A Passion for the Outdoors Inspires a Thriving Tiny Home Business

Photo: Austin Hopkins

During his career as a data scientist, Vlad Dubovskiy found he could no longer resist the call of adventure. He quit his job and spent many months watching YouTube videos to learn how to build a tiny home on wheels. He spent time traveling around the country living off grid and experiencing the beauty of America’s National Parks. 

Dubovskiy’s first project was a tiny cabin located deep in the Colorado Rockies that he built with his bare hands. This cabin became the prototype for his company.  He founded ELMNTL, a Boulder-based prefabrication company in 2017. “I felt so much privilege being able to step out into the wild every morning to have a cup of coffee in a new place,” he says. “I just wanted more folks to be able to experience and fall in love with the outdoors.” 

Photo: Austin Hopkins

ELMNTL’s roots are in Scandinavian-inspired wilderness cabins and saunas. Clean lines, functional elegance and comfort create dwellings that are deliberately crafted to harmonize with their surroundings. Dubrovskiy’s background as a software engineer is what drew him to the concept of modularity. ELMNTL cabins are versatile, modular spaces that are endlessly configurable. Owners have the choice of size and the option to extend their space at any time. 

By offering dwellings with a personalized look and feel, ELMNTL offers spaces that circumvent the additional costs associated with expensive, bespoke architecture. Dubrovskiy explains, “We wanted great design with luxurious natural materials to be available to everybody. With our concept of modularity, we invite people to create spaces unique to them where they can work, play, host and create.”

Photo: Austin Hopkins

Customers visit the “Configurator” on the ELMNTL website to browse options, select interior layouts and materials, choose add-ons, and order delivery. The process is a complete turnkey solution and a great way to add extra space for a guest house, studio, rental property or vacation get-away. 

Stepping into the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) market has generated increased success for ELMNTL. Their ADU units are completely factory-built and can be quickly installed with minimum site disruption. The company takes care of zoning, permitting, site assessment, feasibility studies and installation to ensure the process is seamless and completed in about seven months from start-to-finish. 

Photo: Austin Hopkins

ELMNTL dwellings can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Their modular concept and fully complete design make them ideal for remote or hard-to-access locations.“Colorado is really embracing ADUs, and we’re stoked about it,” Dubrovskiy says. “It’s awesome to see how these spaces can spark so many possibilities.” 

Photo: Austin Hopkins