The Zyl Vardos Damselfly is a whimsical tiny house on wheels

For those who think tiny houses on wheels are just woodsy RVs, take a look at Olympia-based homebuilder Zyl Vardos’s recent creation, the Damselfly.

From every angle (except maybe from underneath), the house shows off distinctive swoops and curves in the roof, doors, and windows. Round windows above and in the main door carry the theme and introduce it to the interior.

It uses a studio layout for the main floor. A small sleeping area is open to a small living room and a nice, long kitchen, with a three-quarter bathroom at the back. The cathedral ceiling expands the volume, and the curved roof opens it even more. Thirteen custom windows plus skylights brighten the space. Lightly-toned wood panels are a welcome change from the log cabin style of some tiny homes, and the sheetrock or plywood of the more basic tiny houses.

Throughout, look for the hints of the great enabler of tiny homes, storage. In the Damselfly, triple sets of holes are the sign that something may be hidden away. Sometimes it is a simple shelf. Other times drawers slide out to make more efficient use of the cabinetry’s volume.

Grab the handrail and climb the stairs to another bedroom in the loft, where one circular window and one semi-circular window provide views and circulation.

The best tiny houses fit in quality whenever possible. In this case, the quality details help explain the $105,500 price. In addition to a grandly arched kitchen window notice the slate counter edged in metal, a twin basin copper sink, a copper backsplash, a pair of induction burners for the cooktop, and a refrigerator.

Behind the sliding shōji-style door is a bathroom that also has a copper sink and a tile countertop. One luxury that’s easy to overlook, but appreciated as a resident, is a conventional porcelain flush toilet. Another feature that won’t show but will feel luxurious in the heat and the cold is a mini-split.

All of that fits in about 240 square feet. As usual with a tiny house on wheels, finding a place to park it may be a challenge but one worth the work for a pocket of luxury.

Want to take a tour? There’s a video for that. Expect to learn a bit of zoology along the way.

• Damselfly [Zyl Vardos]
• Damselfly [YouTube]