D’Arcy and Olivia McNaughton from Toronto, Canada, thought owning a home was unlikely due to their self-employment status. However, as D’Arcy previously built tiny homes, they decided to build one for themselves, their son, and their cat when Olivia became pregnant.
Flagship Model
PinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny HomesD’Arcy said the house took a long time to build as Olivia was heavily pregnant, and they only had time to work on it after work and on the weekends. However, with hard work and the help of D’Arcy’s brother and dad, they finally got to move into their brand new tiny home located on Olivia’s parent’s land.
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With their tiny home, D’Arcy and Olivia are able to devote more time to their businesses and family without the burden of a large mortgage. D’Arcy has since started his own tiny home company, Acorn Tiny Homes, which features his own home, Domek, as one of the flagship models. The starting price for similar homes to Domek is $200,000 CAD (approximately $149,600 USD).
Barn-Style Gambrel Roof
PinThe exterior is a mix of Red Pine T&G which has been treated and turned into Shou Sugi Ban (a Japanese technique of preservation, where you slightly char the wood ) and steel. The couple opted for steel for a portion of the house to balance weight and for durability but chose the wood grain steel finish to help maintain the natural look of the house.The home is positioned on a 32-foot-long (9.8m) triple-axle trailer. It measures 8.5 feet (2.6m) wide and 13.5 feet (4m) tall. The main floor of the tiny house measures 272 sqft, and with the addition of lofts, the total square footage comes to 420 sqft.
D’Arcy said that standard shed roofs on most tiny homes don’t maximize space, so they chose a barn-style gambrel roof for maximum living space.
The PorchPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The covered-in porch with gorgeous natural wood contrasts beautifully with the black aluminum windows. D’Arcy and Olivia also included a shoe cabinet to keep their home’s interior clutter-free.
The Washroom
PinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Upon entering D’Arcy and Olivia’s home, the washroom is the first area you’ll see. It also doubles as a wardrobe and baby changing station.
Storage Staircase
PinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The staircase leading to the lofts sits adjacent to the washroom. It has plenty of integrated storage for a clutter-free finish, and there’s even a tucked-away nook for the cat’s self-cleaning litterbox!
D’Arcy and Olivia designed their stairs to be baby-proof, with the bottom two stairs tucking away, preventing Osiris from climbing up the stairs on his own.
Split StaircasePinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The staircase splits into two parts where one part leads up to the master bedroom while the ladder over the couch leads up to the nursery.
Clothes Stored in BoxesPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Natural wood paired with white offer the illusion of space as you enter the loft area of the tiny home. Olivia and D’Arcy keep their seasonal clothes stored in boxes midway up the stairs.
A Cozy Nook for the CatPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The cat wasn’t forgotten in their tiny home design. He has his own spot tucked away up the stairs, overlooking the main living space.
The Master BedroomPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The master bedroom boasts a beautiful combination of white and natural timber, with one window on each side, allowing for a cross breeze. Thanks to the barn-style roof, there is plenty of space to sit up in bed, and the double mattress allows both D’Arcy and Olivia to sleep comfortably.
Wardrobe at the End of the BedPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Clothing storage can be found at the head of the bed, with storage also integrated into the headboard itself. The couple vacuum-packs their seasonal clothing and bedsheets to save even more space.
The Kid’s Room
PinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny HomesOsiris’ loft bedroom sits adjacent to Olivia and D’Arcy’s for convenient access. They foresee two children in this bedroom in the future.
Baby GatePinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
A custom baby gate in the baby’s loft bedroom ensures his safety. It has been constructed with the home’s rustic design in mind.
Fiber-Optic LightingPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
D’Arcy painstakingly installed fiber-optic lighting in Osiris’ bedroom ceiling to mimic twinkling stars and the night sky.
The Living RoomPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The living room is positioned in the heart of the home, directly under the second loft bedroom for the kids. This is where they spend most of their time, and it boasts 16.5 feet (5m) of headspace to ensure everyone’s comfort. The natural wood flooring makes the space feel cozy, while the white walls add the illusion of extra space.
Storage Unit Under CouchPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Storage is important in any tiny home, and D’Arcy and Olivia thought outside the square. They removed the legs of the sofa and made a storage unit to sit underneath the couch.
Sleeper SofaPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
While there are three loft bedrooms to accommodate their family and friends, they also made sure to include a sofa that can double as a bed. With the couch, this tiny home can comfortably sleep six people.
Console AreaPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The staircase was fully utilized for storage, but D’Arcy and Olivia got creative and created a dedicated console area in the staircase section facing the living area for extra storage.
