Microshelters: 59 Creative Cabins, Tiny Houses, Tree Houses, and Other Small Structures
256
Microshelters: 59 Creative Cabins, Tiny Houses, Tree Houses, and Other Small Structures
256Paperback
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Overview
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781612123530 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Storey Publishing, LLC |
| Publication date: | 08/31/2015 |
| Pages: | 256 |
| Sales rank: | 181,458 |
| Product dimensions: | 7.10(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
Tiny Houses
PEOPLE HAVE LONG ARGUED about what makes a house a real-deal home. Opinions on what characterizes a permanent, full-time dwelling differ by taste, of course, but also by region and culture. The homes in this section have a few essential elements: sleeping quarters, a toilet of some sort, a place to wash oneself (if not contained within, then very close by), and areas for food preparation and storage. Eat, sleep, digest — that's what it boils down to, and the dwellings here have that covered.
MATT WOLPE'S TINY HOUSE
Just Fine Design/Build
Matt's self-designed and self-built home is proof that it's possible to fit many of the regular amenities of a more standard-size home into a tiny one. It's one of my very favorite tiny dwellings on the scene and is just loaded with character. Wolpe, who co-heads (with partner Kevin McElroy) the design firm Just Fine Design/Build, managed to squeeze a full kitchen with a two-burner range, a greywater system, a full bed in a lofted area, a Dickinson propane stove, and more all into only 100 square feet. Though the bathroom is off-site, Matt hid an outdoor shower in the back, seeing as Oakland's climate makes it a more desirable setup than it might be elsewhere. Aside from that, the house resembles a traditional home, albeit tinier. The budget was equally tiny. Overall, Matt spent only $5,500 on his home, which is impressive, considering the look and feel he was able to achieve within. Oh yeah, it's also made with a huge amount of free, salvaged, and repurposed materials, so an extra nod goes out to Matt for that alone.
favorite features
What I like most about Matt's home is that it includes many modern conveniences without making the place seem cramped. By leaving a good deal of open living space, Matt has made his little home feel significantly bigger than it really is. Additionally, all of his hardwood furniture was hand-built, and his floors were taken from an old roller skating rink and given new life — a great conversation piece right there, never mind that this little house is just beautiful. Built-in furniture, it should be noted, is certainly something to consider in a small house or microstructure. Most standard couches, tables, ottomans, and benches don't fit easily in a space so small, so you might want to consider custom-building your own pieces instead. They can be as fancy or as rustic as you'd like, any color you desire, and, well, built exactly the way you want ... with a little elbow grease. You'll probably save some money, and you just might have some fun, too!
LITTLE YELLOW
Original plans by Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, altered by Ella Jenkins
On a visit out to San Francisco to speak at a workshop for the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, I luckily found time for a side jaunt to Half Moon Bay to see the microresidence of Ella Jenkins. Ella's self-built house is a prime example of how to make a home one's own: she's taken the time to design and arrange her living space and belongings to reflect her needs, routines, and tastes. For many, building a tiny house or microstructure, for any use, is a once-in-a-lifetime DIY task. It's certainly one you'll want to be proud of. So why not build it to suit your own needs and desires?
Little Yellow is based on a design from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company (their Fencl model at the time). Among her many adjustments to the original design, Ella eliminated the Dutch hip roof on the entrance end of the home to bring out the gable to the full trailer's length. This yielded extra storage space in the secondary loft and, as an added bonus, made the roof much easier to frame. Fewer cuts, angles, and figuring often result in fewer headaches. A sleeping loft at the rear end of the house frees up living and cooking space below. This well-appointed home also features a composting toilet, a shower stall fashioned from a rather funky and fun-looking stock feed tank, and a bay window with a view (of a horse farm). There's ample space for Ella's large harp, the focal point of the main room, and a salvaged vintage school desk where she can sit and work on her handmade jewelry. She even has room left over to entertain guests, all within 120 square feet. Is it magic? Nope, just the result of a good dose of planning and knowing what one wants.
favorite features
Overall, Ella's Little Yellow has a more thoughtful and intentional feel than many of the homes I've set foot in — and there have been many. I love her choice of interior colors, which are vibrant without being overwhelming. Her combined dish storage and drainage rack (the rack hangs above the sink and drips right into it) is an excellent example of thrift and space efficiency. Also noteworthy is the post of her front porch. This thick, debarked manzanita bough, grabbed from the side of a cliff, tells the visitor from the very start, "You're about to enter a pretty darn unique home." The manzanita ain't lyin'.
