If people were fully satisfied with RVs, trailers, and all kinds of repurposed buses, perhaps there would be no need for tiny homes, but the truth is that everyone longs for that nostalgic feeling of “being at home” even when they’re on the road a lot. A tiny home can bring both of these together – the tender comfort of a traditional living space, and the total freedom of a mobile abode.
Tiny homes are the best thing out there that can serve as an alternative to both conventional houses and standard RVs. Of course, in each case, there are certain downsides, but many people all over the world find tiny homes better than most options. An adequately-sized and properly equipped tiny home can become the perfect travel companion for modern-day adventurers with a wanderlust, while also providing the comforting familiarity of a traditional home layout.
Tiny house Meridionale fits this description perfectly. A typically French compact mobile home with a length of just 5.5 meters (18 feet) and no more than 20 square meters (215 square feet) of floor space overall, Tiny Meridionale is built for the road. At the same time, its charming interior reveals the versatility and playfulness of a bigger and more modern house.
Don’t be fooled by the traditional wooden paneling and compact silhouette – this French house on wheels hides phenomenal functionality, enough to rival a conventional house for four. To top things off, Tiny Meridionale even boasts enhanced autonomy for energy savings and a more sustainable way of living. The fully-equipped version showcased in the gallery includes a complete solar power kit (you can see the solar panels on the roof) and a waterless toilet.
The corrugated metal roof features a gabled section that adds the timeless charm of a classic countryside home, and a single-slope section specifically intended to support the home’s solar panels. The beautiful exterior cladding, free of artificial colors and toxic paint, is entirely Douglas fir sourced from local Occitania woods that are also managed sustainably. Occitania is where Mon Reve en Bois, the builder of Tiny Meridionale, operates.
A somewhat unusual layout is coupled with clever modular furniture to add even better functionality to this small living space. Instead of the central placement that is more often used, the kitchen was moved to one end of the house. That leads to a limited counter space, but other than that, Tiny Meridionale’s kitchen offers surprisingly generous storage.
Photo: My Wooden Dream
Take a look at the ingenious shelves carved into the wall, that look more like tiny nooks, but that successfully replace the standard upper cupboards which would have been too bulky for this small area. A couple of traditional lower cupboards provide additional storage under the countertop, and tiny open shelves were also added next to the fridge nook.
The bathroom is located right next to this compact kitchen, featuring a timber door that blends in so seamlessly with the walls that it almost looks invisible. Inside, this small bathroom (which is very common for a classic French tiny house) features furniture that is made to measure in order to fit perfectly and also make the most of the limited floor space. That ultra-compact rectangular sink is unusual by American standards, but it works perfectly with the furniture and the space.
Tiny Meridionale hides several pieces of modular furniture that look as charming and playful as LEGO elements, but have a very practical purpose. In the kitchen, an ultra-slim console near the main entrance hides 3in1 functionality, with storage and display space on top, built-in tiny drawers at one end, and a large foldable extension that becomes a big dining table.
Photo: My Wooden Dream
In the lounge, you’ll also discover four little cabinets with pigeon-hole drawers that boast incredible versatility. They can be combined in the form of a modern coffee table for the lounge or stacked to create one, big storage unit with multiple drawers. When used separately, two sets of each can serve as perfect night stands for the lounge (which is meant to double as a ground-floor bedroom) and for the loft.
Owners get to decide how they prefer to use these modular cabinets, and they’re free to play around with all the options. The lounge itself was specifically intended for better flexibility. If furnished with a convertible sofa, it can be easily turned into a second bedroom by night, but there’s also the option of two cozy armchairs instead, for a classic lounge ambiance (you can see both options featured in the gallery).
Either way, this lounge feels spacious and cozy at the same time. It lacks the stunning views provided by the oversized picture windows of so many tiny homes these days, but it does have classic windows that bring in sufficient natural light and a beautiful view. For even more storage space, the builder carved shelves in the seating area, creating something that looks a bit like a nook, but without taking too much floor space.
Photo: My Wooden Dream
The staircase placement and even an added curtain can provide full privacy for this lounge, especially when it’s used as a second bedroom. It’s a great alternative to actually closing this space with a door, since it also allows for a wider, open space that can be used for other purposes or simply to add that feeling of spaciousness.
The staircase is a hybrid design with asymmetrical treads sometimes referred to as a duck-step staircase. It’s usually preferred in compact living spaces, such as this one, and Tiny Meridionale makes it extra stylish by painting the treads in a contrasting, darker color. Surprisingly, there was no built-in storage added to this staircase, since there are so many other options both in the lounge and the kitchen.
Its only purpose is to connect the loft, which serves as the main bedroom, to the ground floor. Beauty is in the details, and Tiny Meridionale has plenty. Its loft bedroom is elegantly hidden behind a solid timber wall that ensures full privacy, as well as safety. On the inside, this safety wall becomes a practical cabinet with multiple open shelves for both storage and decorative display.
Photo: My Wooden Dream
The room itself is surprisingly spacious for such a compact house, meaning that it fits a double bed with comfortable walk-around space, plus nightstands on each side. With pure timber paneling throughout, this bedroom has the ambiance of a lovely cabin in the woods, a perfect place to relax and reconnect with nature. It only lacks the large windows of modern tiny house lofts, but a charming little porthole right above the bed makes up for that.
Welcoming enough for four guests, and fully-equipped even for long-term accommodation, this French tiny house is meant to literally feel like home on the road. Its clever layout demonstrates a wise use of space with a focus on practicality, but tiny details throughout take it from basic to charming. Bespoke modular pieces of furniture are like the cherry on top, allowing owners to have more options and to play with different setups with no need for extra floor space.
The Occitania-based Mon Reve en Bois also makes tiny homes on wheels that are slightly bigger and that can accommodate more people, but Tiny Meridionale is a perfect example of how much can be achieved even within a little over 200 square feet. Full mobility shouldn’t mean sacrificing comfort nor style, and this French tiny house proves it.
Source: www.autoevolution.com
