Kent Griswold - Tiny House Blog

Tiny House in a Landscape

I’m not sure where these green roofed homes are located. I have found information on these type homes in Norway, Iceland and also here in the United States in old towns like Virginia City, Montana. I like the way these green roofs make the home fit into the surrounding scenery. … Read more

Greenbox

by Kent Griswold

Derek Metson of Greenbox Designs, LLC located in Clackamas, Oregon let me know about their product which design I think could fit into the tiny house market.

Derek says that the Greenbox is the solution to a homeowner’s expanding needs, extending living, working or storage space outside your existing confines. Produced with sustainable, regional materials, Greenbox is a viable, quick and economical way of expanding your environment. A Greenbox unit can readily be assembled in one day.

Each unit is customizable to suit a home owners needs and comes in several different sizes.

Plumbing, electrical or HVAC can be customized.
Windows are available in over 25 pre-finished colors.
Low VOC paints are available in over a thousand colors.
Color matching with paints or stains is available to match your existing residence.
Read more

Diminutive Abode

by Kent Griswold

It is always fun to see someone take a set of plans and create a tiny house. Shay Cameron was one of the early buyers of the Sonoma Shanty plans and has made some major modifications. He is in the process of building his Diminutive Abode and I’ll turn the story over to him now.

I purchased the Sonoma Shanty plans back in July ’09, and you asked at the time if I would send you pictures of the finished product. Well, I am still in early stages of building, and I have adapted the plans way beyond recognition, but I do have pictures and you can view them at the Diminutive Abode.

I started with a 20′ trailer bought at a good price locally (last year’s model). My tiny house is only around 16′ long, so I will use the remainder of the trailer length, plus the 4′ hinged ramp on the back, as a deck outside my front door.

Tiny Prefab Units Promote Eco-friendly Building

by Kent Griswold

Tammy from Rowdy Kittens alerted me to a local article about some prefab units being built for parking lots in Berkley and San Francisco. Following is a couple of paragraphs from the article and you can read the complete article at SFGate.

A young San Francisco company that makes prefabricated housing is set to provide multifamily buildings for two urban Bay Area projects that its development partner hopes will become a model for eco-friendly construction.

Zeta Communities will construct the housing for the 22-unit developments, planned for parking lots in Berkeley and San Francisco. The projects will feature tiny living spaces – 310- to 340 square-foot studios – and no parking. Instead, they will include a car-sharing space.

The proposed four-story projects are the first foray into prefabricated housing for East Bay developer Patrick Kennedy of Panoramic Interests.

Kathi’s Doll House Floor Plans

by Kent Griswold

A couple of weeks ago I featured “Kathi’s Doll House.” There was a lot of interest in seeing floor plans of the house but Kathi was unable to get them off of her software program. Kathi however took the time to draw them up by hand and than mailed them … Read more

Tiny House Cartoon

by Kent Griswold

I found this cartoon out on the internet and though I’m not really sure what was trying to be presented, I thought it kind of showed how a person can simplify ones life by downsizing. This might be a little extreme but I think most people reading this blog have … Read more

Kentucky Log Cabin for Sale

by Kent Griswold

***Sold***Linda Paulus contacted me about their beautiful little log cabin that they are having to part with and wanted me to share it with you. Here is what Linda has to say about this little gem.

An unexpected change in life plans has led us to the hard decision to sell our charming, renovated log cabin on high on the hill of twelve acres.

The little log cabin would be perfect for the writer, gardener or artist who needs a peaceful retreat or for a generous friend with room to invite six friends up for the weekend for a getaway escape.

Kentucky-Cabin-Front-Porch-sm — Kentucky Cabin Front Porch

With a footprint of 20 x 20 ft, fireplace and small kitchen downstairs along with a small shed in the back; forced air furnace and hot water tank in the shed with plenty of room to store tools and a grill.

Cozy bedroom and bathroom with clawfoot tub upstairs. Beautiful oak and red cedar wood floors, new metal roof. Stunning views for miles front and back. You’ll have your own little orchard of peaches, pears, apples, grapes and nuts. Great-tasting water from a deep well. Large tobacco barn to store equipment or animals; large cattle barn to tear down for valuable wood or for conversion to a stunning, one-of-a-kind home.

Log Tobacco Barn for Sale in Virginia

by Kent Griswold

Kara discovered this log tobacco barn for sale in Danville, Virginia on Craigslist. Here is what the ad has to say about the barn. I think it would make a perfect tiny house or cabin with a lot of hard work. At $2,100 it has a lot of potential.

1900’s log tobacco barn, very good condition. You dismantle and take down. Covered outside hand hewn timber, log structure. Original poles inside used to hang tobacco.

Approx size 19 x 19 without overhang poles. Stone/rock foundation. Logs are notched on ends. Covered on outside with handhewn timber on three sides so logs protected over year. Email me for photos.

Move to your location as a barn, studio or cabin. View the Craigslist ad here. View more photos here.

Free Tiny House on Craigslist

by Kent Griswold

Erik pointed out this potential tiny house that is available for free on the Portland, Oregon Craigslist site. The owner wants it out today or tomorrow so if you are in the area and interested you should jump right on it. Here are a few of the details as I’m … Read more

Public Toilet Turned Into Dream Home

by Kent Griswold

Ellen Murphy pointed out this great article in the Mail Online a UK based paper about a couple who turned a public toilet into a beautiful dream home.

Chris Brook the author states that: They spent a lot more than a penny doing it up, but turning the public toilets into a home was a true labour of love.

For nearly a century the Victorian WC was used as a loo by visitors to the beach at Scarborough.

loo4 — Dream home: Tracey Woodhouse and partner Graham Peck have turned the £15,000 former public toilet into a cosy house

Now the distinctive building has been transformed by Tracy Woodhouse and her partner Graham Peck into a cosy house, with magnificent views overlooking the North Sea.
The Gents is now the lounge and the Ladies is the bedroom and en suite bathroom.