Building a tiny house is more than just downsizing—it’s about customising a space that reflects your lifestyle, values, and vision for the future. At Aussie Tiny Houses, the design journey is a key part of that transformation—and it’s led by none other than Jess Love, an Australian Design Institute award-winning building designer and proud tiny house resident.
With Jess by your side, the design process becomes a thoughtful, collaborative experience.
From your very first consultation, she’ll help you make confident, creative choices—guiding you through everything from layout and finishes to fittings, colour palettes, and space-saving innovations.
Her rare combination of professional design expertise and personal experience living in a tiny house means every decision is grounded in both style and real-world practicality.
Whether you’re seeking a minimalist retreat, a mobile lifestyle, or a personalised forever home, Jess will help you turn your ideas into a space that feels uniquely yours.
To give you a closer look at what it’s like to design your own tiny home, we sat down with Jess to get her insights on the process, the possibilities, and the thoughtful touches that make tiny living truly work.
Q: What makes working with Jess such a valuable part of the ATH journey?
A: I combine my professional expertise in interior architecture with my personal experience living in a tiny house. This gives me a practical, empathetic approach to design—ensuring every element not only looks beautiful but works beautifully too. There are so many little things people don’t always think about before living tiny—like where you’ll put your laundry basket, how often you’ll need to access storage, or how lighting affects the feel of a small space. My job is to help you plan for the everyday moments as much as the big ones, so your home supports your lifestyle from day one.
Q: When does Jess become involved in the design process?
A: Once your contract is signed and your build date is set, that’s when we’ll be introduced, and from there, I’ll work closely with you every step of the way. I help personalise everything—from the layout to the finishes—bringing your ideas to life and turning your vision into a beautiful, functional home.
Q: I’ve never built a home before. Will the design process be overwhelming?
A: Not at all. With years of experience working closely with customers—and living in a tiny house myself—I understand how overwhelming building a home can feel. That’s why I take a warm, collaborative approach and guide you through a clear, step-by-step process. You’ll get easy-to-read drawings, visual references, and checklists to make decisions simple and stress-free, whether you’re local or working remotely. You’re truly in the best hands.
Q: What types of decisions will Jess help me with?
A: I’ll support you in choosing everything from fittings like ovens and fixtures such as range hoods, to finishes like benchtops and flooring, plus colour schemes and lighting. My goal is to help you balance your personal style with practical functionality, creating a space that’s both beautiful and livable.
Q: How does Jess use colour to make tiny spaces feel bigger?
A: I recommend keeping walls and cabinetry in neutral tones to create the illusion of more space. By aligning colours across flooring, benchtops, and stair treads, I create a seamless visual flow that makes your tiny home feel larger, lighter, and more cohesive.
Over the years, the Team has explored an array selection of internal white paints and found one particular colour to be the most universal in tone. From here we’ve matched our standard cabinetry and optional roller blinds to the same shade of white. The aim here is to make the inside feel as large and lavish as possible. Extending your wall colour onto built-in cabinetry or open shelving reduces visual fragmentation, helping the space feel more unified.
Light colours such as whites, off-whites, soft greys, beiges, and pastels reflect more natural and artificial light, helping a space feel airy and expansive. Cool tones like soft blues, greens, and lavenders also help; they tend to visually recede, making walls appear further away and rooms feel more open.
Using varying tones from the same colour family across walls, furniture, and flooring creates a cohesive, uninterrupted flow that makes a space feel larger. Minimising contrast between elements—such as walls, trim, and cabinetry—helps avoid visual clutter and fosters a seamless, spacious effect. Matching or closely coordinating floor and stair tread tones creates a more seamless transition, avoiding abrupt changes that can make a space feel enclosed.
Vertical elements like the internal VJ wall lining or internal batten screens, draw the eye upward, enhancing the perception of height. Similarly, horizontal lines or lighter tones along long walls such as the external cedar feature walls can create the illusion of greater width.
Q: How do you adapt tiny house designs to suit different climates across Australia?
A: Absolutely. Because we work with a wide and diverse range of customers, we understand that everyone’s needs and lifestyle preferences are unique. When designing a tiny home in Australia, it’s also essential to take into account the country’s varied climate zones.
