging clothes in and five drawers.

The kitchen is galley style which creates a very functional space for those that love to cook. A four burner stovetop and oven are large enough for family style cooking and a deep double-sink make tiny house clean up a cinch. There is an abundance of counter space, cabinets, and drawers for all your kitchen gadgets, pots, and small appliances. A pantry provides loads of space for your dry storage goods, while a nice sized refrigerator holds enough fresh items for a family. There’s even space for a microwave above the fridge! Storage for plates, glasses, and pots is open which helps the kitchen feel spacious and elegant. A washer/dryer combo space is also available if you prefer to do your laundry in the home. The bathroom is compact and functional and contains a composting toilet (if you choose to use one), a small sink with storage cabinet below, and a lovely shower.

If additional room is needed to create a bedroom for one or two children (or some other use) you can close in the porch for an extra 36 sf of usable space. In Minimotives, that space was converted into a bunk bed room for Macy and her partner James’ two children. There is enough space in there for storage for all of the kids’ clothes as well as their toys.

Basic Information

Designer
Macy Miller

Name of Plan
MiniMotives

Bedrooms
1

Square Footage
196 sf

Dimensions
8’ 6” x 24’ 0” (plus 4′ 0″ overhang over gooseneck)

APPROXIMATE Cost
DIY: $11,000
Turn Key: $48,000+

APPROXIMATE Weight
11,000-12,000 pounds