Comments on: Family Sized Tiny Houses http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/ Living Simply in Small Spaces Fri, 25 May 2012 18:06:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Anna http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-236155 Anna Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:22:20 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-236155 Hello, here in Europe families are used to live in flats about 400 sq ft and less (that's actual living space, not the size of the lot). It's common to have a room about 30-40sq ft. as a bedroom for one. So a family of four can easily live in tiny house as you call it and even don't call it "tiny". And what about Japan, maybe their houses and flats are little bit small, but still they can manage! We are actually with two small children in a flat 165sq ft - but looking for at least 2 bedroom and few meters more. There was no problem to live here with one, but now we can't get good sleep in one room and daughter will need more space for school desk. Hello, here in Europe families are used to live in flats about 400 sq ft and less (that’s actual living space, not the size of the lot). It’s common to have a room about 30-40sq ft. as a bedroom for one. So a family of four can easily live in tiny house as you call it and even don’t call it “tiny”. And what about Japan, maybe their houses and flats are little bit small, but still they can manage!
We are actually with two small children in a flat 165sq ft – but looking for at least 2 bedroom and few meters more. There was no problem to live here with one, but now we can’t get good sleep in one room and daughter will need more space for school desk.

]]> By: Andrea http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-234951 Andrea Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:54:58 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-234951 The hardest part is keeping it decluttered...and when the toilet gets plugged. We have 8 children under 15 in 1000 sq ft plus a basement..one bathroom! :) The hardest part is keeping it decluttered…and when the toilet gets plugged. We have 8 children under 15 in 1000 sq ft plus a basement..one bathroom! :)

]]> By: Erica http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-231355 Erica Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:53:42 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-231355 Barb, Hope the journey of adoption goes well and is a blessing to your family. As an adult child whose parents adopted after I was out of the house, I would suggest that (if it pertains to your situation) you have enough space to host your adult children and grandchildren, a quiet room perhaps where they can sleep if they come for a visit. It has been easy to feel displaced. Barb,
Hope the journey of adoption goes well and is a blessing to your family. As an adult child whose parents adopted after I was out of the house, I would suggest that (if it pertains to your situation) you have enough space to host your adult children and grandchildren, a quiet room perhaps where they can sleep if they come for a visit. It has been easy to feel displaced.

]]> By: Erin http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-226472 Erin Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:46:07 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-226472 We have 3 kids in 1300 sq ft. My biggest desires would be room for a larger dining table for family and gatherings. My dream kitchen is a one where the dining table serves as the island/middle work space and one wall holds the sink, washer, stove and fridge. Mud room is necessary for us. Bedrooms can be small but I know that my preteens all would like their own. I would never give up our intimacy for a large house but planning and good designs can create harmony and peace in a small space. We do plan on building a tiny home for our massage business on our land. Outside space is crucial! We have 3 kids in 1300 sq ft. My biggest desires would be room for a larger dining table for family and gatherings. My dream kitchen is a one where the dining table serves as the island/middle work space and one wall holds the sink, washer, stove and fridge. Mud room is necessary for us. Bedrooms can be small but I know that my preteens all would like their own. I would never give up our intimacy for a large house but planning and good designs can create harmony and peace in a small space. We do plan on building a tiny home for our massage business on our land. Outside space is crucial!

]]> By: Laura http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-224969 Laura Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:58:50 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-224969 Our family of 4 (with very young children) is currently building a 1300 sq. ft house with a 32x36 footprint (I think). We felt it was a good idea to have 3 bedrooms, in case we have more kids/adopt/care for our parents one day. But otherwise, we have a combined bathroom/laundry, a combined living/dining/kitchen, small bedrooms and a loft space for a home office/studio/homeschool room. It feels big in some ways, but appropriate for meeting our needs for the rest of our lives. Our family of 4 (with very young children) is currently building a
1300 sq. ft house with a 32×36 footprint (I think). We felt it was a good idea to have 3 bedrooms, in case we have more kids/adopt/care for our parents one day. But otherwise, we have a combined bathroom/laundry, a combined living/dining/kitchen, small bedrooms and a loft space for a home office/studio/homeschool room. It feels big in some ways, but appropriate for meeting our needs for the rest of our lives.

