Hi there — my name is Nicholas Guarino.
I’ve been building vans, buses, and tiny houses for the past 7 years, with 11 years total experience in construction. I officially founded my tiny house company, Sustainable Living, in 2020 while living in Ashland, Oregon, where I spent five years building and refining my craft.
I’ve recently relocated to Bellingham, Washington, and while I build a local client base, I’m offering consulting services for people working on their own builds or looking for expert guidance.
Background & Experience
I started my career as an electrician, then intentionally worked across the trades — plumbing, carpentry, framing, and finish work — to gain a full understanding of how homes actually function as systems. That broad experience naturally led me into tiny house construction, where I learned that small-scale living presents its own unique challenges.
Tiny homes, vans, and buses require creative problem-solving, especially when balancing DIY approaches with professional best practices. Over time, I began specializing in high-quality, non-toxic, and sustainable builds, with a strong focus on moisture management and mold resistance — one of the biggest failure points in small living spaces.
I’ve studied moisture mitigation from an engineering perspective: where moisture comes from, how it moves, how it affects indoor air quality, and how to properly control it. This expertise translated directly into van and mobile builds, where condensation and ventilation issues are extremely common.
What I Can Help With
• **Mold-resistant van and tiny house design**
• **Solar & electrical system design or troubleshooting**
• **Plumbing system design or troubleshooting**
• **General build troubleshooting** (tiny houses, vans, buses, trailers)
• **Vehicle selection guidance** — choosing the right platform for your goals
If you’re stuck, unsure if something was built correctly, or want to avoid costly mistakes, I can help you move forward with confidence.
Thanks for taking the time to read — feel free to reach out with any questions.
Nick Guarino
Sustainable Living
(347) 435-4315