Kirkwood Tiny Homes used to build a wide variety of small homes and structures and this one is something of an experiment. Just how far can you take a 2004 Fleetwood Travel Trailer from its original form towards more of a house-type structure without completely hiding its origins? In this case, the basic trailer format is still in full effect, but the results are nice. Let’s take a look.
You can see the travel trailer origins of this tiny house in its shape and siding.
On the outside, the trailer received an upgrade with some siding, trim and window boxes. The upper add-on changes the profile some, but ultimately does little to take away the trailerish look of the tiny house. The changes are more extensive than you might notice at first glance, with many features found in sticks and bricks houses – like French doors, better windows, insulation and appliances.
Awnings, gutters, and more permanent roofing over the pull out sections do a lot to add durability and functionality. When the house is in place, the pull outs are still functional, making it possible for the house to have more width than would easily tow on public roads.
One clear advantage to starting from a travel trailer base is the built-in road features, like marker lights and propane tank storage that often come as afterthoughts, or feel like add-ons for many tinies.
Rear view with slide out and back of upper add-on.
The interior is light and airy, in large part due to the light color palette, with the light blond laminate flooring as a foundation. Décor is not the primary focus here, and the house is not quite finished. But enough has been done to see where the scheme is headed.
Master bed is a murphy bed, note the slide out frame along the wall by the storage.
One of the nicest features is the loft, or cupola, that ranges over the kitchen and dining area. Access to the area is made possible by a fold down ladder and the railed space would be large enough for a sleeping loft or kid’s play space.
The windows around the top let in a lot of light and reduce the closed in “trailer” feel of the inside. And the elevated ceiling adds significant headroom to make the interior feel roomier than it would otherwise.
Kitchen cabinets with the loft ladder folded up above.
Real furniture and traditional cabinetry add “permanence” to the feel of the interior as well, since built-ins and cheap, smaller scale cabinets are the norm in travel trailers. Full scale light fixtures and fans also help, and the main space has been opened up to create an “open floor plan” that’s most welcome in any tiny house.
Upper loft area with enough room for sleeping or a play space for kids.
All in all, the attempt to create a livable environment is a success and many of the features that were added should be available on upscale RVs to reduce the “canned ham” feel that many still have today.
While it’s not as attractive as craftsman style tiny houses, a lot could still be done to change that while still maintaining its road worthiness. Still, this hybrid is definitely nicer than an RV and looks like it would work well for the tiny dweller who wanted to move a bit more than some.
Kitchen and dining area are part of the “great room” area of the trailer’s open floor plan.
See more photos at this Google+ album.