]]> By: CG http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-219340 CG Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:38:06 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-219340 Hubby and I bought our 800 square foot rancher when we married 11+ years ago. Since then we've had 3 children. Two have special needs that can make the space seem really small at times. Since we only have two bedrooms, our #2 child slept on the couch for few years as a buffer their disorders. This amount of space with small children makes me crazy. I homeschool and our yard isn't so great so that adds to the caged feeling I get. As far as actual space used, we could get by with just 500-600 square feet if you confine needs to food preparation, a common flex area, beds, clothing storage, and a bathroom. That's only the inner circle of needs. The second ring of needs is how many ways I need our space to function. This is more for mental and emotional needs. We need a place to play with toys, a place for schoolwork, my sewing nook, outdoor activities, tools and storage, etc. Yes I could use one table or desk for my office, hobbies, games, school and dinner but it wouldn't meet my mental needs. 100 square foot per person is tiny but possible with exterior storage and an outdoor living zone. 200 square feet per person is small and I think, perfect if planned well. I grew up in a 3 story, 900 square foot home with my family of 7. We all shared one bathroom and it wasn't an issue. 64 square feet was added to the basement when we were teens so that the oldest could have his own room. My dad moved the bathroom, making the dining room smaller, to create separate bedrooms for my sister and I. It was tight at times but we always seemed to find space within that footprint to fit our needs. So that 1000-ish house had 5 bedrooms and one bathroom. My parents moved to a 900sqft trailer that had 2bd 2 baths. The house seemed like a mansion in comparison because of the layout. Space isn't about square footage so much as it is about "spaces". Nooks and cubbies and zones make a place seem much larger. For me, small rooms give a greater sense of overall space than just one big open space with the same floor area. Hubby and I bought our 800 square foot rancher when we married 11+ years ago. Since then we’ve had 3 children. Two have special needs that can make the space seem really small at times. Since we only have two bedrooms, our #2 child slept on the couch for few years as a buffer their disorders. This amount of space with small children makes me crazy. I homeschool and our yard isn’t so great so that adds to the caged feeling I get. As far as actual space used, we could get by with just 500-600 square feet if you confine needs to food preparation, a common flex area, beds, clothing storage, and a bathroom. That’s only the inner circle of needs. The second ring of needs is how many ways I need our space to function. This is more for mental and emotional needs. We need a place to play with toys, a place for schoolwork, my sewing nook, outdoor activities, tools and storage, etc. Yes I could use one table or desk for my office, hobbies, games, school and dinner but it wouldn’t meet my mental needs.
100 square foot per person is tiny but possible with exterior storage and an outdoor living zone. 200 square feet per person is small and I think, perfect if planned well.
I grew up in a 3 story, 900 square foot home with my family of 7. We all shared one bathroom and it wasn’t an issue. 64 square feet was added to the basement when we were teens so that the oldest could have his own room. My dad moved the bathroom, making the dining room smaller, to create separate bedrooms for my sister and I. It was tight at times but we always seemed to find space within that footprint to fit our needs. So that 1000-ish house had 5 bedrooms and one bathroom. My parents moved to a 900sqft trailer that had 2bd 2 baths. The house seemed like a mansion in comparison because of the layout.
Space isn’t about square footage so much as it is about “spaces”. Nooks and cubbies and zones make a place seem much larger. For me, small rooms give a greater sense of overall space than just one big open space with the same floor area.

