September, 2010

Labor Day Book Giveway

Kent and I have been doing some summer decluttering of our own homes, and have decided to give away a few inspirational books to our loyal Tiny House Blog readers. The set of books will contain: The Not So Big House by Sarah Susanka Creating the Not So Big House … Read more

Shack Up Inn

by Kent Griswold

Jenn and her husband recently spent the night in Shack Up Inn, located in Clarksdale, MS. Located on Hopson Plantation, a few miles from the crossroads of Highway 49 and 61. “Virtually unchanged from when it was a working plantation, the grounds are home to authentic sharecropper shacks, the original cotton gin, seed houses, and other outbuildings.”

Photo Credits: Jenn Fletcher

The shotgun shacks are original and restored only enough to accommodate 21st century expectations (heat/air, electricity, running water). The walls are made of Mississippi Cyprus and the roofs of corrugated tin.

The Hammock as a Tiny House Bed

by Kent Griswold

Greg contacted me recently about an alternative bed option for tiny spaces.

Greg stumbled upon these miracles on a recent trip south of the border. We were traveling in a fully converted YMCA shortbus. This RV had a bed, but not for two. A Mayan hammock that was brought along as a possible relaxation tool became the problem solver. When the night was over the hammock was easily taken down to optimize living space.

Photo Credit: Made in the Shade Hammocks

Yes! The key to a comfy nights rest is to obtain a hammock without crossbars and lay diagonally, which keeps you more level. I am so convinced that I am setting a hammock up in my tiny apartment and getting rid of my lame bed.

Millions of people in the world today already sleep on hammocks instead of beds and there are many health benefits too! This is a cheap and easy solution to a great nights sleep and more space in your tiny house.

The Slabtown Annemarie

by Kent Griswold

I’ve shown several of Scott Stewart’s homes here on the Tiny House Blog and Scott is making two of these homes available at a special price for readers of the Tiny House Blog. Please check out his work and let me know what you think.

The Slabtown Annemarie tiny house measures just over 8′ wide to be a road legal move, it is a total of 22′ long including a 6′ covered porch, the 6×8 porch is a very usable size allowing full size chairs including rocking chairs. It has two 8×8 lofts, one in each end with an open 6′ section in the living area.

The bathroom includes a full size 32″ fiberglass shower stall with hand held sprayer, full size toilet, pedestal sink and custom stained glass window with a small screened opening.

The kitchen includes a double stainless sink, apartment size gas range, full size fridge, more overhead cabinets can be included than what is seen in the pictures.

Peter King Tiny House Workshop

by Kent Griswold

Those of you in New England will want to be aware of this workshop coming up offered by Peter King. I discovered this on a website called Vermont Transitions and have put a screen print of the page below. Here are the details: Time: September 15, 2010 at 9am to … Read more

Pocket Suites in Winnipeg

by Kent Griswold

Amanda brought to my attention the Pocket Suites in Winnipeg. The Pocket House model is a recent development aimed at alleviating one segment of the affordable housing need in Manitoba.

The study concluded that construction of new buildings on scattered narrow infill lots would fit well with the City of Winnipeg’s inventory of vacant lots in residential neighbourhoods.

Each building is two storeys high and has 8 units each with separate entrances, private washrooms, and separate ventilation systems. Each Pocket House features three barrier-free suites and one fully accessible suite on the main floor, with four other suites on the second level accessible by two outside staircases.