Minimaliste Tiny Homes does provide Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) certification, though not all clients require this certification. Jean-Phillipe mentioned that “we always build by the same standards, but the RVIA stamp is mostly required by insurances companies or financing institutions. It does demonstrate that the builders follow regulations, making sure that the tiny houses meet the standards for safety and quality. That being said, we think that the RVIA certification is overrated; most of the things they are checking is electricity, propane and plumbing. We think that there is much more to take into consideration when it comes to the integrity and quality of a tiny house. We suggest that people ask more questions to the builders about the specifications of the tiny houses they make, instead of taking the RVIA stamp as a proof of quality.”

Characteristics of The Ébène

The Ébène has a beautiful exterior that combines the Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique of preserving and waterproofing wood through charring the wood with other natural cedar finishes. As with other tiny homes, the interior space is designed to be flexible. The living room can easily be transformed into a larger dining room when company arrives for dinner. When asked about the favorite part of their tiny home, Meghan said that it was “hard to choose, but I would say our kitchen and our living room, as those are two places we spend most of our time. And Minimaliste did an amazing job bringing our vision to life.”

The bathroom has a shower and tub surrounded by sleek Muraluxe wall panels and a side-by-side high efficiency, Bosch Series 300 washer and dryer—ENERGY STAR qualified to save energy and money. The second lofted area is placed smartly above the bathroom, with a ladder for easy access that doesn’t reduce interior space.

Getting used to their tiny home took some time. Tori and Meghan explain that “the biggest challenge has been learning the ins and outs of our specific tiny house. Getting to know the appliances and the nuances of tiny house living, and knowing that we have different issues than a regular foundation house” have been some of the challenges. However, they have also learned the art of “being patient when issues do arrive.”

Once you have settled on a design that you love, however, you will be able to say, like Tori and Meghan, that “living in a tiny house has been an amazing experience, and I look forward to waking up every morning in my house.”