Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

This Tiny Home and Writing Studio Was Invented for a Children’s Author

This Tiny Home and Writing Studio Was Invented for a Children’s Author

The newest model from New Frontier Tiny Homes was designed for bestselling author Cornelia Funke, and is now available for $125,000.

When acclaimed German children's author Cornelia Funke, best known for the Inkheart trilogy, first contacted David Latimer of Nashville–based New Frontier Tiny Homes, she was living in Los Angeles and looking to buy beachside property. Additionally, she wanted to build an off-grid, tiny home on the property which could serve as both a writing studio and guest quarters for visiting friends. When she finally found the right piece of land, an old avocado farm near Zuma Beach in Malibu, she commissioned Latimar to craft a customized tiny home at his facility in Nashville, Tennessee.



The corrugated exterior echoes an old, corrugated shed on author Cornelia Funke's Malibu property.

The 250-square-foot unit was built on a trailer, and after completion, Latimar drove it out to Funke's Malibu property to personally deliver it himself. Funke was so happy with the results that after a few days, she ordered another.



The tiny home was built on a trailer for easy mobility.

Now anyone can order the Cornelia Tiny House, which comes in at around $125,000 (depending on customizations). New Frontiers also offers a larger version of the Cornelia with an extra ground-floor bed, a larger kitchen, and a larger full bath. Scroll through for a look inside the original Cornelia, which was photographed in Nashville prior to its big move out West.



One challenge Latimer faced was that Funke wanted natural light, but also a sense of privacy.



Every detail was customized specifically to meet Funke's requirements, including the custom paint and stain. The reclaimed hardwood floors are a mix of woods, and all the interior siding is maple.



A large picture window sits above Funke's writing desk. The desk was brand new, and Latimer had to put it through a few processes to achieve a certain patina.



"Cornelia is a real rock star," says Latimer of his client-turned-friend. "She is one of the most amazing people I have ever met."



The sleeping loft is accessed via a library ladder, with clerestory windows added to keep the space from feeling too claustrophobic.



"One great thing about tiny homes is that you can do all the details," explains Latimer.



Shelving and storage were added as space allowed.



A full-on kitchen was not necessary, but the suitably tiny facilities provide just what is needed to prepare a cup of coffee.



A petite bathroom has been painted a serene shade of green.



For the exterior, Latimer used shou sugi ban charred cedar in addition to the corrugated metal. He says, "The design inspirations are both Japanese and Scandinavian. We wanted it to have a warm and cozy sense of hygge. Funke called it 'sensual design' because it appeals to all the senses."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
×