THE 227
Yestermorrow Design/Build School
On a caffeine-fueled romp through the Berkshires and beyond, my brother, Dustin (aka "Dr. Demolition" ), and I hit five unusual tiny cabins and dwellings in just two days, photographing and shooting videos of each along the way. It was our "Two Days, Three States, Five Locales, Nine Videos, and 47 Cups of Coffee" tour. Well, maybe not 47. The point is, it was a fun but tiring tour, and by the time we reached the 227, our last stop, I was in a let's-just-get-this-last-shoot-over-with state of mind. Well, as we pulled up we were greeted by Jesse, one of the owners, who gave us fresh eggs and a look at a great new barn he had just designed. Then we saw the house. We were wowed by the appearance and layout of this very sparse and modern home. My mindset was changed instantly, and I was now excited (or coffee number 47 had finally kicked in!).
At 227 square feet the house is one of the larger structures covered in this book, but it's still a far cry from the average-size home in not only the United States, where excess reigns supreme, but also worldwide. The team from the Yestermorrow Design/Build School in Warren, Vermont, did a pretty exceptional job with the layout of this mini-home, which, I might add, is on wheels. Charred shou sugi ban siding (a Japanese technique of sealing the wood with a blowtorch), recycled metal light and handle fixtures, crafty storage nooks and drawers, and high ceilings all go a long way in making this a very attractive little dwelling. The bathroom, with a large, custom sliding wall/door and almost 30 square feet in size, is rather luxurious by tiny-house standards. Borrowing from nautical design, the room is a wet bath, in which the shower, sink, and composting toilet are all in the same open space. Slatted floors ensure drainage, as no one wants to splash their way to a toilet when duty calls.
favorite features
I can't get enough of the steampunk-esque, pipe-fitting ceiling lamps of the 227. So many people overlook the simple concept of using raw-looking plywood as wall cladding. Not only can it look great, but it saves time, money, and materials, not to mention weight in cases where trailer loads are a concern. The variously textured bed drawers are good-looking and fun, in addition to providing a wealth of storage space. The polycarbonate wall panels also have a great look. These make for lightweight, easy-to-install walls with an almost space-age effect.
MENDY'S SHOE BOX
Tennessee Tiny Homes
Arguably one of the harder-working dudes in the "tiny industry," Joe Everson (plus Joe Sr., Chris Cole, and their team at Tennessee Tiny Homes) seems to have a zeal for construction and small space design that is surpassed by few. With over 15 years of building and framing experience under his belt, Joe decided sometime around 2011 to dip his toes into the world of tiny dwellings. Since then, he has built and designed numerous homes, both "groundbound" structures and travel trailers, each one very different from its predecessor.
Mendy's Shoe Box, named for the client it was fashioned for, was one of Joe's early projects and shows his team's knack for interior style and design. One aspect I particularly love in Everson's work is the incorporation of fold-down decks that stow upward in a locked position for road travel. These also provide security when the owner is away for long periods of time. With Joe's creativity for finding storage in otherwise overlooked places, plus his team's ability to work in some rather fun color schemes, this tiny house company should be around for some time.
favorite features
Mendy's Shoe Box has a great little entrance arrangement where a built-in couch — something you don't see as often as you might expect in tiny homes — also doubles as a daybed and storage cover, and it's conveniently positioned across from a wall-mounted TV. Joe somehow manages to stuff highly functional shower and bath combos into the smallest of spaces too.
