dee williams - Part 2

PAD Tiny House Design Workshop

I received a note from my friend Dee Williams about an upcoming workshop and wanted to share it with you as the time is fast approaching. I wish I could make this one personally as it would be a lot of fun and is near where my daughter lives. Here … Read more

Build Small | Live Large Housing Summit

by Kent Griswold

A couple years ago Jordan Palmeri of Portland, Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality conducted a study that showed that building small is the single best building strategy for energy and resource efficiency. Over the past year a group of us have been working to create a forum to share information … Read more

PAD Update from Dee Williams

by Kent Griswold

Following is a letter from my friend Dee Williams. Hope you are well and enjoying this October! It is beautiful out! I’m forwarding this to you with the hopes that you might consider posting a notice about it on your blog, or with your tiny house network. In the past … Read more

You Can Buy Happiness and it’s Cheap

by Kent Griswold

I have been friends with Tammy Strobel for several years now and I did a post awhile back on when we first met in person. Tammy is the founder of the blog Rowdy Kittens and has been simplifying her and her husband Logan’s lifestyle over the last few years. She … Read more

A Tiny House Fire

by Kent Griswold

About a week ago a friend of Dee Williams, Kim Langston had her nearly completed tiny house burn down. Dee wrote to the tiny house blogging community to see if we could help in any way and to let you know about it. Dee says: The house was in the … Read more

Tiny Tack House

by Kent Griswold

by Malissa Tack

A short story of how we came to build our very own Tiny House.

It all started with a meeting at the Apple Store. My husband Chris, while at work, had a chance encounter with a very adventurous lady. She tells him about this idea she has for living small, Chris is intrigued by this and asks to know more.

Later that day, Chris informed me that he was going to send me a few links, info about the Tiny House Movement. He said that he was working with Candice at the Apple Store and she showed him all about the Tiny House. He didn’t go much further into details, but I was curious. The next day, while working on the computer, I remembered what he was talking about and decided to do some investigation. I searched Tiny House Movement, and was blasted into another world… a much smaller one. The houses were amazing! So small, sleek and stylish… and had all the comforts of home. I’ve lived in my fair share of apartments within the past 10 years, and I know the feeling I get when I come home to them… empty.

Tiny Homes Finding Fans in the Pacific Northwest

by Kent Griswold

Seattle Tiny Homes Press Release “Honey, I Shrunk the House – by 1,377 Percent” A local Seattle-area family has just built a new home that’s only 159 square feet. They’re part of a national movement toward smaller, more sustainable housing that is taking root in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle, WA, … Read more

Dee’s Open House February 18

by Kent Griswold

I just wanted to get a quick note up in case you were not following over at Tumbleweed. Dee Williams is opening her house to share it with you this weekend. If I lived closer and could make it up I would be the first in line to see it. … Read more

Tiny Houses without Lofts

by Kent Griswold

There has been a lot of requests lately for tiny houses on wheels that don’t have lofts. Older people do not wish to deal with this issue and it is an idea that should be taken seriously.

Most of the designs we see out there resort to the loft for a bed. This saves precious floor space for living. However, this is not ideal for everyone. Unfortunately, at this time I only know of a few designs that take an alternative route to the loft – so I thought I would do a post to highlight these houses. My goal is to inspire others to design more homes with alternative sleeping quarters other than a loft.

The oldest version of a tiny home on wheels that I am aware of is the vardo or gypsy wagon. These homes were designed with a bed that sits up high and has storage below. You still need to crawl up a little to get in, but it is nothing like climbing a ladder. There are not many plans out there for this type of home. The only one I know that is available the “Don Vardo” by Portland Alternative Dwellings. While it is not a complete house I think the plans could be extended to make it into one with a kitchen and bathroom. Dee Williams from Portland Alternative Dwellings and I once talked about this revision and she may have even completed the plans by now. You can get an idea by looking at the picture of the Don Vardo here and a vardo picture I have included above in this post.

(Dee just sent word that she has the 12 foot vardo available which features a bathroom and kitchen. The plans are now available here for only $30. They are in the process of having one built out in Florida and I will share photos, etc. as soon as it is completed.)

Abel’s Vardo

by Kent Griswold

Update: Abel sent a picture of his galvanized tub.

Abel Zimmerman a friend and neighbor to Dee Williams from Olympia, Washington contacted me recently about his vardo he built for himself and to let me know he will build them for others too.

Abel says: “I have a family in Olympia Washington. (we use the vardo as a backyard getaway and extra room for now) I plan to do some summer vardo sabbaticals with the whole family — perhaps in the mountains.”

If you would like to contact Abel here is his contact information: dba: Zyl Vardos and Periscopa Lighting zylvardos@gmail.com

Thanks Abel for sharing your vardo and I hope others are inspired to create their own tiny home.

Go House Go

by Kent Griswold

Dee Williams brings us her latest work. A little ebook called Go House Go – How to Build a Tiny House on Wheels. Dee who has lived in her own tiny house now for several years and is co-owner and builder in her business Portland Alternative Dwellings brings us a … Read more

Dee Williams Featured on PBS

by Kent Griswold

Dee Williams built her Tumbleweed tiny house several years ago from reclaimed building materials which helped keep the cost low with a final cost of around $10,000. Dee’s tiny house, is an excellent example of how used building materials can be taken and made new again with the right care. My friend Tammy … Read more