A tiny house with a big presence

For interior designer Ghislaine Viñas, designing a tiny home was a long-held personal ambition. “I’ve always dreamed of creating my own tiny home,” she says, imagining a space “pared back to the essentials, serene and comfortable, yet still very much rooted in my own design aesthetic.” She chose Powder White Woodura Planks in ash for her project.

After relocating to Upstate New York, Ghislaine finally decided to take on the challenge herself. The house she found online had charm, but it wasn’t quite right. “It was cute and charming, but I knew I’d have to strip it back and start again,” she explains. The goal was a full reset – something clean, bright and fresh, where light could pour in and make the space feel alive, airy and welcoming. It also had to remain easy to maintain.

In a compact 60 sqm home, every design decision matters – and none more so than the floor. “Flooring is really the first statement you make in a home,” Ghislaine notes. “The colour and tone dictate the entire look of the space, especially in a tiny house.” She knew a dark floor would visually shrink the rooms, so she chose an unconventional yet considered solution: Powder White hardened wood Woodura Planks in ash, in an XL format.

A transformative experience

The effect was immediate. “Going from cold concrete slabs to this bright ash transformed the entire home,” she says. Once installed, the floor helped her vision fully take shape. Despite its light tone, the wood adds depth and personality. “Even though the wood is light, it’s far from bland – each board holds its own personality and character.”

Sustainability was also a key factor in the project. “Keeping our environmental footprint small for this home was essential,” Ghislaine says. The Bjelin flooring technology appealed to her not only for its durability, but for its efficient use of wood. “As a designer, it’s wonderful to see you no longer have to sacrifice beautiful design in order to incorporate sustainable materials into a home.”

The finished tiny house proves that thoughtful material choices can completely redefine a small space. As Ghislaine puts it, “Nothing makes you feel better about using products you don’t have to feel guilty about.”