In-Floor Radiant HeatingPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Heating was a primary consideration in D’Arcy and Olivia’s home. They knew tiny homes could have cold floors, so they installed in-floor radiant heating operated through a combi boiler. It’s a tankless hot water heater that they use for their hydronic and domestic hot water needs.
They also included a backup heating option in the form of a mini split with air conditioning and a heat pump.
Well-Designed KitchenPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
D’Arcy is a passionate cook, so a well-designed kitchen was essential. Natural wood cabinetry houses all their kitchen essentials, and there’s an extended countertop for meal preparation and dining.
Nature-Inspired TilesPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
D’Arcy and Olivia wanted an earthy, wood-style kitchen, so they designed just that. They also included unique nature-inspired tiles that work in harmony with the beautiful granite sink and black cabinetry.
Off-Grid SolutionsPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Convenient appliances are necessary for tiny homes. D’Arcy and Olivia chose a propane range so they could go partially off-grid. They also have a combo unit with a convection oven, broiler, microwave, and air fryer in one to save space.
Drop-Down Spice StoragePinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The kitchen has everything D’Arcy needs to cook up a storm, including a full-size double refrigerator and an extensive spice collection tucked away in drop-down storage.
Chest Freezer Under CountertopPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Chest freezers aren’t standard in tiny houses, but the McNaughtons made it work. Living in rural or urban Canada sometimes means you can’t make frequent grocery store trips. An additional freezer means they can stock up for longer periods.
Third LoftPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Olivia and D’Arcy fully utilized the extra ceiling space in the kitchen by installing a third loft. Olivia uses it as her home office, and it’s accessible by an aluminum ladder placed by the fridge. When the ladder isn’t in use, it can be hung on the wall.
Floating DeskPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The office loft features a floating desk and plenty of space for office supplies. It also has plenty of natural light from the abundance of windows.
Home OfficePinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
As a doula and naturopathic doctor, Olivia works from home a lot. She loves being able to ‘go to work’ in a dedicated office, rather than using part of the living space. She also likes being able to drop her legs over the side of the loft to sit at her desk or sit cross-legged.
The BathroomPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
Left of the washroom, as you enter the front door, is the bathroom, which features crisp and clean white walls and flooring paired with natural wood.
Composting ToiletPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
D’Arcy and Olivia spent a lot of time researching toilet options and settled on the Nature’s Head composting toilet. It has a composting solid waste section and urine diverter.
Overhead StoragePinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
There is no shortage of storage space in the McNaughton’s bathroom, with overhead storage positioned by the small washing station next to the toilet.
Four-Foot-Wide BathtubPinPhoto Credit: Acorn Tiny Homes
The bathing area is undoubtedly the star of the show in the bathroom. D’Arcy and Olivia drew inspiration from Japanese tiny house designer Tagami Haruhiko and created an atrium shower surrounded by windows. It includes a four-foot-wide bathtub and rain showerhead.
Single Mom Built Spectacular Tiny Home for Herself and Her Daughter PinPhoto Credit: HerTinyHomeIn 2015, single mom to a daughter and graphic designer Shalina Kell decided she was tired of high-rent apartment life in the California Bay area. So, she moved to her father’s country property in West Sacramento and lived in a travel trailer with her daughter while building a tiny house on wheels.
Single Mom Built Spectacular Tiny Home for Herself and Her Daughter
50 Small Kitchen Ideas: How to Make Your Tiny Space Work Harder PinPhoto Credit: OTTOLIVES
Tiny kitchens can be frustrating as they lack space for meal preparation and equipment storage. However, there are many ways to maximize the limited space available. Check out these small kitchen ideas to make your space functional.
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Colorado Couple Turned 2006 School Bus Into a Stylish Boho Home on a $45K Budget PinPhoto Credit: @RollingwithOphelia
After watching a documentary called Expedition Happiness, Allison and Nick from Denver, Colorado, threw caution to the wind and put a $5,000 bid on a 40-foot 2006 International school bus that same night. They won and haven’t looked back.
Small living rooms can often seem cramped, cluttered, and even unusable. You might be overwhelmed by your small space’s limitations but you have more options than you think.
Check out these clever designs and ideas, and you can be on your way to a much more functional living room in no time.
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38 Desk Organizing Ideas That’ll Turn Your Office Into Clutter-Free Bliss in No TimePinPhoto Credit: Jgstkcity
It can sometimes seem like a desk can transform from a neat, tidy, and organized space into absolute chaos in a matter of seconds. Most of the time, it’s due to a lack of organizational solutions. If you need a few desk organization ideas to turn your desk from chaos to clean, you’re in the right place. You can enjoy a tidy and organized desk in no time.
Source: Livinginashoebox.com