Mainsail Container Tiny Home Has a Rooftop Deck and an Interior That Exudes Rustic Charm

Sturdy and portable, these tiny houses might have an industrial look and feel but can be fitted with top-end luxury finishes and turned into beautiful weekend homes or vacation rentals. One such home is the Mainsail from CargoHome, a model that started life as a 40-foot (12.2-meter) shipping container and is now a stunning, fully functional compact dwelling with a main floor bedroom and rooftop deck.

The team at CargoHome gets very creative with shipping containers, and though their tiny homes are not built on wheels like the majority of the portable models available on the market, owners can easily relocate them with the right trailer, which makes them an excellent choice for vacation rentals. Moreover, considering the containers used to ship cargo across the ocean, they were built to withstand extreme weather conditions and offer incredible ruggedness. This is also the case with the Mainsail tiny here, which is available for nightly rental through Airbnb.

The repurposed shipping container the Mainsail is based on has been carefully insulated and paneled in pine shiplap on the inside, with 100+year-old barn wood trim and beams for a rustic touch. The exterior is finished in cedar siding combined with the original metal container.

One of the highlights of this tiny home is definitely the rooftop deck, which is a wonderful spot to breathe in some fresh air, admire the outdoor scenery, and spend time with your loved ones. A spiral staircase leads up to the deck, which is surrounded by custom metal safety railings with cables. The builder installed LED lights under the top rail, creating a beautiful, glowing ambiance at night.

While the exterior is modern and industrial, finished in gray and black tones, the interior is warm, rustic, and incredibly inviting, crafted with great attention to detail. There is plenty of living space (320 sq ft), and the well-thought-out layout comprises all the main areas of a conventional home. It has a beautiful kitchen, a cozy living room, a separate private bedroom, and a functional bathroom.

A red full-light single door leads inside the home, where you first encounter a U-shaped kitchen that is equipped with basic appliances but offers plenty of functionality. A full-size sink, a portable single-burner induction cooktop, a microwave, a coffee machine, and a mini-fridge are enough for guests to whip up meals during their stay.

Custom-made black cabinets offer plenty of storage, while the epoxied barn wood countertops and open shelves made of the same material enhance the warmth of the space. There is also a beautiful barn wood accent wall in the kitchen that adds architectural interest and rustic charm.

At the other end of the kitchen counter, there is a breakfast bar with seating for two individuals and hand-spun copper pendant lights. While most tiny homes utilize the breakfast bar as a multi-functional area where occupants serve all their meals, the Mainsail tiny home also has a separate dining area with a table for two overlooking a window that offers beautiful views of the outdoors.

The living room is located at one end of the container house and is furnished with a sectional sofa and an entertainment center with a motorized TV lift. When not in use, the TV sneakily slides down into the cabinet below.

The bathroom and private bedroom are at the other end of the house, keeping everything on one level. The bedroom is spacious enough to fit a queen bed, two bedside tables, and a small built-in closet for your clothes. A beautiful barn-style door gives you privacy at night.

The bathroom past the kitchen is decently sized for a tiny home, not too big with unused space yet not too small to feel cramped inside. In terms of fixtures, it has a flush toilet, a full-size tile shower with glass door, and a vanity with sink and mirror.

With a few upgrades like a range, an oven, and a full-size fridge, this container tiny house would make a great full-time residence for an individual or a couple looking to downsize their lifestyle. The warm interior and the spacious rooftop deck that allows for panoramic views during the day and stargazing at night certainly make tiny living look like an appealing prospect.

If you browsed the photo gallery attached to this article, you've probably noticed it includes images of two Mainsail models. The second one illustrates a more modern approach to minimalist living, showing the versatility of the Mainsail design. It has a more contemporary interior and does include the full-size appliances that are missing from the rental home.