One of the joys of building your own tiny house is the chance to fully express your personality throughout your abode. I just love when I see people go all-out with this, paying homage to their interests and hobbies through décor and design. One great example I’ve just discovered is the “Basecamp” tiny house built by husband and wife mountain climbing team Tina and Luke.
This design makes you gasp the moment you see it. In some ways this is your typical box-shaped tiny home, but there are a number of differences you spot right off the top. There is a beautiful set of steps leading up to a lovely patio with a very distinctive railing. You can also see that there is an incredible deck on top of the house, and a little extension in the back which adds more space to the interior. Let’s check it out.
The wood siding used here is just beautiful, and already helps to create an “alpine” vibe.
Here is another angle. Those French doors look great from the outside, and serve to draw lots of light into the seating area of the house. Let’s step inside.
Aren’t those wood walls stunning? I love the interplay of darker and lighter wood grains and the strong vertical lines, which draw the eyes upward toward the loft and the high ceiling. That ladder doesn’t do a lot for me, but it isn’t really a detractor either; it does fit with the clean lines of the home and helps draw some contemporary influences into an otherwise rustic setting. That couch looks absurdly comfortable.
Turning to the left and stepping back into the doorway, you can see a set of storage cubbies. Spanning from floor to ceiling, they provide a ton of space for clothing, gear and more.
Here is another angle, looking down from the loft on the living area and storage cubbies. One feature that I particularly like with the storage cabinets is that the a large opening has been left in the middle for a window.
This doesn’t waste space; on the contrary, it offers a wide shelf which could be used to store practically anything. It lets in some natural light, however, and keeps the shelving from looking too overwhelming.
Also notice the tiles over the entrance to the kitchen (forming the wall for the main bedroom in the larger loft). Those tiles are very striking and immediately draw the eye.
While the kitchen has a low ceiling, it is a large space with plenty of room for food preparation. I really like that it is a proper room too; the trend with tiny homes is to run everything together as one open, continuous space. That design concept has a lot of merits, but something is lost in terms of privacy and coziness when separate rooms are eliminated. This kitchen is a sanctuary for any cook, complete with wooden counters and a propane stove.
If you are trying to figure out what that metallic shape behind the stove is, it is a protective heat shield. It has been cut into the shape of a mountain to complement the alpine theme of the house. Meanwhile, the rough edges of the countertop wood slab have been preserved for an even more natural feel.
In a lot of tiny homes, the bathroom seems to be something of an afterthought. That is certainly not the case here! This bathroom is beautiful to look at with the wood walls and the contrasting dark gray tiles in the shower. Once again that alpine mood is very prominent.
The loft is quite spacious. This is my favorite type of layout for a tiny house bedroom. By setting the bed against one wall, you get this nice open walkway along the other side. That really brings some openness to the space.
Where does that walkway lead? Out to a set of stairs which leads to the roof. Look at the bright colors on the bed and the way they are repeated in the storage cubbies. This has a great visual effect!
The rooftop is one of the most striking features of the house. Up here, Luke and Tiny can relax and enjoy their amazing surroundings. The view is spectacular, and the railing keeps this rooftop deck safe. From here, you can also see the solar panels the couple has installed to keep their home eco-friendly.
This shot of the back of the house gives you a better look at the stairs leading up to the roof so that you can see how it all fits together. There you see the exit from the bedroom.
This view also shows off the stairs and the rooftop deck nicely.
Why don’t you see more rooftop decks like this one on other tiny homes? Probably because building them can be quite challenging. There are a number of issues that need to be considered. Not only do you need to think about snow, but you also have to come up with a clever solution for access (like the stairs here), and you have to think about the load-bearing capacity accounting for people and furniture. But when you can make it work as Tina and Luke have, you get an amazing addition of usable outdoor space.
Want to own a Basecamp home of your own? Tina and Luke are selling the floor plans, which you can find over at Backcountry Tiny Homes. Visit the link below!
Backcountry Tiny Homes: http://www.backcountrytinyhomes.com/
