I see a lot of “new build” stories lately, and I wanted to share our small house with your readers, since we took a different path.
Our municipality has a minimum size requirement for new houses. At 44 square metres (roughly 475 square feet) it is not too bad compared to some places, but it still scuttled our plans to buy a lot and build a Tumbleweed New Vesica (289 square feet) on it. Homes on trailers and RVs are also specifically mentioned in the Property Standards and not allowed. Instead we bought a two-story 1907 farmhouse in the cute “Ontario cottage” style that is prevalent on the Island.
However, this old house has some important benefits that we’ve found. It’s two stories, but the upstairs is closed off with a door at the foot of the stairs, which we keep closed. There is a bedroom on the main floor which we also keep closed off and don’t use, meaning that we’re living in just 325 square feet after all! The main room is 14′ by 14′, and contains our bed/couch, the woodstove, table and dining chairs, a comfy chair, and a wardrobe for storage. The kitchen is bigger than I need at 9′ x 9′, but does provide lots of extra storage. We do go upstairs to use the existing bathroom, which is 6′ x 8′.
We’re happy with our strategy so far. The cost of this house was less than a new build – just think of the cost of materials and labour 100 years ago – we’ve got inflation on our side in that equation! We also feel good that we’re “recycling” an entire house. In fact we are “reducing” – living in less space. And we are “reusing” – a previously loved, but then empty, house. Older homes tend to be smaller, and I think they’re the perfect way for some people to try out downsizing without committing to a truly tiny space. It has been a great way to reconcile my love of old houses with my love of small spaces.
Kirsten Nelson
Manitoulin Island, Ontario