Apparently when David Carlyle was a kid, he consumed a steady literary diet of Boxcar Children books. In light of that, it is easy to guess that this was some of his inspiration to create magical tiny houses anyone would want to escape to (suddenly I wonder if this too influenced my ultimate decision to live in an RV). This one appears exactly like luxurious Victorian train car.
While residing in Naples, Carlyle acquired a horse trailer. He decided to start modifying the trailer and decorating it to see what he can come up with. Over the course of the next two months, he completely transformed it into something astonishing.
Above, you can see the work in progress, and below you can see what it turned into.
And that is just the outside. Wait until you see the interior …
Pretty remarkable. If you didn’t know better, you would Think that maybe you had stepped back in time.
The effect has been achieved with remarkable attention to detail. Gorgeous antiques throughout the house create the Victorian effect.
I have actually only hinted at how this trailer came into being. In actuality, the story is a bit more complicated than you might expect, and also quite inspiring.
Originally, Carlyle and his wife were hoping to move to the Bahamas, where they would open a business to offer horseback riding. They began obtaining some of the supplies that they would need for the venture, including a horse trailer.
Unfortunately, they did not think everything through. First of all, there were no qualified veterinarians to take care of the horses if they should get sick or injured. Secondly, there were no local sellers of horse food.
Most people at this point probably would’ve been pretty frustrated. Carlyle probably was, but he decided to turn the trailer into a project instead of simply getting rid of it. He wasn’t actually trying to start a new business around it—it was simply a personal endeavor. So it was quite ironic when people started finding out about it. He never even advertised.
Now Carlyle is able to make money converting trailers for buyers around the world. Many of them are used as lodgings.
While the unique décor around this tiny house seems to ooze luxury and opulence, most of it is inexpensive, picked up at thrift stores and antique shops.
The fact that many of these decorations actually are vintage or antiques is precisely what gives these homes their air of authenticity. These are not newly-crafted items made to look old; many of them actually are from an earlier era.
This photograph shows off the lovely furnishings inside the house, as well as a very unique lamp.
Here, you can see a furnace as well as some really amazing bookshelves.
Even the bed in this tiny horse trailer is like a work of art. The bedspread is stunning to behold, and each of the cushions and pillows bring some unique flair and extra comfort to a luxurious sleeping area.
There is even extra ornamentation surrounding the front door. Of course, the door is so exquisitely designed as to be an ornament all on its own.
The back railing is clearly from a brass bed. The effect seems to add a touch of humor to the house while further capturing the imagination and drawing the occupant back in time to the Victorian era.
While the porch is pretty small, there is still enough room that you could set up a small chair or two. You can see that a fancy chest has been incorporated to provide some exterior storage space.
Because literally every inch of this trailer has been decorated in some way to achieve an overall effect, some areas of the house seem a bit “busy.” Nonetheless, every part of the home is beautiful from every angle, and this is somewhat refreshing next to the minimalism which characterizes so many tiny houses.
This tiny gypsy wagon is a reminder that we do not have to be limited with what we do with tiny houses.
The kitchen space is particularly lovely. Note all the little details that make these kitchen cabinets unique and imaginative.
The bathroom is nothing short of mind-blowing. If there is one room in a tiny house which tends to look utilitarian, it is the bathroom. But even here, the Victorian theme pervades every inch. The effect is fanciful, not utilitarian at all.
I bet that every object in this house has an interesting story to tell.
Ornate colors and textures abound throughout the tiny wagon.
If this house whisked you away to another time and place as it did us, then make sure to read the full story about David Carlyle over at Naples News.
