Bungalow In A Box
Raoul and Vicki Hennin founded Montsweag Brook Corporation on the coast of Maine in 1998 to fulfill their creative entrepreneurial dreams.
His Bungalows surprise and delight clients with a substance and scale not found in other kit designs.
Before delivery on site, bungalow components are precisely crafted in the Bungalow Barn. Assembly techniques on-site are quick, efficient and fun. Owners enjoy a celebratory Bungalow raising in one or two days instead of one or two weeks of conventional construction.
Panel-Framing builds on the craftsmanship and strength of Timber-Framing. It also takes advantage of the efficiency of modern SIP construction methods and the common-sense of stud framing. Heavy timbers span cathedral ceilings, but no bulky posts intrude on the living space. Prefabricated panels assemble quickly, but are weather tight from day one. And, perhaps best of all, Panel-Frame structures go up with little impact on the site.
Raoul sells existing plans for $250 (not including modifications). The plans consist of 20-30 pages (depending on the house) of framing dimensions for the individual panels printable to 8.5×11 paper, and two pages of elevations on 11×14. As an example, the 12′x16′ house is made up of 22 panels, some of which repeat and need only a single spec sheet. Along with the plans, Raoul will provide phone support on a limited, good faith basis to help anyone who would like to undertake one of these buildings on their own. The plans assume basic carpentry skills.
Raoul has had good results with a customer who actually built the entire structure on his own from the plans, with some phone support. Another client purchased a kit that Raoul fabricated. He picked it up in a Uhaul truck, and assembled the panels on his own site in one weekend.
Raoul currently has plans available for the following structures:
12′x16′ left-hand porch
12′x16′ right-hand porch
12′x16′ full footprint (no inlet porch)
12′x20′ full footprint
12′x24′ with sleeping loft over 8′ full porch, with stress-skin panel roof
To learn more visit the Bungalow In A Box Site.
Tumbleweed’s New Look
Jay Shafer and his partner Steve Weissmann of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company have just revamped the website. It has a fresh new look, and is very easy to get around to see what they have to offer.
If you haven’t visited the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company website in awhile now is the time to do it.
Visit it today: Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
Better Barns Cabin
Better Barns Hardware plans would be perfect for a tiny house. Here are a few examples of finished products using the plans they supply. My favorite is the cabin above but you can view many more examples of there fine designs at the Barn Hall of Fame.
Here is how Better Barns Hardware describes their designs.
- Distinctive Design… every barn plan is proportioned to look right. We pay careful attention to details like strap hinges and a transom window over the doors. To allow for maximum use of inside space, our roof trusses are designed to accommodate the addition of a loft for extra storage.
- Creative Uses… for our barns are not limited to storage. Many of our customers have a specific use in mind– pool cabana, play house, practice room, workshop, garden shed, cabin-in-the-woods or studio.
- Premium Quality… is apparent in our list of construction details – perfected over 20 years of constant change and improvement.
Our plan suggest the use of pressure treated lumber for floor joists; three-quarter inch plywood is always used for flooring.
Architectural style shingles, (which look like wood shingles), are used for roofing and are available in a number of colors.
The natural beauty of cedar wood is used in many of of our barns. Cedar’s resistance to insects as well as the elements makes it the first choice for using plans from Better Barns Hardware and Plans.
Mad Housers Shelter
Mad Housers Inc. Shelter
In this post I want to look at the very basic shelter that a person needs. This may be considered extreme by many, but in reality it shows what shelter really is and what we can get by with if necessary. First let’s look at the description of shelter in the dictionary:
shelter – n.
1 something that covers or protects; protection, or place affording protection, as from the elements or danger.
2 the state of being covered or protected; protection; refuge
–vt. to provide shelter or refuge for; protect
–vi. to find protection or refuge
MAD HOUSERS Inc. is an Atlanta-based non-profit corporation engaged in charitable work, research and education. Our charter outlines our goals and purposes:
- To provide shelter for homeless individuals and families regardless of race, creed, national origin, gender, religion, or age.
- To develop low income housing for people in need of housing.
- To help people develop the skills and knowledge for constructing and rehabilitating housing and shelter.
- To increase the quantity and to improve the quality of housing in the world.
- To act, if necessary as an advocate for the homeless, to ensure that their moral and civil rights are protected.
The Mad Housers believe that if a person has a secure space from which to operate, they are much more capable of finding the resources to help themselves.
To Learn More visit the Mad Housers Site.
Avesund’s Tiny House
Hermit’s Cabin
Those of you familiar with the Avesund’s “Hermitage’s Cabin” which is just big enough for one person, equipped for all seasons and can be located practically anywhere. You can place it in the mountains, in the woods, in your own backyard or maybe even inside your own house. Use it anywhere you want to create a room for retreat and stillness.
Avesund is moving into the tiny/small house market and now offers several designs to choose from. They also are designing small barn houses as well.
My favorite in the small house design is the Fryas:
- Roof: Wood construction, 70 mm insulation with weather protection and a tin roof .
- Walls: Wood construction with 70 mm insulation. Lying planned wood panels inside, rough sawn wood panels outside in different withs to create a nice pattern and painted with Falu Rödfärgs in the colors red, black, brown or green.
- Floor: Wood construction with 100 mm insulation. 30 mm solid pine wood floor.
