Manon, a young woman in France, lives in one of the self-built tiny homes on a piece of land owned by a business that makes tiny houses, living with her two cats and occasionally her boyfriend.
“Since I was 18, I moved around a lot, first for my studies and then because I loved it. I never spent more than one year in the same place in the last 15 years,” Manon said.
Initially opting for a nomadic lifestyle, she lived in a van for two years before deciding to build a tiny house for greater comfort, particularly during winter.
Manon worked as a cabinet maker for 10 years, so building a wooden frame house on wheels felt easy for her.
The tricky part was finding a shed to rent, but luckily, she found land owned by a company that specializes in tiny houses.
They even offer workshops for self-builders. Manon built her tiny house in one of these sheds, taking nine months to finish.
Learning plumbing, electricity, and roofing was challenging, but having some knowledge and nearby help made it easier.
Manon didn’t want her house to look like a plain box on the outside. She mixed up the cladding by putting it in different directions and heights, making the house seem bigger.
Her self-built tiny home is 6 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, and 4.3 meters tall.
Even though she can connect to the grid, she mostly relies on solar panels for power.
Inside the house, Manon spent nearly six months planning, drawing, and redesigning her ideas for the construction.
She wanted the inside to feel open with lots of windows to see outside, a big living room for her friends, and a large library for her books.
She decided against foldable furniture because she wanted everything to be ready to use.
Most of the materials she used were secondhand, including windows and furniture like her desk and coffee table.
This fits with her values of reusing things and making old items valuable again.
Manon loves her living room the most. There, she reads, does yoga, and plays board games with friends.
She chose to have a big window instead of a door to get the best view from her couch.
She likes to keep things simple, only having what she needs, especially her books, which make her feel comfortable.
Her couch converts to a double bed with storage for foldable stools, accommodating up to eight people around the table.
Manon doesn’t use a dinner table; she usually eats on her knees. But if she ever needs one, she can use her desk.
The big drawer on her desk helps keep her papers organized.
She also removed the armrest of her couch so she could sit on the side, where she usually works.
In the kitchen, Manon has a small gas cooker made for camper vans to save space.
It’s divided from the rest of the house by a wooden screen and hanging shelves.
She keeps spices above the cooker for easy reach and crafted a macrame hammock for her vegetables to save space on the counter.
Manon shared that her secondhand fridge always grabs visitors’ attention.
Her self-built tiny home layout maximizes space efficiency and functionality.
Across from the kitchen, her dressing room and storage area optimize bedroom space.
Her solar equipment is discreetly stored behind drawers, and her cats have their entryway under the stairs.
She cleverly chose a staircase and work plan with a ladder to optimize kitchen space.
The bathroom features an angular shower and slim countertop, enhancing the sense of spaciousness.
Moisture-resistant wood paneling from the exterior cladding adds durability and aesthetic appeal.
Upstairs, Manon designed her bedroom for comfort and functionality.
She ensured the ceiling height allowed for comfortable sitting and used different ceiling paintings to define separate areas.
Triangle shapes distinguished the living room and bedroom spaces.
Storage under the mattress discreetly holds her board games, while extra storage on the side is useful for bedtime movies.
Two windows provide cross-light, and she can still stargaze at night, even without a ceiling window.
Books are a cherished presence in her bedroom as well.
Manon has lived happily in her tiny house for 15 months, securing a great deal by spending only €30,000 or around $32,000 due to her use of secondhand materials.
She even resided in the house during construction, beginning with the mezzanine for sleeping.
If given the chance, she would change the solar panel, prioritizing sustainability with existing resources.
She views building a house as a woman similar to a man’s experience but notes the scarcity of female role models in construction.
Living in a small house allows Manon to save money and opt out of full-time work.
She’s learned that her happiness isn’t linked to her job or income and that it’s okay to take things slow.
Despite having less money and possessions, the tiny house lifestyle affords her more time with loved ones and doing what she enjoys.
Being part of a small community of self-built tiny homes brings her joy, and she’s focused on finding a legal parking spot for her tiny house in France.
“For now, my life project is doing what makes me happy, which is reading books, gardening, making cabins with wood, meditating, just being with my friends, and spending time with people I love,” Manon said. “Living in a tiny house is one step to achieving this.”
Tour inside Manon’s house in a park with other self-built tiny homes through the video below:
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