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Fortune Cookie Tiny House on Wheels with a Balcony by Zyl Vardos


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If you (like me) also like balconies and have always wished for a tiny house on wheels with one…

Then it’s your lucky day. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been waiting for this.

Zyl Vardos has designed and built a mobile tiny home with a balcony for a client.

And in this post, you’re going to get to tour the entire thing!

This micro cabin is in the Fortune Cookie Style family of the Zyl Vardos lineup.

Fortune Cookie Tiny House with a Balcony

To tour the rest and learn more about this creative tiny house see below:

Ready to Deliver to the Client

Side View

Beautiful Exposed Beams

Front Door Entrance with Porch and Corner Seats

Interior

Kitchen

Fireplace

Lots of Built in Storage

Bathroom Shower with Tub and Amazing Custom Windows

Custom Ladders

More Storage

Custom Skylights with exposed Support Beams

Toilet in the Bathroom

Skylight from Above

Custom Built Windows

Custom Built Door to the Balcony (Accessible by Loft Inside)

Images © Zyl Vardos

Resources

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 41 comments… add one }
  • Beth DeRoos
    March 24, 2014, 8:41 pm

    Balcony? Does not look like you can stand up on that balcony, more like crawl out. Would also like to seem more tiny houses on wheels without the clumsy, 0ften in your way, hard to climb up, ladders for getting to the loft areas.

    • Jenna
      May 6, 2014, 2:09 pm

      Sleeping porch.

      • carla ifera
        April 25, 2016, 2:00 pm

        jenna……..thatz what I thinkin’………install screen……park under/near trees…….wonderful sleep space……:)

    • Peter Piper
      April 24, 2016, 1:11 pm

      I like stairways more than ladders, but I DO like a ladder that does double duty as a bookshelf. Have you seen one of these? It is a DEEP ladder that has books at the back under each rung with enough space at the front of the rung to step on to climb up. And for stairs, I like to see lots of storage built under the stairwell. I like to see everything do double duty. For instance, a sliding bathroom door can hold spices, on the kitchen side, of course! A full size sofa downstairs and do double duty as a pull-out bed for guests. Or if you are older and can’t climb, that bed would be your main sleeping area. I like to see a dining table that is an extension of the kitchen countertop so you can use it as prep space or as a dining table. You can fold it down out of the way when not needed.

    • M
      April 24, 2016, 10:55 pm

      Perfect meditation space.

  • Emily
    March 25, 2014, 10:01 am

    What lovely angles! Not only is the house gorgeous, but anyone sitting in that adorable balcony will have a gorgeous view of the world around them, too. You guys at Zyl Vardos do really amazing work.

  • Kathy
    March 25, 2014, 10:20 am

    Excellent craftsmanship ! Beautiful design… now to win the lottery so you can make one for me !

  • jerryd
    March 25, 2014, 11:23 am

    Great looking unit and I’ve always liked that form. But as a trailer, not so much. Too tall and the shingles will fly off if towed at highway speeds for long.

    I’d go more squat like an upsidedown onion with a bottom return to the center of say 6” . Done with planking of boards of ply or wood siding would be better especially of towed much.

    Designed well it could be very easy, low cost to build.

    • March 25, 2014, 3:20 pm

      Those shingles are rated for hurricane conditions. In addition, I use a special 304 stainless steel staple to connect them to the house. The pullout is greater than the usual nails, so wind ratings for these should exceed 150 mph!

      If that isn’t enough: I’ve NEVER lost a shingle on the highway. And I’ve personally towed every house I’ve built. That is several thousand shingles, all told.

      Just saying…

      • M
        April 24, 2016, 10:54 pm

        Your houses are Art that can be lived in and each one completely unique. You are the Frank Lloyd Wright of TH. Wish I could afford one! I’ll keep saving. Maybe someday …. ?

        • Patty
          April 2, 2017, 3:29 am

          I agree completely! Pure art.

    • Mariah McCord
      March 25, 2014, 9:49 pm

      would love to see a drawing of that jerryd….I cannot do the loft so…I am always hesitant about this type of tiny house. While it is true you get what you pay for…I also thought that for me…this build was a bit pricey.

      • jerryd
        March 26, 2014, 9:46 am

        Hi Mariah,

        Lofts are rarely worth much other than storage unless really large.

        Think about drawing it up yourself. It’s not that hard and will teach you a lot. Alex has several articles about doing it too.

        Just buy some graph paper/tablet, a mechanical pencil and draw until you get what YOU want.

        Then join Habitat for Humanity, etc to get building experience and help and maybe helpers. Done right in a yr or 2 you could have a very nice paid for TH for under $3k.

