This tiny house measuring less than 20 feet can accommodate up to eight people (plus a cat) and offers a delightful dining area for up to six people: it is the most impressive, but not the only, surprise hidden inside the delightful and iconic La Petite Graine (Tiny Seed) house on wheels.
Agathe and Anton chose this symbolic name for their young business and their first self-built house on wheels. The seeds contain the potential of an entire universe and are a beautiful metaphor for the concept of living in miniature, which is about maximizing experiences despite the limitations of space and size. As an architect and an electrician, these two young entrepreneurs built their dream house on wheels and launched a business that could help others find the same joy and fulfillment.
Despite its modest size, La Petite Graine managed to incorporate an incredible array of functional features, unique furniture, and decorative elements. It quickly became popular as people in the global tiny living community discovered it, and everyone agreed that it was one of the most unique and impressive tiny homes ever built. This had a lot to do with its warm, ultra-cozy atmosphere and slightly eccentric, free-spirited style. In other words, it was a real home built by passionate owners rather than a characterless off-the-shelf design.
Photo: La Petite Graine
Although compact, La Petite Graine appears majestic from the first moment you look at it. Instead of a simple and humble door, it boasts a regal entrance with a large window above the glass doors. The cladding is equally impressive thanks to the dark tone and the special texture of the cladding: it is the elegant result of the Shou Sugi Ban technique, an ancient Japanese pyrography process for greater durability.
Inside, the French Tiny doesn’t look all that intimidating; in fact, it’s warm and inviting, boasting light-toned woodwork and a bohemian style. Don’t expect the pristine, tidy look of a Scandinavian-style tiny house; La Petite Graine isn’t afraid to go a little overboard, packing plenty of practical features into its modestly sized living spaces. The ground floor features a multifunctional living room, a compact but well-equipped kitchen, and the bathroom with an eco-friendly toilet and Italian-style shower.
As a tiny house with a double loft, La Petite Graine can easily sleep three to four people upstairs. Its sleeping capacity is increased by the addition of a built-in modular sofa that converts into a large bed and a mesh sectional between the two loft rooms. While not a traditional bedroom alternative, this sectional is sturdy enough to hold a makeshift mattress, and guests may even find it surprisingly comfortable.
Photo: La Petite Graine
The larger loft serves as the master bedroom and has the added benefit of built-in storage shelves on each side of the bed. The smaller room has a basic structure and cannot accommodate more than the bed itself. Two beautiful skylights, along with a classic horizontal window, add significant light to the entire loft area while also keeping it well ventilated. These are some of the most unique features of La Petite Graine and a testament to the craftsmanship of the woodworker.
While the mesh section helps connect the loft bedrooms without taking up space (instead of a traditional catwalk), it also serves as an informal lounging area with great views. Downstairs, the main living room offers a more formal and spacious setting. This same layout doubles as a generous dining area, which also doubles as a large bed at night. Multi-functional spaces are one of the main ways to maximize functionality in a small home, and modular furniture is a big part of that.
One of the quirkiest and cleverest features of this tiny home is the custom-made coffee table that transforms into a large, elegant dining table. As if by magic, this modern piece of furniture transitions from one function to another, similar to how the modular sofa transforms into a bed. It’s so much fun to switch things up and play with these versatile pieces that it seems like a no-brainer, even though there’s a lot of ingenuity and hard work behind it.
Photo: La Petite Graine
Finally, the kitchen also has some tricks to reveal in the form of a fold-out countertop section and extra-large built-in drawers. The raw look and texture of the entire kitchen decor gives this home its unique flavor, especially when paired with modern appliances. The dark backsplash adds a pop of color, highlighting the lovely rustic shelves on the wall.
No rustic tiny house would be complete without a classic wood-burning stove. It makes La Petite Graine even more inviting. All sorts of hidden shelves and drawers are scattered throughout the house, adding to its bohemian and whimsical style. The daybed and ladder offer their own hidden storage, and outside a handy outdoor storage box has been added.
If we counted all the sleeping spaces, including the unusual mesh living room, we would find that this compact house can accommodate up to eight people, which is truly exceptional. In addition, the owners' cat, Chataigne, also has her own little area dedicated to her.
Photo: La Petite Graine
Using natural, locally sourced materials and sustainable products is an important part of the philosophy of this French brand. The tiny house La Petite Graine was built to embody this vision and showcase the endless possibilities of clever design and bold craftsmanship: a tiny house on wheels may just be a small seed, but each of them brings us one step closer to sustainable and eco-friendly living.