Smart Self-Sufficiency Meets Traditional Coziness in This Off-Grid Tiny Home

The story of this Tasmania-based tiny house company began not that long ago, in 2019. As it often happens, a visionary and hard-working couple was the force behind the project. Greg was a licensed builder and designer who made a natural switch from conventional, large houses to compact and mobile tiny homes.

Together with his partner Ginny, Greg completed more than eight houses under the Little Latitude Homes brand in just a few years. Two years ago, another couple purchased the company after building their own tiny home with Greg and Ginny's help, and they're currently running the business.

Little Latitude Homes models range from six to ten meters in length (19.6 to 32.8 feet), and each one is carefully customized according to the owner's particularities. They only take one project at a time in order to fully focus on it, and it takes up to eight months to complete a tiny home. Many are also fitted with full off-grid systems and are often meant to operate as Airbnbs – Tasmania is famous for its unique rural landscapes, which are the perfect setting for a self-sufficient vacation haven on wheels.

The ninth model in the brand's portfolio is a generously sized 9.6-meter (31.4-foot) home with a single-level configuration. The owner wanted this to become their full-time home as well as a self-sufficient haven. This meant a clever combination of traditional features for day-to-day comfort and all kinds of clever solutions to increase functionality. At first glance, the LLH 9 home looks like a rustic, simple dwelling surrounded by nature, but it hides ingenious hacks and a complete off-grid system that makes it surprisingly rugged.

The single-level layout means everything is within reach and easy to access, making this tiny particularly welcoming for a wide variety of guests. There is a small loft space above the bathroom/bedroom area, but only for storage. Length and height were highlighted through this layout more than the width; for instance, the bathroom isn't facing the kitchen or next to the bedroom, as we see in other single-level configurations; instead, it sits between the lounge and the bedroom, connecting to both rooms.

You'll also see storage shelves mounted high up on the walls as a great way to add functionality without taking up any floor space. The bathroom's exterior walls also double as a quirky open-concept bookcase with ample shelving on each side. Once again, it's a smart storage solution without the need for bulky pieces of furniture. Plus, the contrast between the natural wood and the all-white walls is a nice touch, decoratively speaking – it creates visual depth while saving space.

Another ingenious element is the movable storage ottoman on wheels. It's a two-in-one piece that can be used as a coffee table, an extra seat, and storage. Thanks to the lockable wheels, it can be easily moved around. Plus, these movable furniture items make transportation easier overall. Both the queen-sized bed in the bedroom and the bench in the lounge were custom-made to include hidden storage for added functionality as well.

Beautiful Tasmanian Oak was used for most of this woodwork, including tongue-and-groove ceiling with a rustic, decorative look. The floors and the cabinetry were mostly made of Birch plywood. The rustic kitchen reveals a surprising touch in the form of stainless steel countertops – they look cool and were primarily added for greater resilience. An off-grid home requires hard-wearing stuff, and these countertops do a great job.

The kitchen was equipped with an induction cooktop, an electric oven, and a quiet, inverter-technology fridge. The layout was also specifically designed to include dedicated spots for a 60-cm (23.6") washing machine and a 45-cm (17.7") dishwasher.

A diesel heater and a ceiling fan keep the temperature at optimum levels year-round, and the solar panels also help power the 12V LED lights throughout. A water pump and a gas on-demand hot water system are also part of the home's off-grid setup, together with a waterless toilet.

Last but not least, this rugged tiny comes with an external cupboard at the rear specifically designed to house utilities (it's 40 cm /15.7" deep). With all the space-saving storage hacks and cleverly tucked-away utilities, the LLH 9 is able to display a clean, homely interior with zero clutter. It may not be sophisticated or overly stylish, but it feels warm, welcoming and, most importantly, it's perfectly comfy for long-term living.

The sliding glass doors and large windows add enough natural light to keep the entire home luminous and airy. They also add a contemporary touch to the otherwise rustic ambiance. This off-grid tiny home is not at all dark and moody like an outdated wooden cabin; it's open, friendly, and full of light.