This tiny house by the lake is one of the numerous masterpiece custom-built for individual owners by La Tiny House, which is the oldest and possibly most prolific tiny house builder in France. The adventure of a pioneering artisanal construction business started more than a decade ago, when a man with a vision gradually transitioned to eco-construction and later to tiny house construction.
As part of a team, he helped build what was considered the first tiny house in France, comparable to the ones in the US. Just a few years later, that trailblazing project blossomed into a flourishing business, following a year-long tour across France, where people were introduced to what was a new concept at the time. From then on, France quickly embraced the tiny living philosophy, and more and more people today choose to live in artisan-built mobile homes.
Inside, the light-toned wood paneling throughout, and the custom-crafted furniture, bring to mind the bright and airy interiors of Scandinavian tiny homes, where you can almost smell the aroma of natural timber. Accommodation for up to four people is offered in two lofts, but this not a basic dual-loft layout.
What stands out immediately is the creative access solution for the loft bedrooms. It’s an interpretation of a split staircase; one section is intertwined with the kitchen counter, which is almost unheard of in American tiny homes, and the other section has floating, minimal steps on a black metallic structure. Having a split staircase is certainly better than the more commonly used option of a smaller staircase and a movable ladder.
The staircase section above the kitchen counter integrates a couple of built-in storage cubbies and leads to the master bedroom. This loft is beautifully designed with an asymmetrical, curved edge, and a small decorative porthole that complements the A-frame shape of the roof perfectly. The room is spacious enough for a two-person bed, it has cute little built-in nightstands on each side of the bed, and a functional window for ventilation.
Instead of the standard solid safety wall, this room features a simple metal railing connected to a slatted timber panel that ensures a certain level of privacy. The panel goes all the way down to the countertop on the other side of the kitchen, separating the two lofts. It separates them without blocking the view. The second loft has a smaller extension that looks like a walkway, but isn’t actually intended for access from one room to the other.
This room has more windows and an unusual pop-up office desk under one of the windows. It connects to the ground level via floating steps – an ingenious solution that frees up ample floor space in the living room area. This beautiful, cozy living room is furnished with an L-shaped bench that extends from the farthest corner to the base of the staircase. One of the benefits is cozy room for multiple guests.
It can even be turned into a lovely dining area with a breakfast bar by the window and at least two seats. During get-togethers, this serves as a snack bar while everyone is comfortably seated on the bench. Other times, the same breakfast bar can become a private little home office with plenty of natural light and a great view.
Even without the breakfast bar, this intimate and snug lounge (with the added bonus of built-in storage) is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the view. With windows on two sides, it gets abundant natural light and becomes a good spot to connect with the surroundings. There’s no formal partition between the lounge and the kitchen, which makes the entire ground level feel more spacious.
The kitchen is typical of French tiny houses. It mixes rustic, custom-crafted cabinetry with modern appliances, including a cute mini fridge tucked under the countertop. The area under the staircase is a great coffee station, and the drawers and cabinets on both sides offer generous storage.
The same goes for the bathroom, which is big enough to include a separate laundry tower with a nook for the washer/dryer and storage space for linens on top. The wooden shower cabin and wooden toilet are a bit rustic compared to their typical American counterparts, but functionality is what matters. Bathrooms in French tiny homes often look like Nordic saunas because of the abundance of wood, but it’s part of their charm.
Plus, they often include custom-crafted vanities like the one in Naomi’s tiny house, which is just as decorative as it is functional, and certainly adds to the creative beauty of the whole house.
In the perfect setting, this French tiny house looks and feels just like a miniature castle. Size limitations can’t get in the way of artisanal craftsmanship and ingenious design. For the modern romantic, this castle on wheels is the ultimate dream home.
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Otilia believes that if it’s eco, green, or groundbreaking, people should know about it (especially if it’s got wheels or wings). Working in online media for over five years, she’s gained a deeper perspective on how people everywhere can inspire each other. Full profile
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