THE TUMBLEWEED LINDEN
Meg Stephens, Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
The Tumbleweed Linden is one of the better examples of space efficiency out there, even before factoring in the loft (which can fit a king-size mattress, with room to spare). I was lucky enough to get a tour of this place at the Sonoma County Fair as part of their Tiny Town exhibit. Upon entering, I was rather surprised at just how open this Tumbleweed felt. The Linden has the largest loft among Tumbleweed's travel trailers. It's one in a series of newer models, all with tree-related names, and is available with several different floor plans. This 20-foot-long home also boasts a second storage loft, one of the more useable kitchens I've seen in so small a home, and a real-deal, full-sized shower stall and composting toilet, which have been fit cunningly into the tiny bathroom. This is achieved by borrowing a sliver of space from the end of the kitchen, where one barely notices the loss — I didn't. Add in dormers, a fairly sizable "great room" at almost 7 x 9 feet, and plenty of wall space for art and shelving, and it all starts adding up to an aesthetically pleasing and highly functional microhome.
favorite features
The cantilevered end of the kitchen counter (just a few overhanging inches) is a nice touch in the Tumbleweed Linden, as it enables you to use it as a bar counter if you were to pull up a stool. Little details like that are what set a home apart from others. The dormer lofts and window placement also promote a nice cross-breeze, as well as ventilation in what would otherwise be a very hot loft space. The bathroom's full-shower-stall trick is so subtle most would never notice the stolen space from the kitchen. I'm also a fan of the front porch. With no railings, it becomes more open, usable, and flexible, and serves as a more gradual transition between the indoor and outdoor living spaces. The two front posts would also make for a great place to string up a temporary hammock.
THE RUSTIC MODERN
Michael Papillo and Jenny Yee
Michael Papillo and Jenny Yee own and operate a tiny-house bed-and-breakfast in Portland, Oregon, that they designed and built themselves. They ventured into this enterprise with a big sense of style and a very small budget. Repurposing materials for this backyard retreat not only saved them money but also set them far apart from the countless other B&Bs that dot the landscape these days.
"Sustainable design was very important to us," says Michael. The trim and shelves were created from wood nabbed from an old shed formerly on the property, and the teak flooring, otherwise very expensive, and cedar shake siding were obtained as leftovers from several high-end construction jobs. Again, the result here is not only savings but also a dose of character that gives this little oasis a look that is so not "off the shelf."
favorite features
In addition to the vibrant patches of color, such as the gold bathroom door, you'll find many other elements of the Rustic Modern that immediately say, "This is no boxy 'n' bland hotel room you're staying in." I really think the table made from a chunk of old door is a great idea, the orange couch adds a fun and almost punky feel to the room, and the dresser-style kitchen cabinets are unconventional yet look so at home. The loft, which houses a queen-size bed, is accessed not by a ladder but by real stairs, which many guests find much easier to use, and the rustic treads just look fantastic. It's pretty hard for me to find anything I don't like about this Portland rental.
THE PICODWELLING
Steve Sauer
This micro-architectural brainchild of engineer Steve Sauer was born from an old storage room and speaks modernity to its very core. Steve, a bicycling enthusiast, artist, engineer, and minimalist at heart, has cleverly shoehorned so very much into so very little. The Pico is more than just minute; it's also classy and brags a wealth of custom DIY touches. Recycled slabs of IKEA wood, for instance, have been reimagined into new tables, benches, and shelving. The custom metal work, be it railings or supports or the two elevated bed platforms, also gives this place a one-of-a-kind feel. Steps to the main sleeping loft (from the mid-level "cafe" or lounging area) double as additional seating, and the negative voids behind them become storage space in the office nook under one of the elevated beds. It's all very well thought out, which is immediately evident when you first enter the space.
During my tour of the place Steve pointed out a feature in the bathroom: "This is perhaps the world's most expensive soap holder. It's made from laser-routed stainless steel, with inset containers from The Kitchen Store, and additional hardware welded on." You quickly understand that this is a man who knows exactly what he wants.
favorite features
The Pico's layering, all within a space only 10 feet 4 inches in height, is pretty ingenious. Steve knew enough to allocate full-height spaces in select circumstances — his upright desk space beneath his bed, for instance — and when to negotiate less space and to layer certain living quarters. The latter is illustrated in a TV-viewing nook that challenges the notion that you need a lofty space to sit and watch television.
