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Tiny Cabin Retreat Reconnects Its Guests With Nature

By Simona Ganea
Simona Ganea on Homedit
Simona Ganea Interior Design & Content Contributor
Simona is an interior design and décor writer for Homedit. Since 2011, she has been writing about interior design, DIY solutions, and the latest trends in home architecture.
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This tiny house is a charming little cabin built by Ryan McLaughlin with no prior experience. His goal was to rent the cabin and to provide the guests with the opportunity to reconnect with nature and to disconnect from their daily routines, to try something different for a change. The cabin offers 160 square feet of space in total and is located on a vineyard in Austin, Texas. Unlike the typical tiny houses which are usually just miniature versions of full-size homes, this cabin has its own unique character as well as an outside-the-box design.

Although modern, the cabin lacks the huge windows and glass walls and instead is more privacy-oriented
Although modern, the cabin lacks the huge windows and glass walls and instead is more privacy-oriented
A small wooden deck acts as a connector between the cabin and the landscape
A small wooden deck acts as a connector between the cabin and the landscape
One side of the cabin features this fiberglass panel designed to conceal service/storage area
One side of the cabin features this fiberglass panel designed to conceal service/storage area

Not everything is as traditional and straight-forward as the wooden facade and pitched roof suggest. A fiberglass door conceals a little nook that contains a solar-powered water heater, a propane tank and a wood storage area. Inside, the cabin includes a small kitchen with a sink, a hot plate and a mini fridge, a cozy little sitting area with a convertible sofa and a tiny desk, a bathroom with a frosted glass wall that lets light pass through without compromising privacy and a loft bedroom with a queen-size bed, accessible via a wooden ladder.

Inside, the cabin features plywood-covered walls, a matching ceiling and rubber floor tiles
Inside, the cabin features plywood-covered walls, a matching ceiling and rubber floor tiles
The cabin is intentionally small, meant to encourage guests to spend more time outdoors enjoying nature
The cabin is intentionally small, meant to encourage guests to spend more time outdoors enjoying nature
The cabin seems to be floating a few inches above the ground, allowing space for a wood-storage niche underneath
The cabin seems to be floating a few inches above the ground, allowing space for a wood-storage niche underneath
The little sofa in the living area can be converted into an extra bed which is very convenient
The little sofa in the living area can be converted into an extra bed which is very convenient
Although the cabin is small, there's a generous amount of storage in the kitchen and sitting area
Although the cabin is small, there’s a generous amount of storage in the kitchen and sitting area
Most furniture is made out of the same plywood features on the walls
Most furniture is made out of the same plywood features on the walls
A tiny bathroom is situated next to the kitchen and features a frosted glass wall which lets light pass through
A tiny bathroom is situated next to the kitchen and features a frosted glass wall which lets light pass through
The windows are small so the emphasis is on coziness rather than the views
The windows are small so the emphasis is on coziness rather than the views
The dark wooden exterior gives the cabin a distinguish look and helps it blend into the landscape
The dark wooden exterior gives the cabin a distinguish look and helps it blend into the landscape
The sleeping area is upstairs and can be accessed via a wooden ladder that slides into place
The sleeping area is upstairs and can be accessed via a wooden ladder that slides into place