Colorado-based Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses has revealed its latest creation, and unlike the firm's mammoth Rio Grande and Custom 30 Foot homes, this one should appeal to those who like their tiny houses to be, well, tiny. Resting on a custom 5.4-m (18-ft) two-wheeled trailer, Front Range is only around half the length of its predecessors, but also commands around half their price, and is currently up for sale at US$37,000.
Front Range has plenty of rustic charm. Its exterior sports vertical cedar plank siding on the upper part and cedar lap siding on the lower section. The endwalls are clad with cedar shakes, and the shell comprises structural insulated panels (SIPs). The windows, door, and metal siding are all reclaimed, while the sloping roof ensures efficient rainwater runoff. The lack of rainwater collection system could be viewed as a missed opportunity, though perhaps this would have increased the cost too much.
The interior layout of the tiny home is simple and relatively open, and the high ceiling helps impart a greater sense of space than there actually is. The kitchen area is located in the center, with a small lounge area nearest the front door, and a bathroom at the far end. The small sleeping quarters are located above, in the loft.
As anyone who's spent time living in a small home will attest to, lack of storage space can be one of the biggest stumbling blocks to a happy small living experience. On this front, the tiny house looks in good shape. The kitchen features shelving, a small wall-mounted cubbyhole, and cupboards, while elsewhere in the home lie a medicine cabinet and more shelving. The kitchen also sports a sink and faucet, a propane two-burner, and a fridge freezer. An on-demand water heater provides hot water and runs on propane.
The bathroom features a composting toilet, and a shower and tub that's based on a horse trough. It looks rather cramped but should do the job, and any tub can probably be considered a plus for a tiny house.
Heat is provided by a standard wall heater, and cooling comes via a ceiling fan. The loft is reached by a metal ladder which hooks onto cleats for stability. Front Range gets its electricity from a standard RV hookup, and features a greywater outlet.
Source: Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses
