Tiny House Blog

This weeks Tiny House in a Landscape is a photograph by Trey Ratcliff and is titled “Tiny House in France.” Taken in Versailles, France Trey has this to say about where it was taken: So, Versailles is a monstrously huge place. I’m not sure how you could see everything in a day. I chose to concentrate this trip out in the royal gardens, and a confusing walk got me into this place. It’s not exactly secret, but I didn’t know about it until I walked up upon it!

It is called “The Hameau de la Reine”, and is generally known as the Queen’s Hamlet. It was built for Marie Antoinette between 1785 and 1792. It is lovely, and this is only one of the many little places I captured there…

See the full size photo and many more at Trey’s website Stuck in Customs.

I don’t cover appliances very often on the Tiny House Blog and I really should. Owen brought this one to my attention recently and I thought I would share it with you. If you are going to live in a tiny house a small kitchen is also part of the deal. Now that does not mean you have to settle for a camp style kitchen, there are some very modern ones available too. Kitchoo offers the Mini Kitchen, though not cheap at $7,500 it has most everything you will need.

The Mini Kitchen is a super compact and hyper-equiped kitchen that is also highly functional and stylish. When put away your guests will wonder where you made your wonderful meal. The Kitchoo Mini Kitchen is made in France so I’m not sure that they are available in North America. Go to Kitchoo to learn more.

Continue Reading »

Have you ever wanted to sleep on a cloud? If you are living in, or visiting the Bordeaux region of France, you can sleep (for free) in a tiny cloud house constructed by Zebra3 and the Bruit du frigo collective until October 31, 2011. Le Nuage, or The Cloud, can sleep up to seven people and is located by a lake in St. Catherine Park in Lormont, France.

The cumulous structure is built of wood and plexiglass and is part art, part practical living. The Cloud was created as a refuge from urban life and has an open living plan and integrated beds. There is no bathroom and cooking is done outside. Reservations can be made on The Cloud’s Facebook page. Continue Reading »

Ever since Kent posted the MiniCasas on the Tiny House Blog, my love of gypsy caravans has been renewed. The other day I ran across these gypsy caravans for rent and for purchase in France, and was amazed at how beautiful and spacious the designs were. The Roulottes de Campagne were designed by the same company who created the Carré d’étoile or the French Cube. Gypsy caravans like these are offered in over 50 locations within France. They cater to vacationing Europeans, but tiny house lovers can get a lot of ideas on how to live luxuriously in a small space with these beautiful photos.

The caravans are built from partially recycled timber and meet high quality environmental standards. The insulation is made from wool and the windows and doors have double glazing. A hot water heater and electrical wiring is included.

Most of these caravans are around 215-230 square feet and include a kitchen, a bathroom and sleeping facilities as well as plenty of storage, heating for winter use, outdoor living spaces and lovely details including polished brass port-hole windows. They come fully equipped and can accommodate up to four people. Some are even accessible for the disabled. The units start at €29.800 or $41,000 and take 2-4 months to be completed. Continue Reading »

Denis Fidelin posted a picture of his caravan on the Tiny House Blog’s facebook page and I have been wanting to do a post on it.

I tried to communicate with Denis but never heard back from him. So I took the next step and have used google to translate his web page and will share his caravan with you. Located in France, you can learn more about it at his web site.

The Caravan of Gaulier is installed in an isolated part of our area. You wake up in the heart of the vineyard transect with one vision for the vines to the eye and the village and its church Chavagnes below. Continue Reading »

Christian La Grange an architect in France sent me to his site, which has some real neat cabin designs as you can see in the pictures here.

Unfortunately Christian does not speak english so I have asked our readers for a translation. Thank you Herb for stepping up and helping me here with the translation.

«Presentation»

We are more and more confronted with the prohibitive cost of housing. Faced with this dilemma we propose to you a new path.

The path is achieved by cutting back and living in a small cabin.

Living is a reduced space allows the chance to cultivate the essentials and to adopt the life attitude of voluntary simplicity.

There is nothing to stop you from thinking of other uses for the space other than that of living.

Floor Plan

To reduce costs and take control of your life we advise self construction rather than depending on specialists.

What we offer in this site are small cabin plans that you can purchase.

The construction technique is wood frame but you are free to use the materials and techniques of your choice.

Included with the plans is a self study list of books and internet sites.«Presentation»

We are more and more confronted with the prohibitive cost of housing. Faced with this dilemma we propose to you a new path.

The path is achieved by cutting back and living in a small cabin.

Living is a reduced space allows the chance to cultivate the essentials and to adopt the life attitude of voluntary simplicity.

There is nothing to stop you from thinking of other uses for the space other than that of living.

To reduce costs and take control of your life we advise self construction rather than depending on specialists.

What we offer in this site are small cabin plans that you can purchase.

The construction technique is wood frame but you are free to use the materials and techniques of your choice.

Included with the plans is a self study list of books and internet sites.

Christian’s site is located at http://www.alternativecabanon.be/

«Cabanons»

If you are a handyman this may titillate you into dreaming about an alternate life do not hesitate to call Christian La Grange. He will propose to you a series of sketch plans to the end of constructing a small cabin of your desire.

Do not hesitate to call Christian La Grange. He will produce a series of sketch plans for the construction of the small cabin of your desires.

The sketch plans will compose of:
Floor plan and a transverse section
Frontal elevation
Explanation of techniques
Reference books and inter net sites
Materials list

Although there is no specific support Christian La Grange can provide limited advice and answer questions via email.

If none of the cabins shown are to your liking we can do a custom study for 300 euros or 30 euros an hour.

Under Construction

The plans themselves are self explanatory. The names are kind of fun and below are my translations:

The little Hermitage
Forrester’s shelter
Fisherman’s cabin
Writer’s hovel
«La Cahute de l’Écrivan» is straw bail construction with an outdoor toilet.
Shepherds cabin
Weekend shelter
Love nest

«Livres»

There are two books for sale but if you do not read French there is probably not much value in knowing more about this page.

View and Exterior

Interior Pictures