Fagor Portable Induction Burner
In my quest for small furnishings and appliances I came across the Fagor Portable Induction Burner. Based in Spain and founded in 1954, Fagor is renowned for its product quality, performance and innovation. The company is the fifth-largest appliance manufacturer in Europe and the number-one induction cooktop producer in the European market.
Here are the specifics:
Precise, efficient, fast, reliable—a favorite of professional chefs, an induction burner is considered the best cooking surface available. Easy-touch controls with six temperature settings. Features timer and control pad lock. Wipe clean. 1300 watts. 14″ x 12″ x 2¾”.
- Efficient: Uses 90% of energy produced.
- Fast: Quick heating response: as precise as gas, with 50% less cooking time.
- Precise: Melt chocolate or butter without a double boiler.
- Safe: Surface stays cool to the touch with no flames or smoke. Features automatic safety shut-off.
- Easy to clean: Spills wipe up easily because they don’t get cooked onto the glass.
- Elegant: Stainless-steel rim and high-quality, heat-resistant glass with elegant touch controls.
The cooking surface surrounding the pot stays cool to the touch since only the pot gets heated. Considered one the most eco-friendly products for its energy-efficiency, it also cooks faster than gas or electric cooktops, reducing 50% of the cooking time. Heating and temperature adjustments are immediate, allowing you to go from a simmer to a rolling boil in a few seconds.
The flat smooth surface of the Portable Induction cooktop is made of high quality heat resistant glass making spills easy to clean.
This versatile indoor/outdoor cooktop is great for entertaining; use it as a stylish, elegant centerpiece on the table, for outdoor parties and in the kitchen as an extra cooking zone. Use it for your boat, camper, dorm or studio apartment or tiny house or cabin!
The best price I have found for the Fagor Portable Induction Burner is at Amazon
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Martin House-To-Go Update #2
Here are a few answers to our last post on the Martin House-To-Go. I am featuring some new pictures of the Sportsman in this post. Again these are a first view thanks to Dan in Southern California who has been talking very seriously with Julie of Martin House-To-Go and getting these pictures and information for me to share with you.
A ladder is used to access the loft. Two singles or a queen size bed will fit very easily in the loft. The downstairs room also offers a sleeping area, as you can see two cots will fit in the room, although very closely.
Julie is using a European sink and burner that is very attractive as well as functional. This picture details the kitchen and shows off the cedar cabinet.
The bathroom consists of a sink, composting toilet and shower. Very attractively done and good use of the space.
The floor plan gives you the full picture. This model is 10 x 20 so in many states such as California, will require a permit to move it down the road. If you purchase one be sure and check this detail out before attempting to move it about in your state.
I’ll keep you posted as I learn more and be sure and check the Martin House-To-Go website as I am sure she will be updating it in the near future. This is one more choice for that mobile tiny house.
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Tiny Free House Progress
Michael Janzen just posted a complete summary of his weekend working on the tiny free house on his project blog. In a nutshell he spent two days building the floor out of pallets and got some pallets up for the walls. Michael Janzen is not sure when or if the article will make it to print but the New York Times is putting together a story on his tiny free house project. If the article by Steven Kurutz does make it to print I’ll let everyone know.
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Gypsy Caravans
When I was a child, my favorite book was “Danny, the Champion of the World” by Roald Dahl. Danny and his father live in a gypsy caravan in the English countryside in the 1950s and run a small gas station. Adventure ensues when Danny finds out his father is secretly poaching pheasants on a wealthy neighbor’s land. I loved the story, but loved the idea of living in a colorful gypsy caravan even more.
Dahl had a caravan in his garden that was the inspiration for Danny’s home. The typical gypsy caravan has been around for over 100 years and they still evoke a feeling of romance and adventure and can be a tiny, beautiful, ornate house on wheels.
Caravans or wagons built to live in were developed in France around 1810. Gypsies have only been using caravans as their main living and working space since 1850. The gypsy name for a caravan was vardo, from the Iranian word vurdon or cart. Newly married couples would commission a coach builder to create their colorful home on wheels. They took between 6 to 12 months to build and were made of oak, ash, elm, walnut and pine. They were then ornately painted carved and decorated with gold leaf.
