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Houzz Tour: A Sub-tropical Tiny House Packed With Clever Design Ideas
Two graduate architects are loving life in a stylish tiny house, complete with retractable bed and genius storage solutions
Affordability, the trend for increasing floor areas and environmental impact were the key factors in Lara Nobel and Andrew Carter’s decision to build a contemporary tiny house on wheels in Queensland, Australia.
The couple teamed up with builder Greg Thornton and, without compromising on modern comforts, have together brought their incredible design to life. Having moved into their home just one month ago, the pair hope to introduce the tiny house movement to more people who are budget-conscious and dream of owning their own home, or simply want the option of living off-grid.
The couple teamed up with builder Greg Thornton and, without compromising on modern comforts, have together brought their incredible design to life. Having moved into their home just one month ago, the pair hope to introduce the tiny house movement to more people who are budget-conscious and dream of owning their own home, or simply want the option of living off-grid.
Confined to 7.5 x 2.4m, with a narrow space and a small floor area, it was important the house felt spacious and generous, so the architects had to think of a clever layout and storage.
One nifty space-saving feature is the retractable bed, designed and built with the help of the couple’s friend, Nathan Nostaw. The bed is an expensive optional extra, but certainly adds to the modern comforts of day-to-day living in a tiny house. By night, the remote-controlled hoist and track system that’s built into a full-height storage wall lowers the bed down to rest, turning the living room into a bedroom.
When the bed is hoisted up, the couple can access their storage wall, which is where they keep their clothes and shoes. They keep it up here throughout the day for extra space. Its design and outer appearance also fits in with the clean white lines and grid-like aesthetic of the home.
On the opposite side of the house, close to the ceiling, is a cosy loft space just big enough to fit a bed for two and accessed by a removable ladder. The back wall was painted in dark grey to make the space feel more intimate, while the tiny louvred window allows natural light and fresh air into the area.
Walls painted in Monument, Colorbond.
Walls painted in Monument, Colorbond.
Lara says they’ve toyed with the idea of putting up a railing along the loft entrance to make it safe, and an optional extra room for children to use.
Take a look at these ways to carve out an extra room without extending
Take a look at these ways to carve out an extra room without extending
Andrew keeps his treasured record collection in the loft and enjoys spending time in here listening to music with his headphones on.
With almost everything visible from the one living area, it was important to the young architects that clear patterns and aesthetic rhythms were carried throughout their design. They help to organise the space and make it feel ordered, and the views tend to feel bigger.
“Clear sightlines and long views, good cross-flow of air, high raking ceilings and a strategy of organising the space using the structural grid were important ideas in creating that feel,” says Lara.
“Clear sightlines and long views, good cross-flow of air, high raking ceilings and a strategy of organising the space using the structural grid were important ideas in creating that feel,” says Lara.
Environmental considerations were also at the forefront of the designers’ minds. Recycled Australian hardwoods were chosen to help bring warmth and history to the new, transportable tiny house.
“[The timbers] have lived a life before this house, as bearers and joists in old Queensland cottages,” says Lara. “Old nail holes tell their story.”
The hardwood is also featured on the doors and windows, decking boards, kitchen worktop and shelves, all of which contrast nicely with the white interior.
“[The timbers] have lived a life before this house, as bearers and joists in old Queensland cottages,” says Lara. “Old nail holes tell their story.”
The hardwood is also featured on the doors and windows, decking boards, kitchen worktop and shelves, all of which contrast nicely with the white interior.
Lara’s mother, Annie Nobel, often stops by for a cup of tea. The duo entertain a fair bit in the tiny house as there’s more than enough room. This living room setup at the main side entrance to the home can comfortably fit guests and visitors. Lara says the most guests they’ve had at one time (using the deck and garden area as well) was 30!
Framed artwork, Lara Nobel.
Framed artwork, Lara Nobel.
A clever space-saving solution in the living room is this modular storage unit that trebles as an indoor coffee table and an extra seat if required.
See more clever storage ideas
See more clever storage ideas
The kitchen has everything a good home requires, including a fridge, oven, hob and sink. Using a large mirror for the splashback cleverly gives the illusion of more space. A compact laundry is opposite the kitchen.
For mealtimes, a foldaway table is suspended from the large window that faces out to the deck.
Tour another ingenious small home
Tour another ingenious small home
If you happen to need an extra bowl or spoon once you’ve already sat down to eat, all you need do is reach over to one of the cutlery drawers in the kitchen.
When the table is not in use, these dining chairs can sit outside on the deck, but they are actually borrowed from a friend of Lara’s while the pair continue to research the best option for their space.
When the table is not in use, these dining chairs can sit outside on the deck, but they are actually borrowed from a friend of Lara’s while the pair continue to research the best option for their space.
The inclusion of the wood shelving that lines the wall above the kitchen and leads right up to the ceiling provides the owners not only with extra storage, but a spot where they can display their favourite accessories.
They had to wait until the home had settled in its current location before they were able to dress the shelves with their earthy collections of functional handmade ceramics and glassware.
They had to wait until the home had settled in its current location before they were able to dress the shelves with their earthy collections of functional handmade ceramics and glassware.
The design of the home lends itself to off-grid living, as it processes all its own grey water for use in the garden, has a composting toilet, and is wired for solar power (although it’s currently running on mains power). Solar panels are next on the couple’s wish list.
The grey water runs off through a hose towards the lush garden at the back of the home.
The grey water runs off through a hose towards the lush garden at the back of the home.
Behind the sliding door in the laundry and kitchen is the bathroom and toilet. The same dark grey, used on the rear wall in the loft, is featured on the bathroom wall. It creates more atmosphere, without making the space feel any smaller. The tall louvres run almost floor to ceiling, and provide great cross-flow of air to the space while also letting in natural light.
