Little House on the Trailer

The Loft House – Grand Opening

Only three days until Little House on the Trailer’s New Unit Grand Opening coming up this Saturday! We’re excited for the release of our first-ever factory-built unit, the Loft House. This new display unit was custom ordered through the factory and finished by our Little House crew in Petaluma. With … Read more

Nate and Lisa’s Tortoise Shell Home

by Kent Griswold

Guest post by Lisa

When my husband and I first moved to the country after 20 years of living in the big city, we talked a lot about the different possibilities for housing. We were both sick of apartments. We fantasized about the different natural building techniques like cob and straw bale, but worried about exorbitant land prices here in California.

About five or six years ago we stumbled upon Jay Shafer’s Tumbleweed website and were completely charmed. This was pre-Oprah, before he was so famous. We had a free private consultation with him within the first few weeks after he moved out to California. A couple years later we went to one of his open houses, and recently went to his first showing of his new Craftsman style cottage. We love his work, but his prices were too high for our budget. Building it ourselves seemed too difficult, though I’m sure it is possible for some people.

The tiny house bug had us. We now knew how we could own our own home without land or a mortgage, but we needed a place to put the house.

Home Care Cottages

by Kent Griswold

Last week, I made a trip down to visit with Stephen Marshall of Little House on the Trailer. He is introducing his new line of little houses and going after a new need in the area. It is called Home Care Cottages, Solutions for Independent Living. These homes are built … Read more

A Truly Mobile Office

by Kent Griswold

Tiny Art Studio on Wheels Even if you don’t own land, you can own your own workspace, provided it’s got wheels. Stephen Marshall of Little House on the Trailer sells a tiny office- or in this case, a mobile art studio- that can be moved as a wide load for $1000. … Read more

Little House on a Trailer

by Kent Griswold

It’s a 12 foot wide home on wheels, but Stephen Marshall says his original house on a trailer isn’t a tiny home, but simply a little house. The main living/working space feels more full-sized than the wee houses, but the kitchen is outfitted with a mini-sink and refrigerator and the … Read more

Stephen’s Guest House

by Kent Griswold

Update below

Stephen Marshall from the Little House on the Trailer has been really busy this year with orders for spare rooms, guest houses and sound studios among other things. He has also been involved in setting up his tiny structures with solar for off grid use.

Stephen just posted some pictures of a guest house he completed recently and I thought it came out beautifully and I figured you would enjoy seeing it too. Nice work Stephen, thanks for sharing.

I just got off the phone with Stephen and the size of the Guest House is 12 x 24, and the completed price as shown is $60,000. Not including furniture, etc. The little red stove is electrical bought by the owner, most likely at Lowes or Home Depot, he was not sure. Stephen says there is a huge amount of interest in this one, so if you are considering it get in touch with him. His contact information is on his website. Click Here. Be sure and mention you heard about it from the Tiny House Blog.

Little Cottage on Wheels for Sale

by Kent Griswold

*** No Longer for Sale *** Yesterday, I was down visiting Stephen Marshall who owns Little House on the Trailer and he asked me to list one of his homes for sale on the Tiny House Blog.

You probably have noticed a few tiny houses for sale in the sidebar and I am excited that this is becoming a rather popular item and hopefully we will be showing more and more tiny houses as they become available. Unlike the other listings right now, this home is not a shell to be completed by you, but a ready to move in and live in cottage.

This cottage has beautiful reclaimed wood floors, and if you notice below the trim is missing in the photo it is because I shot this photo previous to Stephen having finished that little detail. It is completed now, I just did not get a photograph of it.

Mini-spaces Fill Many Needs

by Kent Griswold

Stephen Marshall of Little House on the Trailer who helped me develop the Sonoma Shanty Plans was recently featured in the Santa Rosa, Press Democrat.

The article Mini-spaces Fill Many Needs: Backyard getaway, office, playhouse, explains how Stephen has entered the world of mini-spaces and has created a business to fill this need.

Meg McConahey says Stephen builds heirloom-quality buildings that look like miniature houses, set on a foundation or on wheels. If you ever want to move, you can take it with you.

You imagine it and Marshall will build it. Just make sure your dreams are small — 120 square feet, to be exact. Marshall, a Petaluma-based veteran cabinetmaker and builder with 40 years’ experience, has turned his talents to making tiny houses.