Tiny House Blog

Yesterday, I shared with you a photo of a shanty by Jerry Waters. After I found that picture I started exploring his site and discovered this link to the Tiny Houses of Kanawha City. Jerry gave me permission to share them with you. Here is what Jerry has to say about them.

Kanawha City has always been known as both a place of Mansions and Bungalows. The Libby Owens Ford glass plant brought many workers to Kanawha City, especially from Belgium. Add to that mix the many others who decided to call Kanawha City home, and you have a very eclectic bunch of houses from the very fine to the very modest.

One of the odd things about Kanawah City is how many of the lots were laid out: These were only 20 feet wide. The homes that were built on these narrow lots sometimes were only 13 feet wide themselves!

Over the years, many people added to the backs of these houses, since they couldn’t add to the sides. One former city official, knowing that property codes were about to change, bought up all the remaining 20 foot lots and built tiny houses on them in the 50s. Here are some of these interesting little houses…..

I am showing you some of my favorites here, so be sure and go see all of the tiny houses by visiting the Tiny Houses of Kanawha City page on Jerry Water’s site.

Photo Credit: Jerry Waters

This little bungalow is probably the closest to an original

Two story tiny house that looks much bigger than it is.

One of the fancier tiny houses in Kanawha City

Another two story tiny house

Nice porch and stone work.

Simple, pleasing design.

Large window with an inviting entry way.

This beautiful little house is perfection in miniature. Larger than the others, but still compact none the less.

by Kent Griswold (Tiny House Blog)

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This is Part 2 of 2. If you missed Part 1 go here to read it.

We arrived deep in the heart of the redwoods and Bill immediately displayed his skill as an excellent driver by backing the tiny house down a steep grade, dodging trees and other obstacles, right into the exact position the very first try.

Bill explains a little about the community in the following paragraphs.

I am supplying little houses for a Buddhist compound (also programmers), which might be a model for other communities.

I am guessing they are all making six figure incomes, there are 10 people total, and one of their people admitted none of them could afford real estate in the area between San Jose and San Francisco by themselves. So they bought a piece of property, I am guessing 3 to 5 acres, with a nice size house. Several people were named on the mortgage. Then they purchased 8 mini homes (from Tortoise Shell Homes), which by design gives them a place to retreat to, for mediation, sleep, etc. They share the house as a work space (they in large part program out of their home), they share activities together, but they still have the privacy of getting away to their “tinies” as they have affectionately named them.

These homes have been modified to meet the requirements of this group of people. Usually a kitchen is part of the Tortoise Shell Home, but in this case most cooking and eating is done at the main house.

Two "Tinies"

Oak floors, skylights, and modified exterior roofs to give it the Zen look are additions to the basic home. Each programmer has added his or her own personal touch to each home. Some with built in furniture, like the open closet below. Another, the unique shower and sink arrangement.

Completed "Tiny"

They have had a contractor raise the tiny houses up so that their disposal tank can fit under a porch and yet still be reached by the pump truck. Propane and electricity are used for the other appliances. This is a modern establishment and Internet connections and cell phones are the source of communication to the outside world.

Shelf Desk

These people are very private, but hopefully down the road they will open up and share with us how they moved through all the red tape to make this work for them. I’m sure there are many others out there who would like to start their own small community.

Loft and Skylights

Exterior of Tiny

Shower and Sink

Sink and Bathroom Entrance

Open Closet and Ladder

Work Desk

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