These Hawaiian Tiny Homes Are Tuned for Island Living. But They Can Be Shipped Anywhere

John Trujillo
·2 min read
13

Based on the Big Island, Paradise Tiny Homes makes units with pass-through windows, bar seating, and mango wood details.

Welcome to Tiny Home Profiles, an interview series with people pushing the limits of living small. From space-saving hacks to flexible floor plans, here’s what they say makes for the best tiny homes on the planet. Know of a builder we should talk to? Reach out.

Before starting Paradise Tiny Homes in 2019, Dan Madsen ran a skate shop and printing business on the Big Island, while his sister, Ellie, managed properties and operated her own design studio in Montana. She returned to Hawaii after the death of their mother, Barbara, a tragedy that reunited the siblings. The two took a road trip together and ended up talking about an idea Dan had to build tiny houses to help those who lost their homes in a 2018 eruption in lower Puna. Already a tiny home enthusiast, Ellie was keen to help.

Leveraging years Dan spent in construction and carpentry and Ellie’s business and design savvy, the duo bought a trailer and built a tiny house on it, doing most of the work themselves. The teal home’s curved metal roof, half-moon windows, and long lanai gave it a unique charm that helped establish the siblings’ newly minted company. Here, we talk to Ellie about how, even though Paradise Tiny Homes now offers four fully furnished models, every project turns out a bit differently.

The first build by Paradis Tiny Homes, the Oasis model is a 260-square-foot, wood framed house that makes continual use of curves: from the bump-out window in the living room, through the corrugated metal roof and the exposed beams beneath them, to the bend of the inside stair.
The first build by Paradis Tiny Homes, the Oasis model is a 260-square-foot, wood framed house that makes continual use of curves: from the bump-out window in the living room, through the corrugated metal roof and the exposed beams beneath them, to the bend of the inside stair.

What’s the most exciting project you’ve realized to date?

Every project is very exciting because every unit turns out different! Even when we are building the same model, we are building it for someone new. That energizes us and gives us new ideas every time. Every client we work with has a special request or two that take us in a direction we may have never gone of our own accord—and we get to create something that turns out extremely cool because of the brainstorming done with the clients.

Our most exciting project would have to be our first project. It showed us what we were capable of, and we saw massive support from the community. It was so exciting to know that we would have the opportunity to make more!This is the project with the curved roof and ceiling beams, clear roof over the shower bump-out, awning pass-through kitchen windows, and a six-foot circular window in front.

The entryway separates the living area from the kitchen, the bathroom beyond it, and the lofted bedroom above. While this layout is fixed, Paradise Tiny Homes offers to change almost everything else about the home's interior.
The entryway separates the living area from the kitchen, the bathroom beyond it, and the lofted bedroom above. While this layout is fixed, Paradise Tiny Homes offers to change almost everything else about the home's interior.
Pictured here and in the top image, the Oasis model features wide kitchen windows installed over long bars made of mango wood. They open out onto a porch, making it easier to use as an outdoor dining space.
Pictured here and in the top image, the Oasis model features wide kitchen windows installed over long bars made of mango wood. They open out onto a porch, making it easier to use as an outdoor dining space.

See the full story on Dwell.com: These Hawaiian Tiny Homes Are Tuned for Island Living. But They Can Be Shipped Anywhere
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