Levi Kelly, a tiny homes expert and builder, has made headlines with his recent project: a compact tiny home positioned in his front yard in southern Ohio. This unusual home is just 19.4 by 4 feet. It does an amazing job of representing the booming movement towards small living and is an exhilarating option to today’s housing market. Kelly and his family reside in Seattle. In a little over a month’s time, he was able to put this amazing build together for just under $5,000.
Kelly’s love for tiny homes sparked after his long travels around the United States. He’s stayed in and photographed over 300 one-of-a-kind Airbnbs on the journey so far. His experiences have made him an energetic advocate for living small. They have placed him at the intersection of design and functionality, meaning their tiny homes are cute and functional too.
The small digital nomad home includes a number of key features built for comfort and convenience. Inside, it features a built-in mini fridge with a folding faucet and a sink under a walnut countertop. The living space includes a tilting bed in the vaulted loft area, a storage bench for additional organization, and a portable toilet. Outside, Kelly added an awesome outdoor shower system that really extends the tiny home’s usefulness.
Kelly had a lot of materials in hand already, which helped them keep the comprehensive project cost low. Perhaps surprisingly, if not unsurprisingly, the biggest hit to the budget was the climate control system. The multifunctional, compact size AC and heating unit can cost as much as $2,800 to purchase outright. I got a refurb for less than $600! This smart tactical move allowed Kelly to stay within her budget. Beyond aesthetics, it helped maintain the tiny home’s temperature balance whatever the weather.
Kelly has field tested his creation, living in the tiny home himself several times with his family. Interestingly, perhaps the most impactful experience has been surviving a phalanx of enormous snowstorms with his three-year-old son. Those kinds of experiences people have given him a great perspective as to what works, what makes them livable in terrible weather.
When asked about his advice for others considering building their own tiny home, Kelly emphasizes the importance of establishing priorities early in the planning process. He calls on future builders to consider what they want most in a home. He suggests choosing a little bit bigger size to increase comfort without abandoning minimalism.
While the tiny home movement has become immensely popular over the past several years, Americans are hungry for more affordable housing choices and a more connected, convenient, and portable lifestyle. Kelly’s project captures this trend wonderfully. Perhaps even more importantly, it showcases how great design and thoughtful planning came together to create a beautiful, functional and flexible living space that’s ideally suited to today’s families.