#RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS
Gorgeous eco-friendly Toybox is a tiny dream home on wheels
If simplicity is the key to happiness, then this tiny Toybox Home is the epitome of the philosophy.
Whimsical and minimalist, this modern mobile home is just 140 square feet—but the tiny home’s clever design makes its small footprint look and feel much larger. Even better, the Toybox is equipped with an impressive array of eco-friendly elements, from radiant floor heating to gray water recycling. Designed by Frank Henderson and Paul Schultz, the Toybox Home is currently located in Lake Forest, Illinois, where it’s for sale at $48,000.
Visually stunning inside and out, the Toybox tiny home boasts a bold and colorful exterior that evokes the pop art artworks of Roy Lichtenstein. Topped by a white, energy-efficient thermoplastic roof plane, the angular structure is partially wrapped by colorful corrugated fiberglass panels that provide a vibrant contrast against the natural cedar siding. Thick black edges enclose the corrugated panels and windows (with white frames) to give the facade a cartoon-like effect. Numerous windows and a large glass sliding door bring natural light and ventilation into the home.
The interior is covered in warm-toned wood paneling and comprises a transforming living room, kitchen, dining room/desk, bathroom, and loft. The living room occupies the largest area in the home (measuring 7 feet by 9 feet) and includes eight moveable storage cubes that can be easily rearranged to transform the space into a bedroom or living area with seating and a table.
The kitchen is made up of a long stainless steel counter top with a stainless steel sink and low-flow marine faucet. The countertop sits above a painted base with storage cabinets, a 3.2-cubic-foot refrigerator, a 2.5-cubic-foot freezer, and toaster oven or microwave—all of which plug into one of the outlets on the backside of the base cabinet. A hidden pantry wall offers additional storage space. The stowed items can be neatly hidden from view to preserve the home’s minimalist aesthetic.
Opposite the kitchen counter is a multifunctional fold-down desk that can be used as a dining table or work desk. The 20-square-foot bathroom—comprising a mirror, 2×4 closet with a 20-gallon water heater, sink, shower, and toilet—is located to the left of the desk space. A low-flow marine faucet pulls out of the sink and can be clipped to the wall to double as a showerhead. A bright LED strip lights the small bathroom. A ship’s ladder leads up to the cozy wood-lined sleeping loft that can accommodate up to a king size bed. The small home is kept warm in the winter months with blown in blanket (BIBs) insulation and radiant floor heating.
The home is currently listed for sale at $48,000 on Tiny House Listings.