The fold-down dining room table, almost accordion-like, can hold up to six place settings and fits within a kitchen and living room space that never seems to feel cramped.
CHRIS HAYNES'S HUMBLE HOME
Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
Still quite small in its footprint of 262 square feet, Chris Haynes's tiny house was based on a set of Bodega plans from California's Tumbleweed Tiny House Company and underwent quite a bit of tweaking to suit Chris's tastes and conform to local codes. While many of the microstructures in this book exist in an off-the-radar, don't-ask-don't-tell manner (which is why some of the locales aren't ultra-specific), Chris's place is 100 percent legal — fully permitted, fully inspected, and fully fantastic. While the sleep loft offers an additional 64 square feet of living, not to mention a good deal of storage in the eaves, it's the cathedral ceiling, only interrupted by the long run of a woodstove flue, that makes this home feel larger than it is. Yes, its main room is only a little over 150 square feet, but it has an impressive height of close to 15 feet. Hoops, anyone?
Chris's house is also off-grid and solar and boasts a TV entertainment system with a 50-inch projection (onto his living room's white wall) that runs on a mere, almost unheard-of 18 watts. This system, a combination of a Roku Box and a Brookstone mini projector, works very well.
Like the majority of the homes in this book, I had a chance to see Chris's firsthand, and I especially loved his rustic screened-in porch. This long, thin room overlooking a swamp provides a second sleep space in warmer weather. Come the colder months Chris has little to worry about, as the walls of his cozy little home are superinsulated, both inside the stud cavities and on the exterior. The house could almost be heated with a birthday cake.
favorite features
Chris Haynes's kitchen cabinets are semi-genius in that they appear to have little depth or storage room to them on first glance, but once you open them, you realize that Chris has recessed them into the wall-stud cavities. He gets the same effect with a hollowed-out spot for his medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "Microshelters"
by .
Copyright © 2015 Derek Diedricksen.
Excerpted by permission of Storey Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION: WHAT’S WITH THE “TINY” OBSESSION? PART 1: AMAZING MICROSHELTERS Tiny Houses- Matt Wolpe’s Tiny House
- Little Yellow
- The 227
- Mendy’s Shoe Box
- The Tumbleweed Linden
- The Rustic Modern
- The Pico-Dwelling
- Chris Haynes’s Humble Home
- Hal’s Uber-Funky Micro Guesthouse
- The Luna Bleu
- The Matchbox
- The V House
- The Giant Journey Home
- The Owl House
- The Transforming A-Frame
- Jim’s Streamside Retreat
- The Rock Bottom
- The Writer’s Haven
- Dianne and Bill’s Place
- The Rock Shed
- The Vision Hut at Ancient Oaks
- The Relax Shack
- The Miner’s Shelter
- The All Eights Microcabin
- The Hinterland Studio
- Tyler’s Marshside Shack
- The Horror Hut
- The Periscope
- The Sunset House
- The Collapsible House
- The Bread Box
- Sleepbox
- Neil and Kurt’s Teenage Log Cabin
- Austin Guest House
- Schaumburg Tree House
- Swanky San Francisco Tree House
- Fern Forest Tree House
- The RF 800
- The Steam Studio
- Tree House on a Farm
- The Lime Wedge
- The ModFruGal Stilt House
- The Wolfe’s Den
- Nashville Modern Fort
- Jonas’s Tree House
- Shepherd’s Huts
- The Cub
- The Gnomadik
- The Mighty Micro House
- The Professor’s Pod
- The Gypsy Junker
- Henrietta
- Jean’s Gypsy Wagon
- The Li’l Orange Playhouse
- The Book Nook
- The Nisker Nook
- The Little Blue Bump
- The Crate Escape
- The Sawtooth
- The Micro Dogtrot Cabin
- The Stilted Sleeper
- The Permatent
- The Carey Cabin
- The Woodsy Waggon
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