Step Inside an Iconic Tiny Home Boasting Almost 400 Square Feet of Pure Luxury

The Little Ruru can only be considered little compared to the Toroa XL by the same brand. The Toroa XL sits on exactly the same platform as Ruru, but it's a massive home with two floors and three bedrooms. It can also be considered smaller in terms of accommodation.

The Toroa and the Korora are equal in size to The Little Ruru but boast a two-bedroom configuration. Ruru is similar to The Kiwi model – both are one-bedroom homes with an open-plan configuration but different interior designs. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the New Zealand-based builder also offers a compact mobile studio that is aptly named The Nest.

As you can see, The Little Ruru is a balanced version with higher flexibility. It's a great option for anyone who isn't a fan of loft bedrooms and climbing ladders or stairs. The simple, open-plan layout also makes it particularly suitable for vacation rental services. Plus, its signature structure with an abundance of glass doors and wide windows would make The Little Ruru a wonderful sanctuary in the middle of nature, surrounded by lovely views.

Just like its sister design, The Kiwi, this tiny house boasts 36 square meters (387.5 square feet) of living space, and it combines high ceilings with a 12-meter (39 feet) length. Everything is on the main floor, but because there are no space restrictions, each area feels much more spacious and comfortable than what you'd typically expect from a small dwelling.

This contemporary, relaxed layout keeps things simple. You have a flexible, multi-purpose area at one end of the house and a large bedroom at the opposite end. A large section of the house is dedicated to the kitchen area, which also includes a beautiful and wide breakfast bar for both indoor and outdoor use. Last but not least, you'll be pleased to discover a stylish and fully-equipped walk-through bathroom – it doesn't get more luxurious than that.

The Little Ruru features large French doors, sliding doors, and windows that wrap around it like a tight hug. Thanks to this special feature, which is one of the trademarks of all Kiwi tiny homes, the house feels enveloped in nature to a high degree. It almost feels like there's no separation between the home's interior and the outside world. Still, at the same time, it's as cozy, private, and even luxurious as a five-star resort.

The lounge is practically surrounded by doors that act the same as floor-to-ceiling windows onboard superyachts – they create indoor/outdoor spaces with an abundance of natural light, which allow those inside to enjoy the outdoors without actually stepping outside. As you can see in the image gallery, this roomy part of the house allows various setups. The main advantage is that the sofa could be facing the outdoors in any direction, so there's endless versatility.

The breakfast bar is at the center of another special indoor/outdoor area. Bi-folding windows are the key element for this particular setup because they allow folks to access the breakfast bar from the outside as well – a great option for summer meals and BBQ parties. And it comes with an added bonus by incorporating several drawers for easy-to-reach storage.

On the opposite wall, the L-shaped kitchen furniture also incorporates all the basic appliances, including a gas stove and an electric oven. There are no overhead cupboards, but the cabinets underneath the wide countertop ensure plenty of storage. Plus, ditching out any type of overhead storage makes room for extra-wide windows on each side of the kitchen. Once again, this adds natural light for a bright and airy atmosphere.

Despite its name, The Little Ruru goes big on everything. Don't think that a lavish lounge and a spacious kitchen mean that the bedroom and the bathroom were left behind. On the contrary, they are even more luxurious than you'd expect. The bedroom has two large windows and access to a private door. These sliding doors also bring the outside in for a resting cocoon that's bathed in light and filled with fresh air. The room can fit a king-sized bed with ample walk-around space.

From the bedroom, the house dwellers can easily access the bathroom, which feels more like a luxury spa. It features a full-size 900x900 mm shower, an elegant 600 mm vanity, and a conventional or eco-friendly toilet, depending on the customers' preference.

A walk-through bathroom also means there's ample room for setting up a washing machine and for storing essential items in beautiful wooden boxes or baskets. The white shiplap walls add a beach vibe to this elegant bathroom, which also comes with a large window, just like all the areas inside The Little Ruru.

This is one of the most popular designs created by the Ruru Tiny Homes builder, and the accessible price is one of the reasons. The Little Ruru starts at NZD 183,000 ($112,000). Like all the models from this brand, it's built using mostly locally sourced materials, with windows and doors that are also locally manufactured and equipped for year-round living in New Zealand's specific weather conditions.