        It’ll take some study, work but think of it as saving $20/hr ;^)),

        Another is buy a quality shed of the size you want and fit it out as you like. There are some very nice ones out there.

        • May 11, 2014, 11:15 am

          Right on the shed recommendation. There are some decent pre made (panel) or kit sheds out there. Can’t beat a tiny house on a trailer frame for cost (or the extra head room if you get a tall one).

        • Theo
          April 24, 2016, 4:54 pm

          Yep, pretty much agree with all that. And anytime you see ‘custom’, it means more $. I’ve said all along that when/if I get to the point I want something like that (except my preference is a van to convert), I’ll be designing everything myself, so that way I’ll get what ‘I’ want, and not what someone else thinks I want. I just come here for inspiration, this time I think all the inspiration I got was maybe the porch seats. Woodwork looks good, but custom work means custom price.

  • Annie jane
    March 25, 2014, 12:09 pm

    LOVE THE SKY LIGHTS

  • Mame
    March 25, 2014, 1:07 pm

    That’s a beauty! Opposed to you, Alex, the ‘balcony’ does nothing for me and I would rather have the space enclosed within the unit. I love the skylights, the shape and finishings of the TinyHouse — just one question: Why is it such a very rare occurrence to see a backspash in the kitchen areas of these homes? If one likes to cook, keeping the wood behind the cooking area clean would be difficult.

  • March 25, 2014, 2:34 pm

    I don’t understand for the life of me why everybody puts these big windows in the bathroom. Who wants to be observed showering? So you end up covering it with blinds or curtains, and there’s a waste of a window.

    • Anon - O'Mouse
      January 8, 2015, 3:25 pm

      Sunlight is free after all. A curtain that admit lights but precludes a view is a nice option… and of course while you are doing other things like grooming light might be helpful 😛

      • Theo
        April 25, 2016, 12:44 am

        If you’re going to have a window in the bathroom, I wouldn’t, then frosted glass would be the way to go.

  • Bruce CG Gallagher
    March 25, 2014, 2:59 pm

    You know Alex, I think this is a beautifully rendered design that was built to
    the specifications of the client. There is a lot to like….the bathtub with a window view is very charming…though a metal tub gives me the shivers!:)
    But with this specific design I don’t see much of a lounging area from the photos..and then again that might have been the client’s wishes. The wood
    stove that they show in the picture is a Jotul Little Giant…rated to heat up to
    800 sq feet ….it requires 13.5″ of rear clearance and 21″ on each side and 13″
    on the corners….so that item is taking up a lot of real estate in a tiny house.
    I believe the interior of this space would be actually darker than the supplied
    images show….a function of the gain up that a digital camera does….if this
    were my space I would like to have more window light….especially for those
    short winter days here in Canada. I think the build of the compost toilet gives a real artisan’s touch…but to be practical …where is space to put the container for the sawdust etc. I am leery of custom skylights….(I used to see
    them when I was in real estate….you have to be a top notch designer to get them right) I would prefer something from a company like Velux and especially with an opening feature to let any of that built up heat escape.
    I think craftsmanship wise this is a very pretty unit…For me if I ever end up
    in a tiny home it will have to be a shed roof design like Brett Sutherland’s tiny home …I too prefer stairs , I am getting a little long in the tooth for the
    ladder thing.
    This offering of Zyl’s is definitely nice eye candy and some good design cues
    offered.
    Cheers
    Bruce

  • Dominick Bundy
    March 25, 2014, 5:28 pm

    Very odd, but strangely appealing as well… with ample amount of storage.. More appealing if it weren’t on a trailer..

  • Anne
    March 25, 2014, 10:40 pm

    Too small–the balcony would be great if I was a hobbit. It would be easier to climb the ladders with those big feet too. Stove takes up too much space and potentially overheat the space immensely. I would rather have one of those little wall-mounted marine heaters. Not only do I not like ladders, I don’t like chopping wood. If I were going to live in something this small, I would prefer a standard RV.

    • Paul
      May 10, 2014, 3:45 am

      …the balcony would be great if I was a hobbit.

      Come to New Zealand. We can personally arrange to turn you into a hobbit. Guaranteed, no Mafioso tricks neither… ; )

  • April 5, 2014, 11:08 pm

    Such a work of art, the exposed beams in the skylights are especially beautiful and elegant. And I think the little balcony would be a sweet little place to hang out but more importantly, I’d feel safer sleeping up in the loft knowing that I had an escape route in case of fire (unlikely I’m sure but you never know).

  • Meli
    September 30, 2014, 4:23 pm

    Work by a true artisan!

