I saw this on Craigslist and thought I would share it with you. I’m sure there are more like this across the country and beyond.

$600 Tiny Dream Cabin for Artist /Writer (sebastopol)

Reply to: hous-978946286@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2009-01-03, 12:58PM PST

We are looking for a special someone artist/writer or peace-loving person who would love to live in one of the smallest cabins you’ll ever see.

The cabin itself is rustic and luxurious… is 10×12 tiny but has built in cabinetry, microwave, hot plate, fridge, carpet, tile…and a very great little propane fireplace that closes to look like a curio chest with granite doors. Views of forest and koi pond with meditation gazebo. Fruit trees snow blossoms in the spring… it’s a pretty great, Close enough to the two other houses on the property to feel safe, but private and secluded feeling also.

The rustic part is it has a shared bath, shower/laundry about 25 ft away. And water comes to the porch (forgot to mention the cabin has a little deck) Inside is old fashioned pitcher and basin.

If you can live without alot of possessions, and want to pour yourself into art,writing or meditation… this may really suit you.

Shared Art room is big with lots of natural light, cement floors, utility sink, easels, large tables,etc. Sorry no toxic mediums.
Property is surrounded by inspiring nature, creeks, trees, sun, … close to beach and close to town. Occidental is a 15 min. walk. Santa Rosa a 25 min drive.

There are 3-4 other people on the property who are all nice, into organic gardening and believe home should feel like a sanctuary… the place you’re always glad to be.

There is an intelligent dog on the property, so sorry no pets. Cable isn’t hooked up but could be made ready fairly easily.

If this sounds like a fit for you, please let us know… $600. mo plus utilities. $400. deposit.

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By Christina Nellemann

In the middle of winter, I start dreaming about tropical locales. For people who are lucky enough to be able to let the outdoors into their homes almost all year long, the “Wee Hus” from Gado Gado International in Santa Rosa, Calif. might be the perfect tiny house for you.

These tiny teak homes with their exquisite details are designed from the original style found in Indonesia and are built in Java. Both the original traditional tiny houses and the newer ones are made from reclaimed teak using traditional mortise and tenon joinery. Gado Gado uses nails and bolts sparingly where needed for structural strength and safety.The tiny houses are named after Gado Gado owner, David Sussman’s Irish Aunt Patsy.

Indonesia is in earthquake country, and there are more >6.0 earthquakes in Java than in California. These little houses have stood up to large temblors precisely because of how they were constructed: the complex joinery system with through-going tenons through tenons in two directions gives the structure sufficient strength but allows enough flexibility to sway during earthquake movements without falling over.

The ceilings of some of the tiny houses range from simple teak lap-jointed planks to highly carved original “joglo” pieces. Gado Gado cuts the roof shingles by hand out of reclaimed teak boards.

The tiny houses range from 8×8 ft. up to 16×16 ft., and are priced at $10,000 up to about $30,000 based on size, complexity, and the amount of original or new carving requested by the customer. They are built for longevity, and can stand up to rain, snow and direct sun. Teak is more resistant to rot and bugs than any hardwood or softwood grown in the U.S. due to its high resin content and the presence of 1%-2% silica (basically like beach sand) taken up by the teak tree from the soil. These houses are not yet built to U.S. standards for year-round living, although such modifications are not difficult during installation. The original Indonesian teak homes were not built with wiring or plumbing, but this can be added later by the customer.

Gado Gado offers a CD-ROM that shows the step-by-step construction of a 16×12 ft Wee Hus. You can order the CD-ROM from the website.

The teak homes ship to the customer as “knock down” with each mortise and tenon marked to show where they will be put together. Scaled drawings of the pier foundation are also included. Gado Gado recommends that customers invite all their friends that are handy with tools and make a day of it (a 12×16 ft. tiny house takes about 1.5 days to set up with 8 people). However, it is worth the money to get the owner, David Sussman and one of his staff, out to the site to guide the installation.

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Christian La Grange an architect in France sent me to his site, which has some real neat cabin designs as you can see in the pictures here.

Unfortunately Christian does not speak english so I have asked our readers for a translation. Thank you Herb for stepping up and helping me here with the translation.

«Presentation»

We are more and more confronted with the prohibitive cost of housing. Faced with this dilemma we propose to you a new path.

The path is achieved by cutting back and living in a small cabin.

Living is a reduced space allows the chance to cultivate the essentials and to adopt the life attitude of voluntary simplicity.

There is nothing to stop you from thinking of other uses for the space other than that of living.

To reduce costs and take control of your life we advise self construction rather than depending on specialists.

What we offer in this site are small cabin plans that you can purchase.

The construction technique is wood frame but you are free to use the materials and techniques of your choice.

Included with the plans is a self study list of books and internet sites.«Presentation»

We are more and more confronted with the prohibitive cost of housing. Faced with this dilemma we propose to you a new path.

The path is achieved by cutting back and living in a small cabin.

Living is a reduced space allows the chance to cultivate the essentials and to adopt the life attitude of voluntary simplicity.

There is nothing to stop you from thinking of other uses for the space other than that of living.

To reduce costs and take control of your life we advise self construction rather than depending on specialists.

What we offer in this site are small cabin plans that you can purchase.

The construction technique is wood frame but you are free to use the materials and techniques of your choice.

Included with the plans is a self study list of books and internet sites.

Christian’s site is located at http://www.alternativecabanon.be/

«Cabanons»

If you are a handyman this may titillate you into dreaming about an alternate life do not hesitate to call Christian La Grange. He will propose to you a series of sketch plans to the end of constructing a small cabin of your desire.

Do not hesitate to call Christian La Grange. He will produce a series of sketch plans for the construction of the small cabin of your desires.

The sketch plans will compose of:
Floor plan and a transverse section
Frontal elevation
Explanation of techniques
Reference books and inter net sites
Materials list

Although there is no specific support Christian La Grange can provide limited advice and answer questions via email.

If none of the cabins shown are to your liking we can do a custom study for 300 euros or 30 euros an hour. 

The plans themselves are self explanatory. The names are kind of fun and below are my translations:

The little Hermitage
Forrester’s shelter
Fisherman’s cabin
Writer’s hovel
«La Cahute de l’Écrivan» is straw bail construction with an outdoor toilet.
Shepherds cabin
Weekend shelter
Love nest

«Livres»

There are two books for sale but if you do not read French there is probably not much value in knowing more about this page.