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Mermaid Cottage: DIY Cordwood Tiny House with Glass Bottles in the High Desert

on November 11, 2022

KimAnna’s DIY Mermaid Cottage is a one-of-a-kind cordwood-and-glass-bottle cabin sitting in the High Desert — miles from any ocean, but with a beach-themed bathroom that transports you there instantly. She built it herself on a homestead where she lives in a log cabin, cares for rescue animals, and grows food in a dome fed with algae water. The cottage has a queen bed, kitchenette, dining area, and is available on Airbnb.


Beach-Themed Bathroom in the Desert

Vibrant Colors Throughout the Interior

KimAnna Built This Creative Retreat Herself

Video Tour

Watch the full tour from Tiny Home Tours:

Design Details

  • Name: Mermaid Cottage
  • Builder: KimAnna (DIY)
  • Location: High Desert (available on Airbnb)
  • Construction: Cordwood with glass bottles
  • Bedroom: Queen bed on main floor
  • Bathroom: Beach-themed with shower
  • Kitchen: Kitchenette with basic amenities
  • Dining: Dedicated dining area
  • Property Features: Log cabin (owner’s residence), rescue animals, grow dome with algae water system
  • Style: Whimsical, eclectic, mermaid-themed

What Makes This Build Special

KimAnna’s Mermaid Cottage offers insights for creative builders:

  • Cordwood construction creates unique character – The stacked wood ends provide insulation and visual interest
  • Glass bottles add light and whimsy – Embedded bottles create colorful light effects throughout the day
  • Theme doesn’t require matching location – A mermaid cottage thrives in the desert with the right details
  • Guest cottages can fund homestead life – Airbnb income supports the larger property
  • Rescue animals and tiny living complement each other – Simple human housing leaves resources for animal care
  • Grow domes extend food production possibilities – Even in harsh climates, controlled growing is possible
  • Bold color choices make small spaces memorable – Vibrant interiors create strong impressions
  • DIY building allows for personal expression – Every detail can reflect the builder’s personality

Learn More

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Alex

Alex Pino is the founder of Tiny House Talk, a leading resource on tiny homes and simple living since 2009. He helps readers discover unique homes, connect with builders, and explore alternative living.
{ 5 comments… add one }
  • Marsha Cowan
    November 11, 2022, 10:25 am

    Absolutely wonderful! A cordwood house is my next dream! I already have the wood, just need the time. Lol! Of course, I’m not an artist like you, so there will probably be no perfectly lovely glass bottles and artifacts. You’re amazing! Your home is spectacular.

    Reply Link
    • Marcia
      November 11, 2022, 11:08 am

      All I can say is: that is a lot

      Reply Link
  • David Pedersen
    November 12, 2022, 8:02 am

    I really love this house. So creative. Though there is a reason for a flushing toilet to have a door. And here it is missing. Which could lead to some bad stomach infection, when vapor from the toilet mixes with the food in the kitchen right on the other side of the small wall. It is not enough to have a curtain. The air will still mix. That is also why building codes often state, that toilets/bathrooms are not allowed to open up into a kitchen – which is a bit difficult in a tiny house. But at least you should have a door. One could build a glass wall and door, so it is still possible to see the creative design – I mean who can not love this house.

    Reply Link
    • James D.
      November 12, 2022, 5:15 pm

      Actually, the spray from the toilet doesn’t spread that far unless it’s unobstructed and even a curtain is still a barrier. So the way microorganisms actually spread to the kitchen is via physical contact. Often because people miss secondary sources of contamination, like door knobs…

      Besides, just leaving the lid closed before flushing eliminates most of the issue with the flush spray.

      Reply Link
  • michael carman
    June 16, 2023, 6:36 pm

    just impeccable

    Reply Link

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