]]> By: Bobi http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-217606 Bobi Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:38:25 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-217606 I am a single mom with twin teen girls. I have 3 adult sons that under bad curcumstances have on occassion had to live with me. I own a small 3 bedroom trailer. When I had one of the boys living with us. I gave the girls the master bedroom, they used bunk beds to free up more floor space. I took their bedroom inserted a queen bed and dresser, there was only walking space. But, I only sleep and dress in there so it wasn't a problem for me. Most of our wakeing moments are spent in the kitchen and living room which are nice open spaces. I think if you get a home with 3 bedrooms, and get a couple sets of bunkbeds it would work. Make sure you have a large living or kitchen where everyone can hang out comfortably. For now it's just the girls and I. I have a fold out single cot, a queen air bed, and folding chairs for when we have guest over, always have room in my house for guest. Small space makes it a cozy home, ask anyone that has been in our home.When another son and his girlfriend were contemplating moving in, during the time I already had an adult son living with me, I was simply going to put a twin bed in my daughters room and sleep there while giving my other son and his girlfriend my room with the queen bed. Bedrooms only need to be big enough to sleep in. I am a single mom with twin teen girls. I have 3 adult sons that under bad curcumstances have on occassion had to live with me. I own a small 3 bedroom trailer. When I had one of the boys living with us. I gave the girls the master bedroom, they used bunk beds to free up more floor space. I took their bedroom inserted a queen bed and dresser, there was only walking space. But, I only sleep and dress in there so it wasn’t a problem for me. Most of our wakeing moments are spent in the kitchen and living room which are nice open spaces. I think if you get a home with 3 bedrooms, and get a couple sets of bunkbeds it would work. Make sure you have a large living or kitchen where everyone can hang out comfortably. For now it’s just the girls and I. I have a fold out single cot, a queen air bed, and folding chairs for when we have guest over, always have room in my house for guest. Small space makes it a cozy home, ask anyone that has been in our home.When another son and his girlfriend were contemplating moving in, during the time I already had an adult son living with me, I was simply going to put a twin bed in my daughters room and sleep there while giving my other son and his girlfriend my room with the queen bed. Bedrooms only need to be big enough to sleep in.

]]> By: Kate Down Under http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-213192 Kate Down Under Wed, 28 Dec 2011 07:13:11 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-213192 Hi Kent, It seems to me that there are a number of people on the net searching for tiny houses for families of more than 2 children. I would love to see you write about this. Thanks for all the great articles I really love reading your work. Kate Down Under Hi Kent,

It seems to me that there are a number of people on the net searching for tiny houses for families of more than 2 children. I would love to see you write about this.

Thanks for all the great articles I really love reading your work.

Kate Down Under

]]> By: HS http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-205316 HS Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:45:46 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-205316 We are a family of 9 (some bio children, some adopted through fc), and live in 1400 sq. ft. The SPACE is more than enough, but the layout is awful. Our bedrooms eat up so much space that really could be used in common living if it's going to be there at all. If I were looking at doing a smaller space overall, I'd cut the bedrooms down to the bare essentials, size-wise. You really just need a common gathering area--be that a kitchen with a cozy nook off of it for hanging out, or whatever. The bathroom, etc., are all negotiable. :-) We are a family of 9 (some bio children, some adopted through fc), and live in 1400 sq. ft. The SPACE is more than enough, but the layout is awful. Our bedrooms eat up so much space that really could be used in common living if it’s going to be there at all. If I were looking at doing a smaller space overall, I’d cut the bedrooms down to the bare essentials, size-wise. You really just need a common gathering area–be that a kitchen with a cozy nook off of it for hanging out, or whatever. The bathroom, etc., are all negotiable. :-)

]]> By: Libby Aldridge http://tinyhouseblog.com/tiny-house/family-sized-tiny-houses/comment-page-1/#comment-201329 Libby Aldridge Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:33:39 +0000 http://tinyhouseblog.com/?p=8358#comment-201329 I found this blog because I now live in a 1000 square foot house, downsized from a 2000+ house after adopting two sisters, we already had a biological son. It has been a few years, I was just wondering if you adoption was successful? I found this blog because I now live in a 1000 square foot house, downsized from a 2000+ house after adopting two sisters, we already had a biological son. It has been a few years, I was just wondering if you adoption was successful?

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