In this post you’ll get to meet Teal from Wishbone Tiny Homes along with one of their 16′ long custom built tiny houses on wheels.
When you go inside you’ll find there’s an open living area, kitchen, bathroom, and upstairs sleeping loft just like most tiny homes.
Thanks to the folks at Tiny House Giant Journey, we also have a wonderful video tour you can watch. Please enjoy and re-share below. Thanks.
Wishbone Custom Tiny Homes on Wheels
Images © Wishbone Tiny Homes
Images © Wishbone Tiny Homes
Video: Custom Tiny House Tour by Wishbone Tiny Homes
Original story: http://tinyhousegiantjourney.com/2014/12/20/asheville-nc-wishbones-mountains-and/
Resources
- Original story at Tiny House Giant Journey
- Wishbone Tiny Homes
- “LIKE” Wishbone Tiny Homes on Facebook
- Inquire about your own build with Wishbone Tiny Homes
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Alex
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I have a question. When I see bench seating I see ‘please do not stay’ to any one who dares come by to visit. Anyone actually LIKE sitting on such uncomfortable seating areas?
La-Z-Boy makes a fabulous “Twin Sofa” which folds out into a single bed and the mattress is made of memory foam which might just fit into that space especially if you are doing a custom build. It comes in a variety of fabrics, two pillow back rests and a couple of throw pillows, too. It’s very comfortable to sit on and sleep on for a two-in-one tiny sofa. You might want to see if this fits your needs.
IKEA has also come out with a small sofa. It converts to a single bed or can be made into a double. Very easy to use and make up quickly.
I agree. I would have an apartment size real sofa.
Beth — I kinda agree — my butt would not like it at all 🙂 I have seen tiny houses that used actual couches and they were more to my liking as they seemed more homey and comfortable. Now of course if I was a tiny person living in a tiny house this type of seat my work out just fine 🙂
I will also say as a large person i worry about lofts supporting me etc etc etc steps ladders etc etc …. I think I would be more suited to a one level tiny house that had to have a permit to tow for wide width — lol being i’m wide width — digressing .
Shelby, I TOTALLY agree with you! I am a large person too and also have disabled legs. I am looking for one with an escalator. Yeah, right. LOL “wide width.”
Shelby and Sarah, your answer may be to look down and not up…. A tiny home with a raised kitchen or living area could accommodate a pull out bed beneath the raised floor. With the right size wheels or turning wheel pulley system you will be able to pull/push the bed back under the raised floor.
A ramp if you are wheel bound or 2 steps up if using cane or crutches will permit you regular access to the kitchen or living area. These can be integrated into the bed footboard or even pushed out of the way for sleeping.
This is also a tiny home solution for those who are heavier, have unstable balance or are uncomfortable with heights.
This has some very nice features. But a sleeping loft is not one of them. I have disliked loft beds since I was a child, so age and/or disability have nothing to do with my dislike. There are a number of satisfactory options, however they are almost completeldisregarded. At present I am seeking a high top van, to convert to a camper for short trips, probably none over about a week in length. Yes, it could have a loft bed, however you can safely bet the ranch it won’t. I have done, am still doing, a huge amount of on-line searching for ideas. One of the top contenders just now is a table with a bench on each side. The bed would rest on the table top and bench backs in use, and while traveling. When not in use, or not traveling, it would either be hinged so it would fold up against the back door, or raised to the ceiling, and lowered for use or travel. In all of my searching, I have seen only one vehicle with a similar setup; but a lot with lofts of various types. Lofts, bah. Oh yes, I am 74, so I’ve disliked lofts long than most of you have been alive, so I do not need people criticizing my dislike of them. You are welcome to like them, I do not.
Theo, do not block the back door at any time. An important safety feature in case of fire. You probably don’t often see items hinged to the back door because it may be against most manufacturing/building codes in North America.
What I would suggest, search Ana White from Alaska who builds tiny homes. She has some very clever ideas. One of her homes has a bed which lowers when needed and raises almost to the roof when sofa area below is being utilized. It is made using an automatic garage door system, and costs less than $500. Every tiny house she constructs includes different space and storage ideas. Her tiny home tours have several different bed solutions for those who do not use lofts.