In hot or tropical regions, we prioritise cross-ventilation, shade, and reflective materials to help keep your home cool and comfortable. In colder areas, we focus on insulation, passive solar design, and double-glazed windows to retain warmth efficiently.
For dry or inland climates, we consider strategies like rainwater collection and designing for temperature fluctuations. And in wet or windy coastal zones, we recommend durable cladding, elevated structures, and well-sealed exteriors to withstand the elements.
No matter where you’re located, we design with the sun’s path and local conditions in mind—choosing flexible, climate-responsive materials to ensure your tiny home stays comfortable and energy-efficient all year round.
Q: What are some of Jess’s favourite current design trends?
A: Many clients are opting for rich, chocolate-toned interiors to create a cosy, cottage feel, or light, coastal palettes for a fresh, open atmosphere. I love helping them explore both timeless and trending looks to match their taste.
A popular interior design trend blending timeless elegance with modern sensibility features a harmonious mix of green cabinetry, brass fittings, and marble-look benchtops. Rich, earthy green tones bring warmth and depth to kitchens and bathrooms, while brass hardware and tapware add a touch of vintage charm and sophistication. Marble-look surfaces—such as our compact laminate range—provide the luxurious feel of natural stone with greater durability and less maintenance. This aesthetic pairs beautifully with the clean lines and natural textures of Scandinavian and contemporary design, where light timber accents, minimalist forms, and an emphasis on functionality create spaces that feel both grounded and refined. The result is an inviting, stylish interior that balances nature-inspired elements with modern finishes.
Q: What’s Jess’s top tip for getting started?
A: Getting started with your tiny house design is an exciting step toward a simpler, more intentional way of living. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to spend a few nights in a tiny house—there’s no better way to understand how the space truly functions day-to-day. Notice how you move, where you naturally store things, what feels spacious or cramped, and which features bring you joy (or frustration). Immersing yourself in the lifestyle, even briefly, can offer valuable insights that will help shape a home that genuinely supports how you want to live.
“Don’t stress about making all your choices at once. There’s a natural rhythm to the design process, and I will guide you every step of the way.” I will confirm the main design features with you and optimise functionality of the space to meet your needs. Some clients know and choose their finishes early on in the home buying process, especially if they’re visiting the showroom in person, but there’s time to explore as your final decision happens when we finalise the colour scheme, create a mood board and match everything to your aesthetic style.
We recommend living in your tiny house as it is for a little while before committing to built-in or custom furniture—especially if you’re still forming a clear vision or want the flexibility to evolve with the space. Experiencing the home firsthand helps you understand how you truly use it, which areas feel functional, and where adjustments will make the biggest impact. This approach allows your design decisions to be more intentional and tailored to your lifestyle as it naturally unfolds.
Q: Can I consult with Jess even if I don’t visit the showroom in person?
A: Yes! Many ATH customers live remotely, so we have systems in place—like 3D drawings and digital checklists—to ensure the design experience is seamless from anywhere in Australia. And I’m also just a phone or video call away!
We understand that making design decisions through a screen can feel overwhelming at times—it’s not always easy to visualise how things will come together in real life. That’s why we’re here to support you every step of the way. With our extensive experience and wide collection of past builds, we’re able to provide additional guidance, inspiration, and examples—both virtually and through ongoing conversations—to help you feel confident and well-informed as your design takes shape.
Q: What sets Jess apart from other designers?
A: What sets me apart from other designers is a foundation in Interior Architecture, where design thinking begins with working within tight spatial constraints—similar to designing for a plane, train, or compact mobile environment. This background has shaped a deep understanding of how to maximise functionality, flow, and comfort in even the smallest of spaces. Coupled with a genuine appreciation for small-space living and minimalism, my approach is rooted in creating thoughtful, efficient, and beautiful designs that support a simpler, more intentional lifestyle. I don’t just design small—I celebrate it.
Wondering how and when to choose your custom options? Tune in as Jess Love shares expert advice on when to make your selections—and breaks down exactly what’s meant by fixtures, fittings, finishes, and hardware. You’ll also pick up practical tips on how to create a cohesive look, from aligning your benchtop with your flooring to using a neutral palette to open up small spaces.
Whether you’re building your dream tiny home or just getting started, Jess offers guidance that will help you make confident, informed choices every step of the way.
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