10 Fun & Unique Design Features of the Tiny Dice House
“If you start from the position that there is no right or wrong, no good or bad, and creativity is just free play with no rules, it's easier to submerge yourself joyfully in the process of making things. We're not playing to win, we're playing to play.” - Rick Rubin, The Creative Act
One of the most enjoyable processes of designing the Tiny Dice House was unleashing our creativity into every aspect of the home. Every inch of the home (thankfully, it’s a tiny home) was looked at through a creative lens of – how can we make this standard amenity (i.e. kitchen, bathroom, windows, cabinets, lights, etc.) more unique or reminiscent of a game without sacrificing function or aesthetic?
We hope our guests enjoy these delightful touches when visiting the Tiny Dice House but in case you’re wondering, here are 10 cool design features about the Tiny Dice House that you might not have known:
1. There are 28 round windows
Yes, those circle dots are all real windows! Being able to incorporate the "pips" on dice to serve as windows for a real home was one of the fun and compelling reasons we wanted to go with a dice shaped structure for the tiny home. The black framing around the windows really makes the entire structure even more eye-catching!
2. The number of windows on opposite sides add up to 7 like the dots on real dice.
For all the other dice purists out there, we also made sure that the number of windows on opposite sides added up to seven rather than simply maximizing the amount of windows we could do. For practical and cost reasons, we opted not to add any skylight windows to the roof or circular cutouts/patterns on the floor to truly mimic real dice, but we didn't think the average person would notice 😅
3. The entire floor plan is less than 400 sqft
Given that we wanted to stick with the stacked dice structure, yet not have a home that was insanely tall (we wanted it to feel more tucked in behind the trees), we had to be strategic in how big we wanted each cube to be without sacrificing structural or design integrity. We ultimately decided on a 12'x12'x12' layout for each die which means that the footprint for each floor is less than 200 sqft (even when including the two lofts)! For such a compact layout, we had to thoughtfully design each inch and make a few creative decisions but we love how "large" this tiny home actually feels.
4. There’s a hidden bedroom loft tucked around the stairs on the first floor and it has a playful Monopoly inspired theme to go along with the modern black vertical railing
Since we had to get creative with our spiral staircase and incorporate some railing, we went with modern black vertical railing that reminded you of playing one of the most nostalgic games, Monopoly, and going to jail but instead in this case, you'll just "Go to Bed".
5. There’s an additional loft for more play and lounging on the second floor secured with cargo netting
Due to the tall 12' ceilings of each floor, we were able to incorporate an additional loft on the second floor accessible via a ladder that provides a cozy nook for more board games, lounging and sleeping in!
6. The structure is close to 30’ tall
Even though the Tiny Dice House is a tiny home, it really doesn't feel or look like it from the outside due to its tall stature. With each die being 12' tall stacked upon each other, and if you add in the foundation, roof, framing and insulation, the entire structure stands close to around 30' tall!
7. The shower tiles are Tetris-themed
Tetris is such a classic, universally recognized game that most of us grew up playing so it was only fitting that we incorporated it somehow into the home and what better place than having a Tetris-themed shower using the bathroom tiles!
8. The two floors are connected via a Jenga-inspired wood spiral staircase
Given the compact space and not wanting to have a staircase that covered up the round windows, we went with a spiral staircase design to connect the two floors. It was the perfect place to incorporate a Jenga theme design here featuring "floating wood Jenga blocks" as the stair treads.
9. The kitchen cabinets have circle “Ladbroke” handles to go with the round windows
Instead of traditional cabinet and drawer handles, we went with circular recessed handles that fit with the modern, minimalist theme of the kitchen and first floor and tied nicely back into the playful shapes/circular window theme.
10. The two floors are separated by “rest” and “play” and the house gets deliberately more “playful” as you progress through
One of the more subtle design features is how the vibe and feel of the space changes as you navigate deeper into the tiny home. When you enter through the front door, you're greeted with a modern kitchenette and minimalist living/dining area that utilizes calm neutral colors and wood tones. As you turn the corner, you come across the playfully designed bathroom and once you go up the stairs, you emerge onto the second floor which is filled with colorful game decor, a retro arcade, claw machine, foosball and endless board games.
