Tortoise Shell Home Update

by Kent Griswold on October 25th, 2012. 23 Comments

Bill Kastrinos from Tortoise Shell Home contacted me recently to let me know that they have officially moved to Southern California. So a loss for us here in Sonoma County, but a real plus for people in Southern California looking for a great tiny home builder. Their new location is in Cedarpines Park and you can get their contact information at the contact page of the Tortoise Shell Home website.

Bill wanted to let me know that they are now offering bare trailers for sale. Here are the details:

  1. 15,000# G.V.W.
  2. RV axles, 3
  3. 6 leveling jacks
  4. Removable tongue
  5. Emergency break away kit
  6. 8 inch channel
  7. Cross members on 4ft centers
  8. 8ft wide outrigger to outrigger, and the bed is 28ft long

Tortoise Shell Home is selling these for $3,900. I have put a couple of pictures below so you can get an idea what they are like.

If you are interested contact Bill either by phone at 707-206-7581 or by email info@tortoiseshellhome.com. Let Bill know you heard about them at the Tiny House Blog.

Thanks for the update Bill and good luck at your new location.

trailer 1

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For Sale Tortoise Shell Home

by Kent Griswold on July 20th, 2012. 6 Comments

Tortoise Shell Home for sale 8′ x 24′. The house includes a separate bedroom, living area, kitchen and a bathroom with a built in shower. It is fully insulated and has dual pane windows.

Specifications:
  • Corrugated galvanized steel siding
  • 18g and 20g galvanized steel frame
  • R-13 floor, walls, ceiling
  • 5000btu A/C
  • 11,000btu Rinnai wall heater
  • 240v Incinolet Electric Compost toilet
  • 4ft shower, 36in vanity
  • Cabinets built of plywood
  • Windows, vinyl XO dual pane casement
  • Sliding glass door Vinyl XO dual pane
  • Entry door XO dual pane glass, steel door
  • Pex piping throughout
  • 12/2 wiring through out
  • 125amp entry panel
  • It is a park model
  • with simple gray water
  • No holding tanks
  • Regular RV hook-ups
  • Full water pressure, not RV
  • 6 gal electric tank hot water heater
  • Commercial steel roof, forest green
  • Soffits and facias galvanized steel

Asking $23,000. Give Bill Kastrinos a call at 707-486-4320 or 909-589-0583 and let him know you heard about it on the Tiny House blog.

flooring

exterior detail

Incinolet toilet

kitchen cabinets

Nate and Lisa’s Tortoise Shell Home

by Kent Griswold on February 10th, 2012. 30 Comments

Guest post by Lisa

When my husband and I first moved to the country after 20 years of living in the big city, we talked a lot about the different possibilities for housing. We were both sick of apartments. We fantasized about the different natural building techniques like cob and straw bale, but worried about exorbitant land prices here in California.

About five or six years ago we stumbled upon Jay Shafer’s Tumbleweed website and were completely charmed. This was pre-Oprah, before he was so famous. We had a free private consultation with him within the first few weeks after he moved out to California. A couple years later we went to one of his open houses, and recently went to his first showing of his new Craftsman style cottage. We love his work, but his prices were too high for our budget. Building it ourselves seemed too difficult, though I’m sure it is possible for some people.

The tiny house bug had us. We now knew how we could own our own home without land or a mortgage, but we needed a place to put the house. Continue Reading »

For Sale Tortoise Shell Prototype

by Kent Griswold on January 17th, 2012. 22 Comments

Sold!

Bill Kastrinos of Tortoise Shell Home is selling his 8′ x 24′ prototype. Bill is selling a partially completed prototype at a reduced price until January 27. The house though unfinished includes a separate bedroom, living area, kitchen and a bathroom with a built in shower. It is fully insulated and has dual pane windows. It just needs your own special touch to complete it and to make it you own.

Bill is asking an incredibly low price of just $5,800 but you need to jump on it quickly as it is only available through January 27 at this low price. Give Bill a call at 707-486-4320 and let him know you heard about it on the Tiny House blog.

 

Tortoise Shell’s Naked Snapper

by Kent Griswold on August 3rd, 2010. 11 Comments

The other day I had the opportunity to check out Bill Kastrinos from Tortoise Shell Homes latest design for the tiny house market. Dubbed the Naked Snapper, this home is a 28 foot long home with an interior width of 7 foot 6 inches. It has an 8 foot bedroom on one end. a 4 foot bathroom on the other end. In the middle is a kitchen living room area that is 15 foot 6 inches in length.

This home would be perfect for two people and the fact that it comes ready for you to complete yourself makes it possible for you to give it the personal finish you choose.

Bill has estimated the cost of the Naked Snapper at $17,000 and the estimated completed price, $35,000. Below the picture are the specs and if you would like more information please contact Bill at info (at) tortoiseshellhome.com or call 707-206-7581. Be sure and let Bill know you learned about it at the Tiny House Blog.

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Tortoise Shell Prototype for Sale

by Kent Griswold on March 9th, 2010. 7 Comments

Update: Interior Photos and description added.

Bill Kastrinos of Tortoise Shell Home is selling his 8′ x 24′ prototype. It includes a separate bedroom, living area, kitchen and bathroom with a built in shower. It is not completed on the inside but I’m still waiting for the details on what needs to be finished. So stay tuned for more information.

Bill is asking $20,000 finished, but would let it go for $15,000 unfinished. You can contact Bill by email at info@tortoiseshellhome.com or call 707-206-7581. Be sure and let him know you heard about it on the Tiny House Blog.

The prototype 8×24 is unfinished. The exterior siding will be finished before delivery. The house includes: Continue Reading »