(Tiny Tips) – The housing affordability crisis affects people from all walks of life around the world. From young professionals to families with children to retirees, people are finding it difficult to keep up with rising rents and rising home prices. Many people are choosing alternatives to homeownership or less traditional living arrangements, whether co-living, living in multi-generational households, or choosing a smaller space to call home, whether it’s a micro-apartment, a converted vehicle, or a tiny house.
Granted, these solutions do not necessarily address the root causes of housing affordability, which include a lack of land, credit, labor and materials, as well as a lack of funding for social programs by corporate landlords and the “financialization” of the housing market. But for many, a smaller living space could be an opportunity to gain a foothold in the real estate market, at least for now. Also, most people don’t have any problems finding housing, but sometimes it’s just a disaster.
For New Zealand designer Rebecca, it was “a series of unfortunate events” that left the mother homeless, alone with her young children and unable to afford her Auckland rent. Fortunately, Rebecca had a sister who had a piece of land to fall back on. So Rebecca decided to design and build a small house of her own, which is now located near her sister’s house in the country. With “Big Living in a Tiny House” we get a tour of this brilliant little gem:
Designer’s Mirror-Filled Tiny House Is a Family Home for Two
Rebecca’s tiny house measures 10 x 35 feet and is extra wide with 1.5 feet of extra width. It may not look like much, but as we’ve seen with other extra-wide tiny homes, it can make a big difference when given more options for different floor plans.
The exterior of the house is clad in black corrugated iron, which contrasts with the white windows and gives the house a clean, modern look.
Rebecca also designed and installed a modular moveable deck that helps extend the interior space to the exterior. She has now turned this design experiment into a commercial small home product she calls Ready Deck Systems.
When you walk in you will be surprised by how bright the interior is. Despite the small footprint, Rebecca managed to create a space that feels truly positive through carefully placed windows and a minimalist approach to decor and finishes.
For example, the living room really feels like an oasis of comfort. The extra width allows Rebecca to fit into a larger sofa and make herself comfortable. Tall, sheer curtains not only let in light but also emphasize the height of the room.
In the kitchen, we see Rebecca’s love for mirrors. Not only do they reflect and increase the amount of light in a room, but mirrors can also give the illusion that the room extends beyond the walls—a clever design trick.
Everything in the kitchen has been designed to create a stylish look, from the cabinets that hide small appliances to the LED light strips hidden beneath the cabinets.
The bathroom is at the end of the small hallway, just behind the kitchen. Rebecca once again made good use of these mirrors on one wall, giving the impression that the room was much larger than it actually was.
The dusty-pink color scheme creates a soft ambience, while the spacious shower room (complete with its own window) creates a luxurious feel.
Rebecca’s son’s room is at the end of the hallway and is one of the largest children’s rooms we’ve ever seen in a tiny house. There’s plenty of room for his bed, storage for clothes and toys, and a floor-to-ceiling, luminous-painted star and moon wall for him to admire.
We returned to the hallway and climbed the stairs between the kitchen and bathroom, which led to Rebecca’s study and bedroom. She installed a series of drawers and well-hidden cupboards on the stairs, providing plenty of extra storage.
The space upstairs is really well done; not only did Rebecca create plenty of headroom by slightly lowering the height of the bathroom below, but her layout here was also brilliantly implemented. The home office has enough space for a desk with two computer monitors, a chair, and file storage. The long mirrored wall enhances the lighting here and also makes us believe that there is more space behind the wall.
The bedroom is also beautifully designed, raised on a storage platform and semi-surrounded by windows.
Rebecca estimates she spent about $142,000 building the home and preparing the property. Rebecca says designing your own home is satisfying, but even better is having a sense of family security during these uncertain times.