Ingenious 280 Sq. Ft. Tiny House Features Brilliantly Curved Roof (Video)

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Updated October 11, 2018

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There's a undeniable charm in the idea of being able to move your home to wherever you may travel, and that's probably the reason why tiny homes are so appealing to the imagination. Of course, in this case one has to adapt to a smaller space, and some people do feel that a 150-square-foot tiny house is too small.

But what about small homes that are above the 200 square feet mark? There can be a world of difference in getting creative about a few square feet, and that's what Esk'et Tiny House builders have done with this outstanding 280-square-foot home that feels spacious and modern, yet distinctly rugged and well-adapted for the cold Canadian winter. Take a tour:

Seen over at Tiny House Talk, the Esk'et Sqlelten tiny house is based out of the Esk'etemc First Nation community in traditional Secwepemc territory, near Alkali Lake, British Columbia. ("Esk'et" is the Shuswap word for Alkali Lake, "Sqlelten" is the word for salmon.) Journeyman carpenter Robert Johnson created this unique dwelling that goes beyond the usual gable roofed tiny house. The one-of-a-kind roof is made with lots of curves, which softens any exterior boxiness and to give the interior space a more uplifting feel. There's hand-carved details of salmon and bear on the trim and custom-made barrel-shaped front door, as well as parts treated with the shou sugi ban method of wood preservation.

© Esk'et Tiny House

Inside, one is greeted with a double height space that centers on the kitchen, which features a very generous counter graced with a routered live edge. The home uses propane for heat, via a modern, metallic corner fireplace.

© Esk'et Tiny House

To either side are two lofts. One is accessible by a ladder, and is lit by two lovely round windows. The other, the main sleeping loft, is reached via an ingenious spiralling stair-ladder hybrid that is open enough to allow the view through.

© Esk'et Tiny House

Upstairs is one of the best sleeping lofts we've seen thus far: oodles of headroom, well-lit and just looks darn comfortable to tuck into for the night. A real space.

Esk'et Tiny House/Video screen capture

The bathroom is well done, and hides brilliant details like the rolling, in-wall storage cabinet that's hidden behind the shower.

Esk'et Tiny House/Video screen capture

A lot of the charm of this great tiny house is due to its complex roof, making it one of our new favourites. It doesn't feel small yet manages to stay within the footprint of a 20-foot trailer, and is packed with inventive ideas for enlarging the overhead space, storage and stairs. What's more, the vitality, humour and creativity of the maker shines through; one can't help but love this small house, even for those who aren't overly fond of tiny spaces! You can watch the construction videos of this clever design (plenty of tips for cold climate builds and how to calculate for a curved roof), and find out more over at Esk'et Tiny House.