- Windows/door: Insulated glass
Door 800 x 1900 mm with fine sawn non treated wood panels. Handmade steel lock.
My favorite of Avesund’s Barn Houses is the Heljesund:
The original Swedish barn in a modern interpretation. All the mesurments comes from the typical barn that still can be seen in the fields as a reminder of farming in nothern Sweden.
Heljesund comes in two sizes where the larger is 3,6 m longer to create totally 94 sqm of living area with its upper floor.
Size: 63 or 94 sqm.
To learn more and to see their other designs go to the Avesund Website.
Yurt Camping
TreeBones Resort Big Sur, CA $155 and Up
Want to experience living in a tiny house, now that Summer is approaching it is a great time to consider renting a Yurt at a retreat or campground for a couple of nights or a week to get the feel of what it would be like downsizing to a tiny house. Prices have a wide range, anywhere from $27 to over $250 per night, so choose what fits your life style best and go try it out.
There are many choices across the country where you can rent a yurt for a night or for a week. Below are a few options that I found searching on google under yurt camping. These are in the states, but there are many options in Canada and Europe as well. Click on the links below the pictures to learn more.
Oregon Parks $27-$30 (Rustic)
Oregon Parks $66 (Deluxe)
Orca Island Cabins Seward Alaska $250
Mary Rose Herb Farm & Retreat Indiana $84 to $100
Global Portable Buildings
If your looking for that house for under $20k, look no further than Global Portable Buildings, Inc. of Santa Rosa, California. They make a standard storage container into a very livable structure, which is also very affordable.
Global Portable Buildings, Inc. build the “Ultimate” with its modern finished kitchen, bathroom and extra room (8′ x 40′ model).
Their most complete portable building. Standard features include kitchen, bathroom (with shower, toilet, sink), AC electrical system, telephone/internet connection, 2″ rigid insulated finished walls and ceiling, windows, entrance door, finished linoleum/vinyl floor and utility room.
Unlike most of their competition, these are available now and all you need to do is place an order. They can be shipped anywhere around the world. These are not just fancy drawings and renditions of ideas.
According to Sean Taylor Vice President of Sales & Marketing. These can not officially be called homes, but what people do with them is their business. Although aimed at the construction industry, you the buyer will need to verify with your area what permits etc. are required.
Some suggested uses are: hunting cabin, guest cabins, mother-in-law cottages, retreats. These are very affordable with the 8 x 20 starting at $16,500 and the 8 x 40 starting at $23,500. Plus shipping to your destination.
Additional options such as solar are available.
Visit their site for a virtual tour and a movie by CBS news.
Double Space Bed System for Small Spaces
John Gudenkauf of Tucson, Arizona has created the perfect bed for your small space or tiny house.
Double Space Bed Systems was created by the joint effort of John and Yani Gudenkauf. The original concept arose after researching and planning out the details to build a comfortable “tiny house” of 200 sf. Most very small/tiny homes utilize a loft-type bed to gain extra space, and for John (a semi-claustrophobic person), this would not do. From these efforts, the Double Space Bed System (DSBS) was born.
We started working on the Double Space Bed System in November of 2006. It was designed, engineered and built by John Gudenkauf, and design and utility patents are pending. We endeavor to build craftsman quality, elegant, easy-to-use products that will last a lifetime (or longer) in the U.S.A. We use eco-friendly/green products and practices whenever possible, and will offer eco-friendly/green versions of our products, as well.
To learn more visit John Gudenkauf Double Space Bed System.
Small House Society
If you are serious about downsizing, than you need to stay connected through the Small House Society. The Small House Society was founded by Jay Shafer, Shay Salomon, Nigel Valdez, and Gregory Johnson.
The Small House Society is a voice for the Small House Movement. That movement includes movie stars who have downsized into 3000 square feet, families of five happy in an arts and crafts bungalow, multifamily housing in a variety of forms, and more extreme examples, such as people on houseboats and in trailers with just a few hundred square feet around them.
Size is relative, and mainly we promote discussion about the ecological, economic and psychological toll that excessive housing takes on our lives, and what some of us are doing to live better. It’s not a movement about people claiming to be tinier than thought but rather people making their own choices toward simpler and smaller living however they feel best fits their life.
You can become a member for a mere $5 per year. By becoming a member you help support the distributorship of the monthly newsletter (now online) Small House Society Newsletter. Designers, maintenance of website, display booths, producing videos, online discussion moderation, research and much more.
Gregory Johnson lives in one of Jay Shafers Tumbleweed homes called the Hermitage, which is 140 sq ft. I have put a few pictures in this post and there are many more at the website Small House Society website.
Tumbleweed Lusby for Sale
Drive Away With This House Tomorrow
This Tiny House is SOLD!
A Tumbleweed customer from Curtis, Washington recently bought a Lusby, only to have her job transfer her to Alaska. After a lot of deliberating, she has decided to sell the house. It is brand new and never been used. You can purchase it with a cashier’s check and drive away with it tomorrow.
This is a unique opportunity since normally the lead time for a house is 3 months … this one is available today. You can see a video of it by clicking here. The house in the video is the actual house for sale. This home was designed and built by Jay Shafer of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company.
It has a standing shower, RV toilet, hot water heater, sink, stove, house heater and is ready to be plugged in and lived in. For more information, please email lusby@tumbleweedhouses.com
Tumbleweed Lusby pictures below:
