Shelter Wise is an Oregon-based tiny home builder with a focus on sustainable design and simple but eye-catching living spaces. Their mission statement is to embody “the pure beauty and independent spirit of the Pacific Northwest.” The company has constructed a number of beautiful tiny houses to date, each of them referred to as a “Box.” Let’s take a look at the “Hikari Box!”
The outside of the home is lovely, but it doesn’t necessarily grab you. The colors certainly stand out; that vermillion frame around the door contrasts vividly with the olive drab hue of the siding. But aside from that, pretty generic, right? But wait until you see the breathtaking interior …
The Hikari Box measures 24 feet in length (for a total of 263 square feet). The word Hikari is Japanese, and translates to “light-filled.” True to its name, the interior is flooded with natural light from fourteen separate windows including two skylights.
What really grabs me however is the calm contemporary design elements which make this such a comfortable space to live in. There are elements here you might find in a suburban home, but they have all been beautifully transposed into the eclectic tiny space inside this light-filled sanctuary. There are lovely contrasts in colors between the white walls, the wood flooring (especially on the steps), and the rugs and pillows.
This view shows you the simple seating area and the ladder which leads up to the second loft above.
Let’s take a closer look at those stairs. The vivid contrast in the design is spectacular—that is some seriously stunning wood. But what is really amazing about this staircase is the storage it conceals …
Storage cabinets concealed under stairs in tiny houses is nothing new, but this particular staircase is a little different from most of what we have seen. Typically there are a lot of small cubbies or drawers underneath steps in tiny homes. While there are some small cubbies here,
the architects have also created some larger storage spaces, one of which actually functions as a closet. This is genius, and inspired by Japanese step tansu cabinets. It’s such a simple idea, but it’s one very few people think to incorporate!
Here we are in the larger of the two sleeping lofts, which can accommodate a queen-size bed with no problem. Notice how the slant of the roof allows for some larger windows and extra room above the bed. Also check out the divider; it functions not just as a wall, but also as a set of cubbies for storage.
There are no bells and whistles in the bathroom, but it offers a pleasant and simple functional space.
The shower is pretty small, but like the rest of the bathroom, it offers streamlined functionality.
Here you can see the toilet. Is it gorgeous? Not really, but it works.
How could we forget to tour the kitchen? It is actually quite roomy. Look at all that counter space for cooking. There is a stovetop with four burners, and apparently you can fit in a full-size fridge as well. I’m not sure about an oven, but I assume it is in the design plans somewhere.
Here you can sit and enjoy your meals—and the view out the window.
Check out a video of the Hikari Box tiny house below:
You can actually buy the plans for the Hikari Box and build it yourself. It was designed with relatively inexperienced builders in mind. According to Shelter Wise, this is the easiest set of plans they have created to date, thanks to clever plumbing and roofing solutions. You can buy the plans at Pad Tiny Houses below, or you can visit Shelter Wise for more information on the Hikari Box and the company’s other lovely designs!
Shelter Wise: http://www.shelterwise.com/about/
Pad Tiny Houses: https://padtinyhouses.com/books-plans/hikari-box-tiny-house-plans/
