The Perks to a Tiny Kitchen
While there are more than a few things that take getting used when making the switch from a full size to small size home cooking is perhaps the most challenging.
Not only does the act of cooking take place regularly throughout the day, day-in and day-out, but also it’s one thing that we assume, “the more space available the better.” Who among us hasn’t crafted a meal in which both sinks and counters were overflowing with dishes? The oven stuffed, the burners full, and the microwave zinging while all remaining counters look slightly like a food fight just went down. If you have not, I applaud you. But, one of my favorite things about bunking down in a small space is the forced transition to very green and eco-friendly cooking which becomes a necessity, whether or not we always like it.
Rather than dread or complain about the fact that your kitchen may now be more of an “idea” than an actual, physical “place,” relish and embrace the new knowledge that you’re about to become one of the greenest cooks on the planet, or in your neighborhood for sure. Here are some of the easiest things to embrace and to look forward to if you’re just in the process right now.
You can’t Waste Much if You Can’t Store Much
Mega fridges and mega pantries are just destined to become sources of waste. We overbuy and overstock. And then things get buried and hidden and eventually expire. Events come up, forcing us to eat out and in turn we eat less of that fresh beautiful produce than we thought we would. And we waste. Small spaces mean small pantries (if you have them) and small fridges. Relish in the fact that you will naturally waste less because you just can’t fit that much in there anymore. You’ll be able to see what you have, and chances are good you won’t possibly be able to buy more until you’ve used what you have. On the other hand, there are perks to buying in bulk. So if you can, consider a small shed or invest in some heavy duty barrels where you can store things like 50 pound bags of flour outside of your home without worrying about damage.
Pine Top Homestead
Update – Travis sent me some more interior photos -Kent
Travis and Becky and their Pine Top Homestead is our first featured “Small House.”
Travis and Becky spent the last year planning and building their tiny home on 3 acres in the Ozark Mountains. Travis says, “We absolutely love it, best thing we ever did. It’s 12′x18′ with a 6′x12′ sleeping loft for a total of a whopping 288 sqft. It’s just us two and our small dog and we find it very comfortable and useable for us two.”
I’m going to turn it over to Becky and let her tell you a bit about the construction of their home.
The land was the right deal at the right time and we could see the potential it had for our dreams of a tiny homestead. We weren’t sure when we would be able to build our own tiny home, so we purchased a little pre-built cabin to enjoy on our land as we did some clearing. Continue Reading »
Diana’s Innermost House
Guest Post by Diana Lorence
*New photos added below of loft, kitchen and bathroom
This is Innermost House, my home in the coastal mountains of Northern California. It is the latest of many very small houses my husband and I have occupied over twenty-five years, all for the same reason–to make possible a simple life of reflection and conversation. I am delighted now to be a part of Kent’s public conversation with others who share my love of tiny houses, and I’m grateful to Michael Janzen of Tiny House Design for introducing us.
Innermost House is about twelve-feet square. It faces directly south beneath an open porch that shelters our front door. A hill rises to the north behind us and the forest lies all around. The house encloses five distinct rooms: to the east is a living room eleven feet deep by seven feet wide by twelve feet high; to the west the house is divided into kitchen, study, and bathroom, each approximately five feet wide by three feet deep, with a sleeping loft above the three of them, accessible by a wooden ladder we store against the wall. Continue Reading »
Bill Brooks Tiny Solar House Part 2
Here is part two of Bill Brooks tiny solar house. You can view part one here. I know I left you hanging in the last video as we were getting ready to step inside the house. It just seemed like a good place to break and than move on to the next stage.
In this video, Bill shows us the kitchen, his propane heater, water storage and some of the plumbing that was involved. There are lots of little details that go unnoticed because they are hidden and this helps give you an idea about the work involved.
Again, I am learning and the video is proof of that. I am getting a little faster at pulling them together so in the next post you will probably see 2 or 3 videos. Youtube limits the length so I am trying to give you over an hours worth of video in little sections so you can get the full picture.
To keep updated be sure and subscribe to the Youtube Tiny House Blog Channel.
Things to Think About
Di has been responding with a lot of comments on the Tiny House Blog and I thought she had some great ideas of things to think about when looking into downsizing or designing a tiny house. I asked Di to do a guest post and following are her suggestions and ideas.
DIMENSION:
- Think of the present and future. Try a one-story building.
- Adjust the height, width and length of a building. An 8′ ceiling may be sufficient.
- Measure and rearrange interior items. It’s easy to edit a floor plan in MS Paint.
- A twin bed is 3′ x 6.25′. A double bed is 4′ x 6.25′.
- Most under-counter appliances are 2′ x 2′.
- Some stoves/fridges are more narrow.
- Some fridges/dishwashers are small enough to fit under a kitchen sink.
- Rather than a porch/deck, store a portable screenhouse and lawn chair in the trunk of your car.
Photo Credits: ProtoHaus
LIGHTING:
- Rather than rely on lighting, provide adequate daylight.
- Try windows east, west, north and south.
- For longer-lasting daylight, try skylights.
- Use windows/skylights where needed, such as over the bathroom, kitchen counter, bed/couch.
- For spaciousness, try recessed lighting and deep window sills.
- Rather than drapes, try a small curtain at the top of a window.
- For curtains, recycle your favorite fabrics – they’re easy to make, clean and change.
- Mini blinds are more versatile than shades.
Tiny Circle Kitchen
Tara, one of our readers brought this cool kitchen idea to me that I thought could be integrated into a small or tiny house design. Here is what the company has to say about there product.
The revolving concept Original Circle Kitchen® offers intelligent kitchen comfort compressed into the smallest space but with a storage capacity equivalent to 12 cupboards and a bench top length of approx. 3000 mm, equipped with refrigerator, dishwasher, ceramic hob, oven with microwave, range hood, sink and waste bin as a conventional kitchen.
This kitchen creation can be placed anywhere in the room, also space saving centrically in between walls and in angled corners or recesses and it can be harmoniously integrated with other key living spaces.
Equipped with sliding doors the kitchen work area can favourably be hidden in open plan spaces and commercial buildings. Especially for architects and interior designer arise new planning perspectives through the new “room within a room” concept particularly where space is at a premium.
Through open style this kitchen concept is easily accessible and extremely user friendly. Deep cupboards and annoying doors in the way whilst working belong to the past. Appliances and kitchen contents are clearly visible. As this is a rotating kitchen, the complete work area may be reached from a sitting or standing position.
Mobile and without alteration, the circular kitchen can easily be taken with you when relocating. The Original Circle Kitchen® is available in different dimensions and models depending on equipment: Model Apartment, Office/Foyer and Motel.
You can learn more by going to the Original Circle Kitchen® website.
Photo Credit: Original Circle Kitchen
by Kent Griswold (Tiny House Blog)
If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to our feed
