The Lara by Shaye’s Tiny Homes is a great example of how a tiny house can prioritize main-floor living without giving up the flexibility of a second sleeping space.
At roughly 340 square feet, the home combines a private ground-floor bedroom, open living room, full kitchen, spacious bathroom, and a bonus loft that can work as a guest room, kids’ space, office, or extra storage.
Shaye’s Tiny Homes has long been one of our favorite builders in the tiny-home space, and the Lara highlights many of the details we’ve come to appreciate in their work: bright interiors, thoughtful storage, practical layouts, and spaces that feel genuinely designed for everyday living.
Main Features 🏡
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📐 Approximately 340-sqft
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🛏️ Private main-floor bedroom
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🛌 Bonus loft bedroom / flex space
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🛋️ Open living room with full-size sofa
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🍳 Full kitchen with apartment-size appliances
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🧺 Laundry space in the bathroom
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🚿 Full bathroom with tiled shower
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👕 Built-in bedroom storage + wardrobe
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🌤️ Multiple sliding doors + skylight
- 🏡 Main-floor living with no need to use the loft daily
- 💵 Price: Starting at NZD $222,577 (around $126,800 USD)
Bright Living Room 🛋️
The living room sits between large sliding glass doors that bring in plenty of natural light and help connect the interior to the outdoors.
There’s enough room for a full-size sofa, and Shaye specifically designed the lounge to fit a three-seater while still leaving wall space for a television.
The open layout keeps the living room visually connected to the kitchen while still giving each area its own defined purpose.
Full Kitchen + Dining 🍳
The compact kitchen packs in more function than its size suggests.
The model we toured included apartment-size appliances, a two-burner propane cooktop, refrigerator, generous cabinetry, and a breakfast bar with seating for two.
Shaye’s current Lara design also allows for a gas oven, dishwasher, pantry, rubbish storage, and a dedicated nook for a microwave, kettle, or toaster. Additional cabinetry facing the lounge adds even more storage for dishes and glassware.
Main-Floor Bedroom 🛏️
The private bedroom is one of the Lara’s biggest advantages.
Rather than requiring a climb into a loft every night, the primary sleeping area stays completely on the ground floor. The room has space for a queen-size bed, built-in storage wrapping around the headboard, and a full-height wardrobe.
Optional drawers can also be added beneath the bed for even more storage.
For retirees, couples, or anyone who simply doesn’t want stairs to be part of their daily routine, this layout makes a lot of sense.
Full Bathroom + Laundry 🚿
The bathroom sits close to the main bedroom and feels surprisingly spacious for a tiny house.
There’s a vanity, toilet, tiled shower, and room for laundry appliances tucked beneath the staircase area. Shaye’s current specifications note space for a full shower, 900mm vanity, toilet, and washing machine.
The model we toured used a composting toilet and a turquoise-tiled shower with a glass enclosure, giving the bathroom a bright pop of color.
Bonus Loft Bedroom 🛌
Stairs lead to a second sleeping space tucked into the gable roof.
A skylight brings in natural light, while the loft can be used as a kids’ bedroom, guest room, hangout area, office, or simply additional storage.
Shaye’s specifically describes the loft as a flexible space rather than an essential primary bedroom, which is one of the reasons the Lara works so well for people who want mostly single-level living.
Final Thoughts
The Lara’s biggest strength is that the loft feels optional rather than necessary.
The main bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and living room are all on the ground floor, so one person or a couple could comfortably live here without regularly using the stairs at all.
Then, when guests visit or extra space is needed, the loft becomes a useful bonus room.
That flexibility is exactly what makes this layout so appealing. It could work for retirees who want to downsize, a couple planning for occasional guests, or even a small family that needs a second sleeping area without moving into a much larger home.
Would you use the loft as a guest room, kids’ bedroom, office, or storage?
Price: Starting at NZD $222,577 (around $126,800)
📍 Builder: Shaye’s Tiny Homes | Auckland, New Zealand
📐 Size: Approx. 340-sqft | 10.5m x 2.8m
🛏️ Layout: Main-Floor Bedroom + Loft | 1 Bathroom
🏡 Type: Tiny Home on Wheels / Code-Compliant Home Option
✨ Highlight: Main-floor living + flexible bonus loft
▶️ Watch a shorter walkthrough:
Want to explore model photos, floor plans, or customization options? Contact Shaye’s Tiny Homes!
Follow @dreambiglivetiny for more tiny house tours, cozy cottage inspiration, and off-grid escapes around the U.S. & the rest of the world 🏡🌎
Images courtesy of ©Shaye’s Tiny Homes.
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+Hi There!
My name is Alan—founder at Dream Big Live Tiny Co! A few years ago, I quit my consulting job to pursue a life full of adventure. After traveling around the world for a year, I sold most of my stuff and moved into an 160-sqft tiny house. Now I spend most of my time showcasing incredible people living with less in pursuit of more freedom, as well as incredible tiny houses around the world!