Introduction to A Tiny House to Call Your Home

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A Tiny Home to Call Your Own
Living Well in Just Right Houses

by
Patricia Foreman & Andy Lee

Introduction

Why tiny houses? Whereas size is relative, we found American's have become obsessed with BIG. From super-sized to jumbo including in vehicles, airplane seats and housing. But not everyone wants, needs or can afford a JUMBO home.

In looking around with thoughtful observation at housing, we realized that folks in our society can choose from two basic options: (1.) huge, mini-mansions that are larger than they really need — or can afford on the upscale, or (2.) cheaply made starter houses and plastic single and double wides on the lower end.

There is little available housing that is small, yet high-quality, built with individual class, and personality.

And yet over 35% of all American households are with a single head-of-household. With the baby boomers approaching retirement and more professional single folks in the market place, we expect the demand for quality, smaller custom housing to skyrocket. It's a trend that needs to happen on every level: sociologically, environmentally and economically. People are asking themselves: "how much (living space) is enough?"

So, whereas builders can build any size home for you they all currently say there is no profit in building small houses. The big bucks are made with big houses. That is only partly true. Smaller houses do cost more per square foot to build because they have all the features of a larger house. But, they don’t have the square footage. A 2,500 square foot house at $100 / square foot costs $250,000. A 1,000 square foot tiny house at, say, $125 / square foot totals $125,000. More expensive per square foot but less expensive overall. There is a trend toward tiny houses, cabins, cottages and bungalows — not only because they are so adorable, but also because they are so functional and personal.

What is a Tiny House? The definition is relative, however, we define tiny houses as any full-featured, smaller home from about 350 square feet up to 1,100 square feet. Cute, cute, cute.
A small house we define from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House defines a "not so big house" as being from 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Again, size is relative. So how big is yours? Your house that is. I bet you thought I was going to say wallet. Here's an interesting formula: Smaller House = Bigger Wallet.

Now we are not going to snap a chalk line and say 1,200 square feet is NOT a tiny tiny house – size is truly relative and varies from our individual perspectives. Without getting hung up on the square footage of "my house is smaller than your house" let’s stick with the basis of this book which is:
You can live in an attractive, aesthetically appealing upscale house AND you can do it so that it is quality built, architecturally beautiful, highly marketable and profitable.

Small is beautiful and functional in housing. Smaller scale homes can be more livable, cozy, homey, enjoyable, affordable and socially responsible than the current trend of MacMansionization that is chewing up America. Why not impress neighbors with style and freedom rather than with large scale homes.

How to you make a tiny house a home? You do it through architectural detail, very efficient use of space, and the personal touches that put art and craftsmanship back into architecture. You make transitional spaces like hall ways and stairwells minimal. You maximize storage areas. You build a house that not just a shelter – it’s your home. You create an environment that is not just expensive heated storage for stuff, but an environment that supports you, your interests and your lifestyle.

Recipe for a Tiny House – What to Add; What to Leave Out

Add: Creative, well planned rooms and house designs, that utilize every foot of heated space. Use floor plans that minimized hallways, stairwells, and other "dead" space that isn’t routinely or functionally used.
Leave Out: More space than you really need including large hallways, stairs, and closets that occupy space that you have to heat, clean and pay for.

Add: Detail and the personal touches that can bring a house alive with your personality and nurtures your spirit.
Leave out: the molded plastic look that might look good initially, but is boring and common.

Add: Landscaping that is easy to care for, attractive, energy enhancing, and doesn’t require you to mow a lot in your spare time.
Leave out: Lots of lawn and high maintenance plants that demand your time in mowing, weeding, and trimming instead of golfing, time with the kids, reading, and playing.

Add: Fewer rooms. Be able to vacuum each level so your sweeper can reach every corner from the same electrical outlet. This is a genuine cleaning time saver.
Leave Out: Multiple levels, rooms and hard to reach corners that are hard to clean and require you to carry your vacuum cleaner to multiple outlets.

Add: Classy windows. Bring the outdoors in with well placed and sized windows that allow natural light and maximize views for a sense of geomancy and Nature’s beauty. Design connecting views from room to room to give a sense of spaciousness and airiness.
Leave Out: Floor plans that don’t consider a house’s view, solar (heat) gain or loss, and natural light coming into rooms.

Add: Decks and porches to inexpensively expand unheated floor space and provide a transition from the yard or street into the house. Relaxing places to chat, sip tea or host a party.
Leave out: Designs that do not include comfortable places to sit outdoors and visit with your neighbors and passers by. This guarantees you will spend 100% of your time indoors and have little contact with others around you.
Also Leave out: Rooms that are rarely used and make rooms that you can use for more than one purpose – in permaculture this is called "stacking". Formal areas that function occasionally for holidays, parties or storage.

Add: Lots of built in storage such as book shelves, under bed drawers, space saver closets, etc. Keep mainly those things that serve and please you. Design spaces that help keep clutter minimized.
Leave out: Lots of space without substance. Rooms that give you very little feeling for home or coziness. Incorporate not only square angles but also curves.

Add: Space that is thoughtfully designed in detail. Compact without being cramped. Ostentatious square footage, sprawling space. Include different ceiling heights to give variety and take away any "boxy" feeling. Add ceilings that are have increased height, but not so high they give a cold, impersonal feeling. Use fun colors both inside and out.
Leave out: Low ceilings, boxy rooms, and gray, boring color shemes.

Add: Quality over quantity in every detail, thing and use. Control clutter.
Leave out: Stuff you buy because the price is cheap – not because you need it. Eliminate lots of redundant items, doodads and gizmos.