There are six main types of caravans: the Brush or “fen waggon” which lacks the ornate wooden carvings, the Reading with sloping walls, the Ledge with a narrower floor and more elbow room, the Bowtop and the Openlot, which use a stretched canvas top over a wooden frame, and the Burton which was for more wealthy travellers. Most caravans were, and still are, pulled by draft horses, but you can design and build a caravan to be pulled by a car.
Though few people would choose to travel in one today, you can experience a fully functional caravan on your own property as a romantic getaway or guest accommodations, a creative studio, a personal meditation or healing space, or just an exquisite conversation piece. If you are traveling in Europe, you can rent a gypsy caravan (including the horses) and travel between campgrounds. Some hotels even have gypsy caravan “rooms” that you can stay in overnight.
If you are looking to build a gypsy caravan or have one built for you, there are several builders and plans available. Again, most of these builders are in Europe.
Gypsy Caravan Built by Brian Schmittling
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Compact Washer/Dryer
I want to start covering more furnishings that will fit in small spaces and tiny houses. This week I will cover a simple and compact laundry solution for a small space with no venting capabilities.
The cool thing about this machine is its size. It is only 33.5 inches hight by 23.5 inches wide and 21.65 inches deep. It includes auto select wash and rinse temperatures; water-saving rinse option; self-locking door; adjustable leveling legs; and a 1 year warranty. The Haier Ventless Washer/Dryer Combo HWD1000 is an elegant all-in-one solution for the vexing problems of limited space and lack of venting.
Sandy from Minneapolis, MN says: Aside from the funny name this a great little washing machine. And then it dries. Dry time is longer but that’s to be expected as it is not a heated dryer.
What are the major benefits of combos?
The number one benefit is the compact size: they are smaller than most washers or dryers. In fact, many people install these units under their kitchen counter, because they only take up about as much space as a normal size dishwasher! In addition, casters allow the unit to be rolled around with ease whenever needed.
Also, the efficiency of combo units not only saves you money by using much less energy and water to operate than standard washers and dryers, but many utility companies offer rebates for purchases of energy efficient appliances. Check with your local utility companies for eligibility.
Not only are these units extremely energy efficient, but they wash much better (and gentler) than standard washers. Combos use a front load washing design that utilizes a horizontal axis drum. This eliminates the agitator common to top load washers. In top load washers, the agitator is both very inefficient at cleaning and very rough on clothes. The horizontal axis drum on combos mimics washboard clothes washing, raising the clothes out of the water and soap and plunging them back in. Finally, the high rpm’s of the spin cycle of these units gets water and soap residue out of your clothes much better than normal washers do. This efficient and thorough cleaning process is especially helpful for people with sensitive skin or allergies to laundry soap.
This Haier Washer/Dryer Combo holds 11 pounds and is lists for around $748.
So if you are looking for a washer/dryer unit for your tiny house use this one as a starting point in your search.
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Martin House-To-Go Update
One of the most popular posts in this blog is the Martin House-To-Go post.
Dan from Southern California has been talking with Martin House-To-Go about their houses and they have given him a private preview of a house that is not even on their website yet.
From what Dan understands, it is available for purchase. Here are the highlights.
$37,900 complete (everything below is included in price)
- Super sized version 10′ wide by 20′ long
- Pre-wired for cable and internet
- Under counter fridge
- 11 windows
- Pedestal sink in bathroom with full shower and electric composting toilet standard
- On-demand tankless hot water heater
- GE 2 burner electric stove top
- Microwave
- Cedar kitchen counter
- Custom bamboo wood floors
- Remote-controlled air conditioning standard ( very very cool ) – no pun intended -
- Built in window seat with underneath storage
Dan says the kitchen is a lot better than their previous model – it’s HUGE and he likes the cedar – they said it has some sort of high cost expensive sealer on it. He thinks the cedar kitchen counter gives it a nice touch of a “woodsy cabin” feel.
Dan’s wife thought window box for flowers adds a nice touch to the house as well.
Overall, I think they managed to put a lot of ‘charm and cozy home appeal’ into this one. When you compare this new one to the one on their website, I think this one is a world apart better.
Quoting Dan’s wife, ” Yes, I could live in that ” or have a guest stay in it.
