A New 'Cottage' Industry
June 24th, 2009 in Blogs
Ed Pirnik, producer
8 users recommend
Photo: Jack Journey - © Tumbleweed Tiny House Company 2008
Let's face it, we live in a society where a lot of folks generally live by the "bigger is better" rule of thumb - big sodas, bigger cars and even bigger houses. There are however, a few brave revolutionaries out there willing to break with current trends and say no to conventionality. Behold the "tiny house" movement.
If you're willing to do some serious downsizing - tiny houses measure in at well below 1,000 square feet - this movement might be for you. It isn't all about simplifying one's life either. Building small saves money and allows homeowners with an eye for detail to concentrate on quality building materials. Using less space also means a tiny home's heating and energy requirements will come in at a heck of a lot less than the average 2,000 square foot home. That means a smaller carbon footprint and less impact on the environment.
Although a tiny house might not fit your space needs as a primary residence, they seem to be tailor-made for use as vacation homes and studios. Have a look at the resources below and see if you don't agree.
Based out of Luling, Texas, Tiny Texas Houses specializes in structures ranging in size from 10' x 16' to 12' x 28' and prices from $38K to $90K. Built from upwards of 95-percent salvaged materials and reclaimed wood, these homes seem to be both environmentally friendly as well as cost efficient. Owner Brad Kittel incorporates a variety of wood species in his tiny homes - including Southern Yellow Pine, Walnut, Cypress, Mesquite, and old growth Fir. Amenities often include antique cast iron sinks and tubs. Be sure to have a look at his gallery.
The California-based Tumbleweed Tiny House Company specializes in homes raging in size from 65 to 837 square feet. Owner Jay Shafer writes that his decision to inhabit a home of only 89 square feet arose as a result of environmental concerns. Today, his company offers homeowners a wide variety of tiny house plans and even offers workshops on tiny house construction and "small space design." The website is chock-full of information.
If you've got a small house that's big on details, post your photos in our gallery. And for more information on the Tiny House movement, hop on over to the New York Times.
UPDATE: Be sure to have a look at architect and author Sarah Susanka's take on the "not so big" house at Fine Homebuilding.
posted in: Blogs
About this blog
Rick Arnold knows his stuff. During his tenure as a contributing editor for Fine Homebuilding, Rick has written several dozen articles related to framing and roofing, and he's also one of our most trusted tool reviewers. For this blog, Rick is going to let readers know what it's like transforming a historic home into a modern, green structure.
Rob Moody began his building career in 2000 by renovating a historic home. He is a nationally known speaker, consultant and instructor in sustainability and green building. Currently, he works with his wife, Lindsay, at Organic Think Inc, a green consultation and education firm and
is a partner in the National Center for Sustainability.
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