Alek Lisefski’s Tiny Project tiny house is truly a labor of love. Fed up with paying rent year after year, Alek forged a new reality for himself and designed and built his own tiny house. The house features a modern, passive solar design with 10 windows and a full-glass door for tons of light; a low-sloping shed-style roof to maximize functional interior space; high-end stainless appliances including a 2-burner marine-style propane range, propane on-demand hot water heater, compact combo washer/dryer unit, and refrigerator with freezer; sustainably harvested blue-stain beetle-kill ponderosa paneling and bamboo flooring; clear grade cedar siding; 3 inches of closed-cell spray foam insulation throughout; and custom hand-planed millwork, cabinetry and shelving. It also includes a folding deck on the exterior to maximize indoor/outdoor living potential.

The Tiny Project tiny house is ideal for a single person or couple who work from home, or simply want a beautiful retreat to escape to after a long day at the office. It tows smoothly and is manageable enough for those who plan on moving their tiny home on a more regular basis. Perhaps the Tiny Project is the tiny home for you!

Notes From the Designer

The Tiny Project tiny house is 8×20 feet and built on a flatbed trailer. It’s approx. 160 sq.ft. with a sleeping loft (a total of about 240 sq.ft. including the loft) It’s a modern design with a low-sloping shed-style roof. The house has a small front porch and a fold-up deck. The exterior is clad in a mix beautiful cedar siding and a metal roofing material for an interesting mix of finishes.

The house features a passive solar design with 10 windows and an all-glass door for tons of natural light.

Inside you’ll find most everything a normal house has, only in a smaller, very well thought-out layout. Entering the house, you come into the “great room” with 10 foot ceilings. This area includes a small sofa, desk, fold-down table, and dog bed. This is where most of the windows are, so it’s always the most light and open feeling area in the house.

After that is a small “hallway” with storage areas to the right and left, for pantry items, outerwear, etc. At the far end of the house is a uniquely designed kitchen space with sink, fridge, range and counter space. Opposite of that is a small bathroom with a composting toilet and shower.

The house features many high-end stainless steel appliances, including a propane range (yes, a small oven too), propane on-demand water heater, counter-height refrigerator, and even a combo washer/dryer to do laundry in the comfort of home.

Sustainable woods and other materials were used throughout to create a beautiful, peaceful environment – I wanted this to be my dream home, albeit a small one. Features include sustainable strand bamboo flooring, beetle-kill pine ceiling and walls, marble counter tops, all-natural, zero VOC paints, hand-made linen curtains, and hand-planed, custom-built cabinets and shelving.

Some amenities and appliances in the Tiny Project tiny house include:

Shower, kitchen sink, and small bathroom sink, all with propane on-demand hot water; Marine-style 2-burner propane stove and oven; counter-height refrigerator/freezer; home-made composting toilet; highly efficient electric convection heater; combo washer/dryer unit; and exhaust fan for odor and moisture control.

Construction features include:

Efficient fiberglass, double-pane, low-E coated, argon filled windows; high R-value closed-cell spray foam insulation; rain screen exterior cladding for improved moisture control; metal roof and unique cedar/metal exterior siding; and highly efficient LED and compact fluorescent lighting. A priority was the use of sustainably sourced items and efficient use of materials to minimize construction impact.

Storage highlights:

The Tiny Project has copious amounts of embedded storage including “his” and “hers” closet space in the loft (both hanging and shelf storage); 2 closet spaces downstairs (for washer/dryer, water heater, plus pantry and coats/shoes); the sofa cushion lifts up to reveal storage underneath (for bulky items, seasonal); built-in shelving throughout (for books, home office-supplies, etc), and an attached outdoor storage shed (for tools, building supplies, etc).

Basic Information

Designer

Alek Lisefski

Name of Plan

The Tiny Project tiny house

Number of bedrooms / sleeping areas

1

Square Footage

160 sf (plus 80sf of lofts)

Finish Dimensions

8’  x 20’ x 13’4″

APPROXIMATE Weight

<10,000 pounds

APPROXIMATE Cost to Build

DIY: $30,000

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