The shower is a good size and the glass screen can open inwards or outwards to keep the space more functional. The tiled wall in the shower uses the same design as the black tiles seen beneath the windows in the kitchen. A second window in the bathroom is located in the shower – an ideal spot to keep a houseplant alive.
The toilet, being a composting system, creates nutrient-rich soil and requires no water to operate. “Now that we have the Nature Loo toilet set up, we are big fans,” says Lara. “It works great and there’s no issue at all with smell.”
The toilet, being a composting system, creates nutrient-rich soil and requires no water to operate. “Now that we have the Nature Loo toilet set up, we are big fans,” says Lara. “It works great and there’s no issue at all with smell.”
Lara and Andrew admit there were many challenges along the way when they were designing their tiny house. “Fitting a fully functioning house within the confines of a 7.5 x 2.4m area is difficult enough. Add to that the complications and competing interests of weight distribution, transport, off-grid systems, plus Australia’s appetite for huge homes and you start to get an idea of just how challenging it was,” explains Andrew.
Being both the designers and builders of their tiny house, Lara says it was an interesting process and they each juggled many roles. “We were acting as client, architect, builder, project manager and apprentice carpenters,” she says. “Sometimes, these roles were at cross-purposes and the internal – and external – arguments that resulted were an interesting part of the project.”
Reconciling these competing interests among the three of them – Lara, Andrew and builder, Greg – gave them all some understanding about how to consider one problem from multiple angles.
Reconciling these competing interests among the three of them – Lara, Andrew and builder, Greg – gave them all some understanding about how to consider one problem from multiple angles.
The modular deck off the side of the house was a key element to help expand the space, and is one of the couple’s favourite features. If they want to change their destination, it takes about two hours to pack up this deck; it’s an additional component of the house that’s transported in a separate trailer.
The house and deck are all organised around a 90cm grid, which dictates the placement of exposed LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) frames, kitchen cabinets, doors and windows.
The house and deck are all organised around a 90cm grid, which dictates the placement of exposed LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) frames, kitchen cabinets, doors and windows.
Having the deck as an additional living space added onto their home has made the tiny house lifestyle even more enjoyable for the pair.
The sofa pictured here fits perfectly over the exposed tyres of the house’s trailer. Andrew is planning to add a breakfast bar to this external side of the window to provide an optional external dining space.
The sofa pictured here fits perfectly over the exposed tyres of the house’s trailer. Andrew is planning to add a breakfast bar to this external side of the window to provide an optional external dining space.
When the sofa is moved, the tyres are visible. The house is classified as a caravan, which removes some of the hurdles of living off-grid – for example paying for town services that you may not use, which a caravan isn’t required to do – and also gives the homeowners the flexibility to move the house within or between properties.
Lara says there are already many fun stories about life in their first tiny house. One of her favourite was the time they spent living in it at the Woodford Folk Festival. “While everyone else was camping in muddy tents, we were set up in pretty luxurious conditions with a shower, cooking facilities and comfy bedding, and all the while in the heart of the action,” she says.
Lara’s father and mother, Annie, also came to stay during the festival, along with three other guests. “There were seven of us sleeping in the house – two in the loft, two on the bed and three on mattresses along the floor. It really is amazing just how much you can fit into this space,” says Annie.
“The first time we took it for a drive was also a momentous event and luckily it handled the trip well. We were all so nervous!” says Lara.
Lara’s father and mother, Annie, also came to stay during the festival, along with three other guests. “There were seven of us sleeping in the house – two in the loft, two on the bed and three on mattresses along the floor. It really is amazing just how much you can fit into this space,” says Annie.
“The first time we took it for a drive was also a momentous event and luckily it handled the trip well. We were all so nervous!” says Lara.
Lara says that a home small enough to fit on a trailer bed will always have a relatively low environmental footprint, especially if it uses recycled local timbers and off-grid systems. Andrew has begun to plant a lush sub-tropical garden around the house, which most likely means they will set their roots in this spot for a while before moving on again.
The couple are proud of what they’ve achieved with their tiny house and hope to inspire others. “The goal was to build something that’s small but still beautiful,” says Andrew, “big enough and well-equipped enough to make it a legitimate long-term housing option, not just a short-term gimmick.”
Are there any ideas you’d steal from this ingenious tiny house? Or have you already worked some clever designs into a small home? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
The couple are proud of what they’ve achieved with their tiny house and hope to inspire others. “The goal was to build something that’s small but still beautiful,” says Andrew, “big enough and well-equipped enough to make it a legitimate long-term housing option, not just a short-term gimmick.”
Are there any ideas you’d steal from this ingenious tiny house? Or have you already worked some clever designs into a small home? Share your thoughts and ideas in the Comments below.
Who lives here Lara Nobel and Andrew Carter (designers and builders of the house)
Location Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Size 18 sq m, plus deck
Budget AU$100,000 (£57,573)
That’s interesting Thirteen of these tiny houses could fit in the average Australian home; it takes up the area of two car parking spaces end to end, and you could drive it through a car wash
Lara and Andrew met at university while both studying architecture, and the two graduates have since side-stepped into carpentry apprenticeships. They teamed up with builder Greg Thornton to form The Tiny House Company, a small business that specialises in the design and construction of compact dwellings.
The trio began the enterprise with a research trip to Portland in the US, where the tiny house movement is well established. They then built this house, which is not only the couple’s home, but the company’s prototype. It’s made nine trips in the six months since its completion, having been displayed at various events, including the local Woodford Folk Festival.
It’s now residing on leased land in Brisbane, so Andrew has had a chance to start establishing a sub-tropical garden around it.