Tiny houses have earned a reputation as one of the best ways to experience the modern nomadic life, to downsize and cut expenses, or simply to switch to a more intentional, less stressful lifestyle. With a handful of notable exceptions, tiny houses are not exactly known for being family-friendly.
Unless we're talking about oversize park models, the kind that would bring to mind comparisons to mini-mansions on wheels, tiny houses seem designed to be exclusive to couples of all ages, solo residents, or, at the most, young families of three. This model from Tiny Topanga aims to cater specifically to this segment of growing families who could be embarking on the downsizing journey together.
Tiny Topanga is a family-run business based in California and New Mexico, specializing both in van conversions and tiny homes. They're one of the few U.S.-based builders licensed by New Zealand-based Shaye's Tiny Homes and selling the latter's widely popular units in America.
Tiny Topanga have also designed their own models over the years, including the Millennial and the Flagship we discussed on previous occasions. Because they're working out of California, their homes are classified as ADUs (additional dwelling units), which means you can only park them on land where there's already a home that serves as permanent residence, or as RVs, which allows you to park them in trailer parks.
Photo: Tiny Topanga
Assuming legal hurdles are cleared away, the Family Style model is a proposal for a tiny for the entire family, as its name obviously states. From what we can tell, the builders have yet to complete a single unit of it, but that doesn't mean it's not worthy of attention. This tiny stands out for crafting a full-time home for the entire family while still avoiding classification as a park model, and that alone is a rare feat in this industry.
The Family Style sits on top of a 30-foot (9.1-meter) triple-axle trailer with a width of 8.5 feet (2.5 meters). It uses a dual-loft layout to create room for the entire family and offers a total sleeping capacity of five people. Based on renders alone, it's able to do that while avoiding the impression of cramped space. Sure enough, two adults and three kids will still be bumping into each other whether they like it or not, but they can also count on their own private bubble to retire to.
Built with a welded steel frame, this tiny puts the kids at one end of the house and the adults at the other. The kids get three bunk beds and a playroom or lounge area in the loft on top, and the bathroom serves as a well-defined and much-welcomed divider from the rest of the home. Besides a little space to call their own and do whatever, the kids also get plenty of storage options via the industry-standard storage-integrating staircase.
Photo: Tiny Topanga
The bathroom can be equipped with a flush or a composting toilet, depending on the final parking spot of the home and whether owners can or want to cut off reliance on the grid.
At the other end of the trailer is a spacious, glass-encased living room that could, if push came to shove, sleep an occasional guest. This being a family home, though, it's probably safe to say the space would be better suited for daily activities for the family.
The kitchen is equally family-friendly, featuring full-size appliances and plenty of storage – and, just as importantly, enough space to move around. It helps that Tiny Topanga has made sure to include plenty of glazing on all the walls, including a large opening window by the dining area, allowing you to open it up to the outside. Add a deck here, and you can move the entire dining room outside, with the window serving as the connection between the kitchen and the exterior living space.
Photo: Tiny Topanga
"This home is made with love and made to be filled with love," Tiny Topanga says of the Family Style model. Perhaps more relevant to the interests of potential customers, this model is made with practicality in mind and filled with everyday convenience.
As much as the idea of downsizing is appealing, its application often results in limited functionality or an overall sensation of cramped spaces. This isn't the case here.
On the downside, not only is there no physical unit of the Family Style tiny to showcase, but there's no pricing info available either. Tiny Topanga says that most of their units are priced according to finishes and customization, so if you're interested, you have to place a call with them for a quote. The good news is that they're offering financing, as well as support to see if your region allows tiny living.
Photo: Tiny Topanga
That's another thing that Tiny Topanga seems to do differently from other builders. Naturally, they're enthusiastic about tiny living and its many benefits, but they also try to paint a realistic picture of what getting there entails. It's a complicated and obstacle-filled – and sometimes downright impossible – journey. It's worth it, but you should know what you're getting into.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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