tiny homes (512)

Beginner’s Guide For Building Small Shed

April 13, 2013 at 6:13 pm

This is a very good book on construction of a small building. The author is a good teacher; he walks you through the entire process of construction, from foundation to roof, in a way that’s understandable to novices. The drawings are great: helpful and friendly. Ostensibly for kids building clubhouses, but it’s also a very good starting manual for anyone building their first small structure.

From Storey Publishing here.

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New Tiny Homes Documentary

March 14, 2013 at 12:30 pm

“…Tiny houses aren’t just houses – they are a movement. A vibrant online community attests to this movement, more visibly perhaps that the tiny houses themselves, which are often hidden in backyards or rural outcroppings where code enforcement can’t find them. Apparently, county and city codes commonly establish a lower limit for allowable square footage of homes, with 600 square feet being a typical minimum. To get around this constraint, “tiny home” dwellers – including Smith – tend to build on wheels, so that their abodes fall under RV rules rather than those for buildings with foundations. These houses are often constructed with reclaimed materials; outfitted with gray water systems, composting toilets, and solar panels; and designed by creative, forward-looking architects. As such, their selling points rest comfortably in a nexus of affordability, sustainability, and aesthetic appeal. They tend to be darling, almost like tiny Disney cottages; they also tend to allow the natural landscape around them to take a starring role.…”

Click here.

And click here for info on the new documentary “Tiny: A Story About Living Small,” by Christopher Smith and Merete Mueller.

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Tiny Building On Rock in Middle of Serbian River

March 13, 2013 at 12:30 pm

“This tiny home may not look like much but it stands as a true powerhouse, braving decades of abuse from the most unrelenting natural elements. It’s perched atop a rock in the middle of the Drina River, near the town of Bajina Basta, Serbia, and neither weather nor water has been able to knock it over.…” From Inhabitat here.

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Downsizing With Tiny Homes

March 6, 2013 at 11:39 pm

“…The beginning of the real estate downturn was one of the biggest catalysts behind the small home movement, says Michael Janzen of Tiny House Design. People began facing the challenges they had in housing and affording houses.

   ‘A lot of people who are retired are looking at tiny homes as a way to downsize,” he said. ‘Younger people are interested in it as a way to get a foothold on homeownership, and a lot of people like the environmental aspect.’

   And, adds Janzen, not only do smaller homes cost less, you can also build a tiny home yourself. ‘It’s an empowering movement,’ he said.…

   While there are resources and plans to build your own tiny home, it’s also possible to buy one currently on the market.

   Above: Updated cottage: 2444 3rd Ave N, St Petersburg, $74,900. 560 square feet
Although it measures less than 600 square feet, this St. Petersburg home makes enough room for 2 bedrooms and a bath. The home is move-in ready with recent updates, including renovations to the kitchen and bathroom.”

Click here.

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