I think that bench might be quite comfy if it had a taller cushion on one side. Also maybe a bit wider so you could curl up with a book better, but it may just be the camera lens making it appear narrowish. I think westerners are too use to their overstuffed couches and plush beds with boxed springs. I don’t think it takes a foot or more of cushions behind your butt and back to be comfortable.
The kitchen and bath are certaily adequate, but the living space otherwise is woefully short as far as I can see. I couldn’t climb a ladder to the sleeping area and would rather have a comfortable couch that opens to a bed.
I’m not a fan of the recessed doorways. That dinky seating area looks uncomfortable and tight. I really like the side door and great room effect.
I’d replace the window-seat by the door with a built-in desk, I think, and add dormers on the loft so it’s not so claustrophobic up there.
Also, I don’t understand why more Tiny Homes don’t use Tansu stairs (here’s a gorgeous example, though I wouldn’t pay their price for it: http://easternclassics.net/products-page/bedroom/step-chest-kaian-tansu/) instead of ladders. You need storage anyway, so why not put it under your stairs?
AmyCat, there have been many examples of stairs with storage below displayed on Alex’s site. However, most are built-ins made of solid wood.
Furniture is often made of chip board with a wood veneer and not able to withstand walking on their tops. Going up and down these cubes several times a day, over a few years, could extensively damage Tansu, and may be especially unsafe if you are over 200 lbs.
In addition, most furniture is between 16″ – 22″ depth which would make the stairs very narrow and no area to secure a handrail to. But given all of that, I think the real reason we do not see these used often is, like you said; the cost. Probably double the expense of built in stairs with storage.
Very nice. However, I like the ladder set-up to be in front of the bookcase where the ladder rungs match up with the shelves on the bookcase. This sort of setup for the ladder sorta makes the ladder disappear when it’s not in use. And you don’t have to move the books because they are recessed such that the ladder does not interfere with them. When I first saw this setup, I decided that it would be the one I would use for ladder storage.
I really like the washed tone wood in this house. It give color and energy to what can be too much white wood. For a small (16′) house, it’s very nice. I do prefer a side entrance but I’m looking for something different from most. I’m gathering ideas for a movable store to tow to fairs and events.
As cute as this tiny home is we really aren’t looking at a design we haven’t seen before. And for me this design has two flaws. One is the cramped loft and the other is placement of a toilet in close proximity to a food preparation area. Surely the time has come to do better?.
Alex what is the price on this tiny house? Could not find it on their website. I love it. But I would like to have no built in seating under the window and I would want an RV flush toilet.
Thank you for sharing this house with us- I love the color and touches on it- just beautiful.
Glen
I think you are spot on with both observations. Dormer-type windows give more light/space to a loft area. And since the kitchen is pretty small anyway, why not put some sort of L-shaped kitchen in the Bay Window area and move the sitting area to the back outside the bathroom? The homes with bathrooms virtually in the kitchen, and/or with ladders to the loft over food prep areas puzzle me. As you say, this is really just another Fencl-type design from the original Tumbleweed Homes. Where are the innovative designs? Surely there has been enough time now to come up with newer floor plans.
Totally like it! I think it looks good outside and livable inside, maybe an oven in the kitchen under the burners. I liked the window seat at front of the house. That’s where I would be using the internet from with my laptop or tablet. Rather have plain wood walls instead of that white stained look. It’s still livable looking enough to move into it.
Sleeping lofts. I’ve thought about these and certainly wouldn’t want to climb such tired or with a bad leg.
Seems there could be two options;
1, Hinge a substantial stair at the top, raise and lower it by rope and pulley. It would not be the best looking when stowed but would be safer in use; especially if fixed to the floor by a bolt when lowered.
2, Use a 12 volt boat winch to raise and lower a platform, again using pulleys but with wire rope. Failsafes easily contrived.
Love this. But if they made it a 28ft it would be perfect. This way you could make the bathroom bigger and add a sink. make the kitchen bigger and add an apartment size oven. Plus have more living space. After all most of these Tiny home will be stationary.
