Tasteful French Tiny House Ostara Makes a Grand Entrance

Judging from the explosion of blogs, books and television shows dedicated to them, it seems that tiny houses have become a big thing in North America. Barriers aside, the notion of a mortgage-free home that encourages you to live with just what you actually need is an appealing one.

But we're seeing an uptick of petite dwellings in Europe too. French builder Baluchon has done some lovely builds previously; their latest one is yet another stylish 20-foot-long tiny home, this time with a set of large, glazed doors right in the centre.

© Baluchon

© BaluchonNamed Ostara after the stable it is located in, near Toulouse in southwestern France, clients Nathalie and Sebastien wanted an unobstructed view of their horses from the home. The home's entrance is a big statement, but on a practical level also opens up the interior space to the grand outdoors. There's an awning that protects the entry from rain and direct sunlight.

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

Coming in, there's a grand little couch too, making the living room feel comfortable and welcoming for visitors.

© Baluchon

To one side is one of Baluchon's signature round windows, measuring 1 metre (3.2 feet) in diameter. In this area sits a small dining table, a small woodstove, and a flight of stairs going up to the large sleeping loft.

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

Upstairs, the loft stretches almost the entire length of the house and is netted on one side. The roofline is a bit awkward up here, but doesn't look like an extreme head-banging type of loft as seen in other tinys. There doesn't seem to be much clothes storage here, but the designers say it has been incorporated.

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

Back downstairs, looking to the other side of the house we see the kitchen.

© Baluchon

The kitchen is split in to two parts on either wall. There's a sink, storage, a mini-fridge and a flip-up counter that can be deployed when needed.

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

Beyond that is the bathroom, which has a shower, composting toilet, but no sink (there's one right outside in the kitchen), to save on space.

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

© Baluchon

Insulated with sheep's wool (underfloor), cotton, linen and hemp (walls) and wood fiber (ceiling), the home uses spruce flooring and oak for the various accessories, and cedar for the exterior cladding. No word on the cost of the project, but it is indeed a lovely little home that strikes the right balance between comfort and a tasteful austerity. To see more, visit Baluchon.

[Via: Tiny House Talk]