They also showed Dan photos of the “Sportsman Model” below…. for campers, hunters, nature lovers …
It looks pretty cool set up with cots and camping equipment. You could definitely see yourself taking it out hitched up to your truck for a weekend camping trip. It sure beats a tent any day of the week. Considering all the stuff you hear going on at campgrounds, I like the idea of locking my front door at night while camping.
I think Martin House-To-Go adding the front porch gave it a nice touch too.
Thank you Dan for sharing these photos and thoughts with us.
Kitchen/Living Room
Kitchen
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Park Model Resorts
Our idea of romance: My husband and I spent our honeymoon in a park model at the White Rock Resort in Smith River, California.
When we first drove by the the resort on a previous trip to the coast, my husband jammed on the brakes of the car and exclaimed “Look at the tiny houses!” We were enamored of them. We have since spent several car camping trips relaxing at our favorite resorts, and we’ve realized that a house the size of a park model is all we really need.
They are a perfect size for two or three people and usually contain a kitchen, living room, loft space, master bedroom and one bath. They have all the modern conveniences, and with the construction of porches and decks, a park model offers a generous use of outdoor space.
They are called park models because they can be parked anywhere. They are a maximum of 400 square feet under federal guidelines and are not designated as homes, but as recreational vehicles. Rather than paying property taxes on the park model, an owner will pay annual licensing and registration fees.
White Rock Resort offers park models for nightly stays or vacation rentals. The location is spectacular, with several of the cabins right on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the private beach below. Each cabin has a deck or covered porch and many have outdoor hot tubs.
Another of our favorite park model resorts is Whaleshead Beach Resort which is located just north of Brookings, Oregon. Even though the basic park model is under 500 square feet, Whaleshead has shown how many different ways a park model can be upgraded and added on to. Many include garages and guest cabins.
Each of the resorts periodically have park models for sale. When you purchase the model, you own the home, but have to lease the resort land. The price for the lease usually runs around $400 a month. Many of them are sold as furnished.
These type of park model resorts offer an affordable way to live in some of the most beautiful places, whether for a vacation or your permanent home.
New York Times: A Resort Cottage to Go
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The Box Turtle
Tortoise Shell Homes and Bill Kastrinos just introduced their latest model called the Box Turtle. Also known as Model 1 on their website. The shed style roof has the unique capacity to be “cynched” together using two units to give a conventional looking roof line and 260 square feet. The finished home would be 8′ x 32′.
The “Box Turtle” can be bought as a do-it-yourself unit for $7,500 or complete with fully insulated, vinyl double-pane windows, French front door, 1/4″ fir wood-paneled walls, vinyl flooring. The bathroom has four foot shower, toilet and wet sink and an energy-efficient tank-less hot water heater.
This model is designed for optimum efficiency and economy. Permanently mounted on a trailer, so you can take your tortoise shell with you wherever you go. The completed price is $17,500.
Tortoise Shell Homes now offers three distinct models. Model 1 “The Box Turtle,” Model 2 “The Desert Turtle,” and Model 3 “The Galapagos.” Quality built tiny houses either complete or a choice with Model 1 and Model 3 as a do-it-yourself project.
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Getting Around Covenants?
One of our readers named Lyle has a question for those of you knowledgeable in covenants. Here it is:
I keep running into this small problem in the town I’m living in. I look at a piece of land I like then find out that the covenants for the area require a min. sq footage of at least 1,000 square feet.
I would like to build a house that is about 600-700 square feet.
Is there any good way about trying to purpose this size house without (hopefully!) being turned down? Has anyone else run into this problem and succeeded in building their small home because they could persuade the powers that be that a smaller house is more earth friendly?
Any ideas or thoughts about this would be great!
Thanks,
Lyle
If you have any ideas or suggestions please comment below.
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Tiny House in Portland
Miguel McKelvey of Generation Design Studio designed and built this cool tiny house in the hills of Portland Oregon.
The 9 foot by 22 foot house was designed and built from an old green house foundation. The 198 square foot home has a peak height of 12 foot 6 inches. The siding is made from galvalume.
GALVALUME sheet steel is a 55% Al-Zn coated sheet steel product that is ideally suited for most types of roofing and siding applications.
Miguel built custom windows and doors out of cedar. All the glass and most of the lumber was recycled and purchased from the ReBuilding Center in Portland, OR.
Shortly after the construction Miguel relocated to New York so he is unable to show pictures of the finished home on the inside at this time.
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