What’s your definition of tiny?
For me, it was always a small home with crammed stuff inside and minimum comfort. That is until I saw the magic they could do with a tiny house on wheels.
Tiny doesn’t have to mean no comfort. Tiny is a lifestyle when you finally talk to yourself and realize you don’t need that much stuff to be happy.
Tiny could be a home if you offer yourself a change of mindset.
A little home on wheels named Bonzai offers exactly that: a new perception that all you need for a comfortable life are your essentials.
I’ve seen a bunch of toll houses, but never one that’s so compact, and yet so bright, airy, and spacious.
Looking at its exterior, you’d never say so. The Bonzai is a lovely build with a curved frame and a combination of red and black aluminum cladding along with red cedar panels. You can notice that the black frame windows have a special vibe that unravels the style that inspired the entire Bonzai.
As the name might uncover, Bonzai is inspired by the culture of distant Japan. The owner of this thow house is quite passionate about this culture and wanted to incorporate the stylish details, as well as colors in his daily life. Yeah, Bonzai is meant to be a home all year round!
Simply by looking at this photo one might say you’re already in the land of the rising sun!
Using wood such as the oak countertops in the kitchen makes the entire house more friendly and inviting. I love the contrast between the white wood plank walls and the light-colored wood used throughout the house. Black hardware elements such as the handles on kitchen cabinets achieve the wanted vibe.
Although the house is only about 15 feet long, I’m surprised by what’s happening inside. There’s a full kitchen, a tad smaller than usual, and lots of space. If you’re leading a simple life you only need a couple of things, right?
A great thing about tiny houses is that they often have quite smart solutions. This sliding worktop extension easily fits inside and increases both the working space and the quality of the room! What a neat addon!
My favorite room inside the thow is this right here. It’s a symbiotic creation of a living room, dining room, and bedroom, but we’ll get to that point.
Since the whole point was to create a house inspired by Eastern culture, there are no traditional flooring options. Instead, two tatami mats are placed in the living room area.
Not only does this make the floors softer, but it also ensures warmth in colder days. Nobody loves waking up and stepping on icy cold floors. Brrr!
The living room area has such lovely oak shelves floating above the little table and two stools which are, I believe, foldable because my mom has the exact same ones. Right above the porthole window (another favorite of mine) are cabinets for that additional storage.
And then, on the right, your own, floating wood-burning fireplace for the ultimate cozy feeling.
If by any chance that fireplace was on the floor, then this wouldn’t be possible.
Another smart solution that blew my mind is these drawers. Since the kitchen is elevated, there was room to add such drawers underneath, adding more space to store all the goods. And, what’s great is that these drawers are always accessible!
On the opposing wall is a little bedroom nook.
Well, it is during the night. But, daytime comes and it’s gone. And where exactly does it go? Right behind those pretty washi doors.
The owner actually owns a futon and rolls it out on the tatami when he wants to sleep. Snug as a bug!
This all sounds like a dream, but there is one logical question: does this thow have a bathroom?
No, scratch that! Could anything else even fit in here?
The answer:
It absolutely can!
The bathroom is small and narrow but still good enough to keep you clean and tidy. There’s a dry toilet in the same style as the rest of the house (obviously), and a 13 sq ft black aluminum shower tray.
I know this sounds weird, but I could live here if I was on my own. I feel that the place is peaceful and mind-resetting. I feel it’s a blessing living on your own in such a space.
It’s a thow house like no other before. And it’s calling all adventurists to give it a chance.