Tiny Houses

Tiny house built for long soaks, movie nights and cross-country travel

Tiny house built for long soaks, movie nights and cross-country travel
Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses estimates that if built from scratch, the Ol’ Berthoud Blue would cost around US$87,000
Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses estimates that if built from scratch, the Ol’ Berthoud Blue would cost around US$87,000
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Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses estimates that if built from scratch, the Ol’ Berthoud Blue would cost around US$87,000
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Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses estimates that if built from scratch, the Ol’ Berthoud Blue would cost around US$87,000
The entirety of the Ol’ Berthoud Blue's ground floor is taken up by a kitchen/dining space and bathroom
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The entirety of the Ol’ Berthoud Blue's ground floor is taken up by a kitchen/dining space and bathroom
The Ol’ Berthoud Blue's kitchen includes a seating booth and table for two that folds out into a 6 ft (1.8 m)-long bed
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The Ol’ Berthoud Blue's kitchen includes a seating booth and table for two that folds out into a 6 ft (1.8 m)-long bed
The little storage nooks typical to tiny houses have rods or other obstructions across to ensure stuff doesn't fall out while Ol' Berthoud Blue is on the road
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The little storage nooks typical to tiny houses have rods or other obstructions across to ensure stuff doesn't fall out while Ol' Berthoud Blue is on the road
The Ol' Berthoud Blue features both custom cabinetry and cabinets from Ikea
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The Ol' Berthoud Blue features both custom cabinetry and cabinets from Ikea
The Ol' Berthoud Blue is based on a triple-axle 24 ft (7.3 m) trailer
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The  Ol' Berthoud Blue is based on a triple-axle 24 ft (7.3 m) trailer
Top-down view of the Ol' Berthoud Blue's kitchen/dining area
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Top-down view of the Ol' Berthoud Blue's kitchen/dining area
The Ol' Berthoud Blue's single bedroom
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The  Ol' Berthoud Blue's single bedroom 
The sole bedroom in the Ol' Berthoud Blue includes a projector and surround sound audio system
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The sole bedroom in the Ol' Berthoud Blue includes a projector and surround sound audio system
A winding staircase leads from the bathroom to Ol' Berthoud Blue's bedroom
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A winding staircase leads from the bathroom to Ol' Berthoud Blue's bedroom
The Ol' Berthoud Blue has a composting toilet
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The  Ol' Berthoud Blue has a composting toilet
The Ol' Berthoud Blue boasts a fancy cedar bathtub
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The Ol' Berthoud Blue boasts a fancy cedar bathtub
The Ol' Berthoud Blue's bathroom looks relatively large for a towable tiny house
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The  Ol' Berthoud Blue's bathroom looks relatively large for a towable tiny house
The Ol' Berthoud Blue's pull-out pantry
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The Ol' Berthoud Blue's pull-out pantry
View gallery - 14 images

Durango, Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses recently completed its latest project, the unusually-named Ol' Berthoud Blue. Built for a customer who had tried to construct her own tiny house but found it too difficult, the towable home has an unusual layout that allows for a relatively large bedroom and bathroom. The firm also focused on ensuring it was suitable for frequent traveling.

The Ol' Berthoud Blue is based on a triple axle 24 ft (7.3 m)-long trailer and its relatively typical exterior is enlivened by a splash of blue at the front. Visitors enter directly into the kitchen/dining area (there's no lounge) via a small porch. The decor is a little different from the usual cottagey tiny house style, with exposed steel and wood, and a stainless steel kitchen the order of the day.

The cabinets are a mix of custom made and purchased from Ikea, and there are some nice little touches, like a pull-out pantry and raised dish rack that drips into the sink. The Ol' Berthoud Blue also features a full-size refrigerator and a propane three-burner stove, in addition to a dining booth with table for two that folds out into a 6 ft (1.8 m)-long guest bed.

As the owners plan to take Ol' Berthoud Blue on cross-country trips, the little storage nooks all have rods or other barriers across to ensure stuff doesn't fall out while they're on the road. A water storage tank is also stored inside to ensure the owners have a ready supply of water wherever they are.

The Ol’ Berthoud Blue's kitchen includes a seating booth and table for two that folds out into a 6 ft (1.8 m)-long bed
The Ol’ Berthoud Blue's kitchen includes a seating booth and table for two that folds out into a 6 ft (1.8 m)-long bed

The kitchen/dining area leads directly into a bathroom that looks large for a tiny house. This includes an impressive – and, at around US$2,000, expensive – ALFI cedar bathtub provided by the customer, plus a separate WC with composting toilet.

Unusually, you need to go through the bathroom to access the bedroom via a winding staircase (a secondary storage loft is accessed by ladder). This space is again relatively large for a tiny house and seems to serve as something of a lounge area too. It includes a surround sound audio system, custom headboard with integrated storage space, and a roof-mounted projector. A pair of skylights are also installed.

There's currently no off-grid solar power system installed in the Ol' Berthoud Blue, so the tiny house gets its juice from an RV-style hookup. However, Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses boss Greg Parham told us that solar power may indeed be added in the near future. Heating and cooling is provided by a mini-split.

As the customer provided the trailer and much of the materials herself, putting an exact price on this project is tricky but Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses estimates that if built from scratch it would cost around $87,000.

Source: Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses

View gallery - 14 images
5 comments
5 comments
ljaques
Like they'll have enough water to fill that tub, wash dishes, and shower off. The dark floor/roof/walls would make for a dark "house" on an overcast day. And nearly $90k for a tiny? Feh!
GlassHalfEmpty
So, tow that monstrosity out to countryside to...watch a movie?
When will this fad die?
A fiberglass travel trailer of similar interior space and features will be lighter and 4 times cheaper.
sunfly
It looks nice and well built, but also very heavy and not aerodynamic. Towing this cross country is not practical unless going short distances at a slow pace and stopping for long periods of time. Perhaps for someone retired that does not really "travel", but moves their home every month or two.
Fairly Reasoner
AHa! So, they ARE trailers!
shopoutlet
Nice little place. Like others have said. Wouldnt want to take on vacation.