Nomadic Surf Teacher’s Stunning (Legal) €33K Tiny Home in France

After years of travelling, seasonal work and living a nomadic lifestyle, Aymée was ready for something different. She wanted a place of her own, somewhere she could finally put down roots without giving up the freedom and simplicity she had come to love.

Her answer was this beautiful €33K tiny home, tucked into the forests of western France and designed completely around the way she lives.

Aymée works as a surf teacher during the summer and had spent years moving between seasonal jobs, van life, rentals and backpacking. When she decided to build a tiny house, she had no previous construction experience. Instead, she learned as she went, spending eight months creating a home that feels deeply personal, practical and full of character.

The design is anything but conventional. Rounded doors, wave-inspired exterior cladding and an artistic roofline help soften the usual boxy form of a tiny house, while the interior is carefully divided into different zones for cooking, relaxing, working, creating and moving.

Because surfing is such a big part of Aymée’s life, the entrance and bathroom were designed as a fully waterproof transition space where she can come home in a wet wetsuit, rinse off and leave everything to dry before moving into the main living area. The generous kitchen was another priority after years of cooking in a van, with plenty of bench space, storage, a full oven and room for more than one person to cook comfortably.

Further inside, the living room opens up with large windows and beautiful exposed beams. A raised platform above the sofa gives Aymée extra space for yoga, qigong, sewing, creative projects and even additional sleeping space for guests. Upstairs, the warm timber-lined loft bedroom creates a cosy retreat with more storage and enough headroom to sit comfortably in bed.

One particularly interesting part of this tiny house story is that the home is also legally situated. Aymée completed the necessary paperwork with the local mayor and received permission to live in her tiny home on the property, showing that legal tiny house living in France can be possible with the right location and local approval.

Perhaps the most inspiring part of Aymée’s journey is that she built the home despite starting with no real building experience. The process was demanding, but it taught her that not knowing how to do something doesn’t have to stop you from beginning.

Now, after years of life on the move, Aymée finally has a place that is entirely her own.

Watch the full video tour to explore Aymée’s self-built tiny house in France and discover all the clever ideas, handmade details and thoughtful design that make this home so special.

This episode was filmed by our wonderful French videographer, Gabrielle Vnd, pictured below together with Aymée.