Small space with a twist gets more out of reversing common design choices in tiny homes
'CyberGuy' Check out this tiny reverse home
Kurt Knutsson reveals a French company that defies convention with a tiny home that flips the script by placing the bedroom downstairs and a living area upstairs.
In the world of tiny houses, where every square inch counts, French company Baluchon is pushing the boundaries. Their latest creation, the Ellèbore, challenges conventional layouts by flipping the script – quite literally. Let’s dive into the details of this intriguing tiny home.
The Ellèbore exterior (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
The upside-down approach
Baluchon’s mission is clear: extract as much livable space as possible from their compact designs. The Ellèbore achieves this by turning the traditional layout on its head. Imagine a house where the bedroom resides downstairs, leaving room for a versatile living area above. It’s like a tiny house doing a handstand.
The Ellèbore exterior (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Exterior aesthetics
The Ellèbore measures a modest 20 feet in length and rests on a sturdy double-axle trailer. Its contemporary exterior features red cedar siding with subtle gray aluminum accents. From the outside, it looks like any other tiny house – but step inside and you’ll discover its delightful country charm.
The Ellèbore exterior (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
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Interior features
On one side of the tiny house is a small kitchen with a sink, refrigerator/freezer, microwave, electric mini-oven, gas cooktop and an electric water heater. It also has plenty of shelves, cabinets and a wood-burning stove to keep you toasty.
The Ellèbore kitchen (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Next to the kitchen, you’ll find the bathroom. It’s compact and functional, housing a shower on one side.
The Ellèbore shower (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
On the other side of the bathroom is a toilet (though no sink). Practicality takes precedence here.
The Ellèbore toilet (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Across the kitchen lies the bedroom.
A view of the Ellèbore bedroom from the kitchen (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
The bedroom is accessed through a sliding door. It’s a cozy sleeping nook with a low-beam ceiling. The downstairs location and petite doorway might evoke a touch of claustrophobia, but it serves its purpose well.
The Ellèbore bedroom (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
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The upside-down living room
To get to the second level, you'll need to climb a set of storage-integrated steps, which can be neatly tucked away when not needed.
The Ellèbore storage-integrated steps (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Suddenly, you’re in the living room – upstairs. The headroom is generous, and large windows flood the space with natural light. The sofa doubles as a comfortable bed, accommodating two guests.
The Ellèbore living room (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Baluchon didn’t stop there – they managed to squeeze in a small home office area with a desk. Productivity meets relaxation.
The Ellèbore office area (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
Over the bathroom area, a secondary storage loft provides extra room for belongings. After all, every inch counts in a tiny house.
The Ellèbore storage loft (Baluchon) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)
How much does it cost?
You'd think for a tiny house, you'd pay a tiny price. Not so much with this one. Baluchon’s models typically start around $91,000.
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Kurt's key takeaways
The Ellèbore proves that innovation knows no bounds, even within the tiny house movement. So, if you’re ever in France and spot an upside-down tiny house, don’t be surprised – it’s probably the Ellèbore, redefining compact living one handstand at a time.
Would you consider living in a tiny house like the Ellèbore? Does the upside-down approach make it seem bigger than it is? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
