Tiny Houses

Tiny house maximizes limited space with smart interior layout

Tiny house maximizes limited space with smart interior layout
The Ræv's living room includes a large sofa bed and a dining table, with a very small wood-burning stove for heat
The Ræv's living room includes a large sofa bed and a dining table, with a very small wood-burning stove for heat
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The Ræv measures just 20 ft (6 m) in length
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The Ræv measures just 20 ft (6 m) in length
The Ræv is based on a double-axle trailer and finished in red cedar, with aluminum accenting
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The Ræv is based on a double-axle trailer and finished in red cedar, with aluminum accenting
The Ræv features a contemporary, modern design that offers something a little different from the more popular cutesy cottage-like tiny houses that dominate the market
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The Ræv features a contemporary, modern design that offers something a little different from the more popular cutesy cottage-like tiny houses that dominate the market
The Ræv's living room includes a large sofa bed and a dining table, with a very small wood-burning stove for heat
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The Ræv's living room includes a large sofa bed and a dining table, with a very small wood-burning stove for heat
The Ræv's interior is finished in spruce and looks light-filled thanks to the generous glazing
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The Ræv's interior is finished in spruce and looks light-filled thanks to the generous glazing
The Ræv's kitchen is well-stocked for a French model and even includes a dishwasher, as well as an oven, four-burner propane-powered stove, sink, fridge, and cabinetry
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The Ræv's kitchen is well-stocked for a French model and even includes a dishwasher, as well as an oven, four-burner propane-powered stove, sink, fridge, and cabinetry
The Ræv includes a storage space for the owner's bow and arrows
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The Ræv includes a storage space for the owner's bow and arrows
The Ræv bathroom includes a shower and toilet
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The Ræv bathroom includes a shower and toilet
The Ræv's bedroom is a typical tiny house-style loft space with a low ceiling and a double bed
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The Ræv's bedroom is a typical tiny house-style loft space with a low ceiling and a double bed
The Ræv's upstairs loft includes a netted area for relaxation, increasing the living space on the upper level
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The Ræv's upstairs loft includes a netted area for relaxation, increasing the living space on the upper level
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With their punishing space constraints, French tiny houses are always going to be a compromise – it's simply not possible to fit the features found in the huge North American models. Given it only had a length of just 20 ft (6 m) to work with, France's Baluchon managed to squeeze an impressive amount into its latest contemporary model, which includes a netted loft area, lots of storage space, and a well-stocked kitchen.

The Ræv (which is Danish for Fox) is finished in red cedar cladding and aluminum, and based on a double-axle trailer. Power comes from a standard RV-style hookup.

Visitors enter the home into the living room. This looks relatively spacious and contains a large sofa bed with integrated storage, as well as a dining table and a seriously small wood-burning stove that serves as the main heating in the home. The glazing is generous and fills the simply finished interior with lots of natural light.

Adjacent to the living room is the kitchen area. This has a lot of storage space including a wardrobe that conceals the owner's bow and arrows. As far as appliances are concerned, it contains an oven and four-burner propane-powered stove, a dishwasher, fridge, and a sink. A sliding door with a handy chalkboard built into it leads into the bathroom. This looks quite compact and has a shower and toilet, with a safe stashed away in the toilet's cabinetry.

The Ræv's interior is finished in spruce and looks light-filled thanks to the generous glazing
The Ræv's interior is finished in spruce and looks light-filled thanks to the generous glazing

The Ræv's upstairs area is reached by wooden steps and includes the sort of loft-style tiny house bedroom with a low ceiling and double bed that regular readers will be more than familiar with. There is one neat addition though: a netted floor is also installed and, like Baluchon's Sïana, can be used as a relaxation or reading area, boosting the available floorspace, while not blocking the daylight.

We've no word on the exact cost of the Ræv, but Baluchon's tiny houses typically start at €80,000 (roughly US$85,000).

Source: Baluchon

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2 comments
2 comments
IvanWashington
fairly spendy. many covenant communities won't allow them for full-time residence.
Nobody
I don't get tiny homes. My 19 foot travel trail beats any of them for storage, comfort and livable space. With a 2,000 watt generator and full water tank, I can spend a couple weeks anywhere off the grid with heat or air conditioning. The travel trailer is also much, much cheaper. Most of these tiny homes look like fancy play houses for the kids.