La Maison du Bonheur, or House of Happiness, is an innovative tiny home designed by Baluchon that merges practicality with playfulness. Unlike conventional tiny homes, this 20-foot-long abode, set on a double-axle trailer, incorporates a dedicated play area complete with a climbing wall and slide. Commissioned by Siana, the homeowner, the design fulfills a dual purpose: serving as a delightful playroom for her daughter and friends while having the potential to transform into a traditional living space as the child grows older. The home’s exterior features a blend of red cedar and aluminum cladding, and it is powered via a standard RV-style hookup. The play area, occupying what would typically be the living room, includes a small playhouse, a climbing wall, and ample storage for toys and books, all bathed in natural light through generous glazing.

Beyond the playful design, La Maison du Bonheur retains all the essential features of a tiny home. It houses a dining table with seating for three, and a compact kitchen equipped with a two-burner propane stove, sink, refrigerator, and ample cabinetry. The bathroom includes a shower and toilet, ensuring full functionality. A unique staircase integrated into the slide and dining area leads to a cozy loft-style bedroom, complete with storage and a bed under a low ceiling. Delivered to its location in southeast France, this versatile tiny home epitomizes both whimsy and practicality. While the exact pricing remains undisclosed, Baluchon’s tiny homes typically start at around $85,000, making La Maison du Bonheur an attainable dream for those seeking a compact yet dynamic living space.

In the heart of Cincinnati, a gloomy afternoon turned vibrant as Brad McCombs, NKU’s Art & Design Program head, and a group of students gathered to transform the historic Holloway House into a haven for teen mothers facing homelessness. Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Rosemary’s Babies Company, led by founder and CEO Rosemary Oglesby-Henry, recognized a critical gap in resources for homeless parents. Determined to make a difference, Oglesby-Henry acquired the Holloway House in 2022, which had sat vacant for over a decade, and enlisted McCombs to create a forest-inspired play area within.

The play area, named “Levi’s Learning Area” is a testament to McCombs’ multidisciplinary artistic vision. Using large tubes coated with papier-mâché and paint to resemble tree bark, the installation features crawl spaces and a treehouse-like balcony, offering children a whimsical yet educational space. The room is awash in earth tones, with a mural painted by McCombs outside depicting a tree adorned with leaves acknowledging the organization’s donors. This transformative project was made possible through the collaboration of McCombs and four students, who were compensated through the College of Arts and Sciences-sponsored Student Success Impact Mini-Grant.

Rachel Paxitzis, one of the contributing students, expressed the invaluable experience of witnessing the project’s progression from conception to completion. Aspiring to teach art at the college level and specialize in community art, Paxitzis saw the project not only as an opportunity to apply her skills but also as a meaningful endeavor that could positively impact the lives of young mothers and their children. With the doors to the Holloway House and Resource Center set to open in the spring of 2024, the project serves as a beacon of hope, providing a nurturing environment for families in need. Oglesby-Henry envisions a space where young mothers can find support, and children can thrive in a thoughtfully designed, forest-inspired play area that transcends the challenges they may be facing.