The tiny house company Minimaliste – based out of Saint-Pierre-de-l’Île-d’Orléans in Quebec – demonstrates it’s possible for a tiny house to be comfortable despite the extremes of our Canadian climate.
During the design and production of their largest model, Ébène, Minimaliste’s goal was to create a home that can withstand the coldest of weather in Quebec, where temperatures in winter can drop as low as -40 degrees Celcius.
How did they accomplish this? By creating a product conscious of materiality, durability, and that embraces innovative design.
Established since 2015, Minimaliste has recently partnered with Tiny Innovations from Oregon, with the objective of expanding its business into the United States.
Their core team comprises Philippe Beaudoin, Jean-Philippe Marquis, and Elyse Tremblay. Together, their goal is to provide sustainable housing solutions while reducing the ecological footprint of shelter.
What I like best is how sleek and modern their aesthetic, and how each model can be customized to fit each clients’ needs.
Tiny house Ébène is no different. It was created for a young couple in Ontario who wanted a tiny home with all the same amenities as a conventional dwelling and constructed to withstand our freezing Canadian winters. A hydronic underfloor heating system, a pair of heat exchangers, and an electric fireplace were installed to keep the residents toasty warm throughout the season.
The dimensions of the Ébène are 36.5 feet x 10.5 feet making it fairly large for a tiny house. In fact, according to Minimaliste, Ébène’s living and dining area are the biggest they’ve created and features a flexible layout that can easily host six people around the dining table.
I especially like the generous windows which allows natural light to filter the space while providing amazing sightlines.
At the clients’ request, their Ébène was fully-equipped with a fridge, two freezers, a microwave/oven, and an induction stove. It also contains a washer/dryer, and the washroom has a full-sized bath/shower, sink, and a composting toilet, which doesn’t connect to a sewer or septic system.
The main bedroom in the Ébène is a loft-style room located above the living room accessed by a staircase which incorporates storage underneath.
A second smaller loft is located above the washroom accessed by a ladder.
I love how the interior of this tiny home is both modern and comforting. The abundance of wood planks and beams and the incorporation of white shiplap creates a cohesive look that nods to the traditional rustic Canadian cottage getaway. Want to get a flavour of what Canadians love to stay in when they’re not in the city? “Explore 80 Of The Best Canadian Cottages” seen in the magazine House & Home!
For those who covet a tiny home, the Ébène by Minimaliste House is worth your consideration.
For more information, or to get a quote on a tiny house, visit Minimaliste Houses.
If you enjoyed this post, consider reading these other articles on canadianrealestatehousingandhome.ca:
Micro-Home Mania In British Columbia
Year Round Yurt Living In Canada
Nomad Micro Homes: Less Is More… Or Is It?
All photos courtesy of Minimaliste.
Researched and Written by Kara Scerri, Graduate from York University, and Sheridan College, Ontario
