The Escher Bay-Area Tiny House

We recently talked with Spencer about his experience living in the Escher tiny home, some challenges that he and his partner faced throughout the process, and some recommendations that he would offer to people considering going tiny.

Spencer goes on to say that “if you don’t have equity, then getting the funds is a tough road. At the same time, once you do get them funded, you’ll have it paid off much earlier than a traditional home.  And, while the secondary market for tiny homes is still young, I think they will retain value very well.  They also make excellent accessory dwelling units and vacation rentals if you ever do decide to purchase a traditionally-sized home.”

Cleanliness and order don’t necessarily translate into scarcity, however. “Tiny houses are just so much nicer than most of the houses and apartments that you might live in. Since they’re a lot smaller, it’s pretty easy to load them with meaningful materials and artisanal objects. It’s really nice living in a home that inspires you on a daily basis, and it’s hard to put a price on that,” Spencer mentions.

In fact, Spencer and his family wish that they had actually put less emphasis on storage space within their tiny home. “We have over 100 cubic feet of deep storage and barely use any of it,” he tells us. “When you move into a tiny house, you’ll also probably have lots of outdoor space, and it’s effortless to set up storage benches or a shed. So use that indoor space for something more useful or leave it open,” is one of Spencer’s suggestions for people thinking about tiny home living. 

Even in a home with reduced square footage, a good design allows the home to have several unique spaces. “We tried to make each area very distinct, full of inspiration and unique attraction, so the whole house really works to illuminate different aspects of life,” Spencer declares. Some of these unique and inspirational attractions throughout their home include “a river-stone tiled shower with the Nebia showerhead that is even better than a spa.” 

The Escher Tiny Home was conscientiously designed to integrate exterior and interior spaces as part of a larger biophilic architectural design. “We live in California with a very amenable climate, so opening up the garage door to our deck is such an extraordinary experience,” Spencer tells us. He goes on to say that “the bedroom is our favorite part (of the house). First, you can see through the giant picture window in that room from all over the house. So even when you’re not in the room, you still love that light and the views of the tree line. Then when you lie back in bed, there’s no wall behind you.  Just a giant window that opens up to a view of the stars.  Add to it that you’re cantilevered from the gooseneck, and it feels like you’re floating through the sky.”