My first thought: This is what my tiny house design would look like. Love it.
Second thought: I would like the bathroom to open to the main room in stead.
Kansu stairs next to the wall to make up for the lost storage space where the door is.
Real couch in stead of the build in.
Move the tall shelves in the kitchen to were the door was.
Third thought:
I love to cook and when I meet with friends, we cook together. I would rather want the kitchen along all the space one of the long walls.
And then storage at the end wall where the kitchen was.
And…..then it is another house. But this one is still very charming and very inspiring.
Many of these tiny homes are built with younger folks in mind, thus the ladder loft designs. And as others have noted after a hard day at work, you want to sit down somewhere comfortable and just relax which is why I prefer tiny homes that can accommodate a couple comfy chairs and/or a comfy love seat, small sofa.
Am so looking forward to designs that have people with physical limitations in mind. Have friends who are wheel chair athletes, one who uses Canadian crutches, another who cannot do ladders, and all would love a tiny house on wheels that had bathrooms and sleeping areas accessible to them.
Yes I Like harmony of the colors of the Raimbow in Soft, Delicate Key
Every bathroom needs a sink! No exceptions. I hope I don’t have to explain much about why it is needed.
No mention of price, probably for the best. Kudo’s to all the builders who can make a tiny house about a twentieth of the size and still charge the same as a 1500sq to 2000 sq foot house.
Anne, maybe like myself you wondered why Tiny Homes seemed so expensive. Then I started to research. First, look at the cost of a new build 1,500 sq ft home… not a resale. You may be surprised by the high price. In my area (<40k population) new builds under 2,000 sq ft. over the past 5 years have increased in price by 65%. I was shocked.
Lumber has become very expensive. The price of labour has increased and is around half of the total cost. Tiny Homes on Wheels must be designed and built to take into consideration weight and balance, both side to side and front to back. Every change, every add on must be recalculated to ensure the structure retains its integrity.
They are built on specialized trailers which equates to the cost of a regular home foundation. Don't want your home going down the hwy at 55 mph with shingles flying off, the trailer straining, windows cracking, while the building starts to sway side to side. Thus sending your truck off the road and into the ditch. This is where specialized building materials are required. A Tiny Home is not a camper. 10,000 lbs vs 1,700 lbs.
What about insulation? Water storage? Plumbing? Electricity? Toilet? Septic waste? Garbage and trash disposal? Wind Power? Solar Power? All the things people want in their new home. But Tiny Homes must also consider TV's that can take all the bouncing. Refrigerator which operates on low voltage? A stove and oven? Dishwasher? Many things subject to quick freezing in cold climates. Hot climates may require air conditioning with higher voltage requirements and different insulation.
Tiny homes are built to be mobile. Whether you keep them stationary or not is your choice, but homes on wheels must meet local and national building regulations. All of this adds up, resulting in a higher price per sq ft. So in the end, if you do your due diligence, you get what you pay for. And a new Tiny Home will always be cheaper to maintain and operate than a foundation home.
If you want to be stationary then buy a piece of property and build a small cabin. I think you will find the overall price will be similar to that Tiny Home on Wheels.
Thanks for recognizing the ridiculousness of two sinks two steps from each other! Thumbs up.
Cut-away arch in the loft end adds a visual invitation into the kitchen.
Wow! Great porch! Exquisite detail on the rafters!
Wood, not vinyl, windows. Thumbs up! Wood all around!
Your doors add style and a sense of permanence and place… and connection to our shared heritage. [bowing in admiration]
Word to the spokesmodel… 2:45 Kleenex not sleeve.
2 sinks next to each other? Where? I don’t see them. I do see a sink and then on the dog leg of the bench a recessed gas cooker though.
I absolutely LOVE that front door!!!!! Adn I really like the light wood inside. Would really love to see the same wood used on the kitchen ceiling used for the floor as well. Very lovely and light.
” Do useful things, say brave things, contemplat beautiful things;
this is enough for the life of a man”. Thomas Stearns Eliot