    Can’t believe how people can be so cruel.

    The composting toilet & woodstove are essentials to off-grid living. Lots of people perfer woodstoves, I know I do.
    I absolutely love all the shelf pull outs, makes everything so much better.
    Storage is such a nice thing in a tiny home.
    The skylights are a truly beautiful addition & make the space seem so open & more in touch with nature.
    I would probably string a small hammock across that balcony & enjoy it that way.
    The outside is really neat. It’s a different touch to a tiny house & not the same ol look with just different colors….it is truly different.
    I love all the custom windows.

    For all of us Artisans out there, we want something different & appreciate it.
    Some people just don’t know how to appreciate true art.
    Keep up the great work

    • Gigi
      April 24, 2016, 11:32 pm

      I agree with Meli. Abel Zyl builds gorgeous custom tiny homes. Some people criticize “custom” because it requires more money. Well, last I knew, nobody forces you to build custom or where to locate your home, but custom designs frequently us. So take what you can from each home and decide for yourself how to proceed.

  • Debbie
    September 30, 2014, 11:08 pm

    Meli have to agree with you. Love this. I personally want a woodstove in mine in case there is ever a reason I couldn’t get propane. Always want a way to stay warm.
    Beautiful and Thank You for sharing. You are such a great talent.

  • Sandra
    April 24, 2016, 12:17 pm

    This is really quite a lovely unit. My only comment, and it’s just a suggestion. The balcony (not sure it even needs one) should be on the opposite end from the door. Then a step down could be created to make it usable for more than some flower baskets.
    I also couldn’t see any place to actually live in it. No comfortable seating to be seen. I couldn’t live in it at all. But very pretty indeed.
    I do like how storage was addressed. I use my tiny house as a summer cottage, but wish I’d thought more storage out in building it. So kudos to the storage.

  • Marcy
    April 24, 2016, 12:52 pm

    When you see the words Zyl Vardos, you know you will see a unique and lovely piece of art that some gets to live in.

  • Phil
    April 25, 2016, 10:19 am

    Beautiful work. If I had a complaint it would be the stupid farm “tub”… All the wonderful craftsmanship and another horse trough for a tub..? A nice shower would be a better, useful alternative. Why is this a thing now?

    • Theo
      April 25, 2016, 3:49 pm

      I think the stock troughs are used more as ‘artistic’ then useful. That and they’re cheap, easy to find, and available small enough to fit into a small space. I definitely would not have one. If ‘I’ wanted to be artistic, I’d probably make a one-off wooden tub – a little time consuming maybe, but definitely not rocket science.

      • Phil
        April 25, 2016, 3:53 pm

        I get that. Cheap and easy. Keeps the “rustic charm” or whatever. Not very practical IMO though. This one is JUST a tub so not as bad, but often they are used as shower bases and they are terrible for that unless you use a ring shower curtain like a camp shower. That’s no way to clean yourself day in/day out… YMMV…

        • Theo
          April 25, 2016, 5:48 pm

          Got no issues with a shower curtain. Major issues with a stock tank as a shower base. If I just wanted a shower I would opt for a real shower base probable, with shower curtain or door. But what would really turn me on would be one of those walk in tubs, the ones with a little door, and a seat inside. With one of those you could take a shower, sit on the seat and shower, or sit on the seat and fill it up as a tub. Pure luxury that would be. A bit pricey, but would be well worth it in my book. Just imagine, hard day, go in shower, then fill it up, and have your own personal, and private, hot tub to relax in, just you, maybe some soft music, and a rubber ducky. Pure bliss.

  • kristina nadreau
    April 25, 2016, 2:11 pm

    anything by Abel Zyl (Zimmerman) is beautiful to me.

  • Marsha Cowan
    April 1, 2017, 3:30 pm

    Would be like living in a boat, and I love boats! It’s really beautiful! Totally unique. Love the tub and all the special boat like touches inside, like the stainless steel here and there, and the wood touches are wonderful.

    • Natalie C. McKee
      April 3, 2017, 8:26 am

      Per usual, it’s a stunner 🙂

  • Jake
    January 14, 2018, 6:27 pm

    Custom is custom
    If you want your own design, it’s custom.
    Zyl does custom.
    His works are functional art.
    His customer’s have ideas.
    Zyl artfully accommodates them, artfully.
    When I see “Zyl”, I look.
    I’m always amazed, but never surprized.

  • Bonnie Bell
    July 8, 2018, 6:44 pm

    Love Love Love the artistry of this beautiful little home .I would love one here but can it come across the country?( to New Hampshire)
    I am an artist and would very much love to live in art!

    do you deliver?

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