Adorable Beach Bungalow Blends Bohemian Style With High Functionality

Before the global pandemic strongly impacted tourism and hospitality worldwide, people were already starting to experience the benefits of tiny vacation homes. Operators found an alternative that was much more affordable and faster to build, while guests enjoyed the privacy, and closeness to nature, also knowing that they were making a sustainable choice.

After the pandemic, the importance of privacy, self-sufficient living, and environmental protection became even more obvious. Tiny living wasn't a passing trend but a way of life.

Vacationing in tiny houses continues to be extremely popular and to expand all over the world. The Beach Bungalow designed by Sierra Tiny Houses was one of the first to embody this new trend. The compact size made it very easy to transport to any location and to manage. At the same time, it boasted the same functionality as a standard home for permanent living, with cozy accommodations, modern comfort features, and plenty of storage. On top of that, the bohemian charm that became so popular made this vacation home on wheels even more inviting.

At a medium length of 24 feet (7.3 meters), Beach Bungalow combined an open-plan first floor with a loft bedroom. It was designed as the perfect vacation rental for a couple, with a fresh look and a total surface of 223 square feet (20.7 square meters), perfectly divided into charming yet practical living spaces.

The Beach Bungalow's distinctive style was noticeable even at first glance. The traditional-looking gable roof and LP siding were combined with large windows (for a house this size) and an unusual octagonal window.

Another unique feature was the inset entryway. Instead of a typical open-space living room, this created a much more intimate and cozy relaxation area. Most tiny homes these days have enough room in the living area for a convertible sofa. In this case, privacy was the main focus. The tiny corner sofa was better suited for relaxation, discretely protected by the inset entryway.

The large windows and glass door still provided abundant natural light and a seamless connection to the outdoors. The room itself, with beautiful shiplap walls, included space for a TV and a few shelves.

There's no formal separation between this area and the kitchen. This small kitchen was perfectly equipped for a vacation beach home. It integrated a large fridge, a two-burner induction cooktop, and a convection microwave. The butcher block countertop with a deep sink had the nostalgic look of farmhouse kitchens. With its asymmetric shape, it easily doubled as a bar area that worked just as fine for meal prep and dining for two.

The bathroom was also fitted with all the basics, including a full-size shower, a conventional toilet, plus a sink and vanity. A mini split heating and air-conditioning system, a hot water system, and an RV-style electrical system kept the Beach Bungalow comfortable at all times.

The typical staircase with generous integrated storage might have been a bit too bulky for such a small space, but it was the best way to add a lot of storage space while saving as much space as possible. The discrete metal railings, including the loft one, were integrated for safety, also adding an aesthetically-pleasing visual contrast.

The staircase was the most convenient way to connect the first floor to the loft bedroom. Despite its name, this tiny bungalow was designed to feel as comfortable as a conventional home, which includes easy access to the bedroom.

The loft itself was wide enough to include a king-sized mattress, with plenty of room left for storage or additional furniture. It wasn't the best in terms of cross-ventilation and lighting, but good enough for a vacation home bedroom.

The Californian builder also focused on the quality of its tiny home trailers as the authorized Trailer Made Trailers dealer. This way, it could support other builders and even folks who wanted to build their own tiny homes from scratch.

At the time, they would often opt for used car haulers or chassis recovered from old campers. While this saved money and was considered a good recycling practice, it wasn't the best choice in terms of reliability. The Sierra Tiny Houses chassis, on the other hand, came with a lifetime warranty, heavy-duty construction, and numerous safety features. Around 2018, they claimed to be the only engineered trailers on the tiny house market – a big selling point and a step forward for the industry itself.

The Beach Bungalow was priced at $68,340, designed to operate as a vacation rental in any kind of natural setting. Although perfectly equipped to function as a full-time home, it also raised the bar in terms of mobile home rentals, proving that size limitations can't get in the way of smart design.