Dan Kirk recently emailed me about his Microhouse project in Vermont. He has put up a blog called Microhouse VT so that you can follow along with his progress. Dan plans to build his Microhouse from mainly reclaimed materials and I applaud him in that and like that idea more and more myself. Anyway I’m going to turn it over to Dan to tell you a little of his thoughts behind his design.
The final design will be barn-influenced on the outside. This is Vermont, after all. The floor plan will mimic that of the Fencl house from Tumbleweed with a loft for sleeping and a storage loft above the door. The bathroom/showerroom will be as small as possible, a la the bathroom in Jay Shafer’s house. Having enough space to prepare good food is really one of the goals here, and will be a challenge for sure. I think grilling food will be a large part of the tiny house lifestyle, even in the winter. Though, if the right size oven/stove combination comes down the pike, cooking indoors could remain enjoyable even in such a small space. Also, a couch is mandatory.
Eventually, solar and/or wind will come into the picture. That’s what the batteries on the wish list are for. I would really love to have some degree of power by the fall, even if it only charges cell phones, and other minor appliances. A fridge would be great in the summer, but my brother is taking a root cellar building course, and if meat is a minimal part of the diet, then a fridge is not a mandatory amenity. Internet, you ask? Who knows. It might be nice not to use it as much as I already do (which is a fair amount).
Be sure and visit Dan’s Microhouse VT Blog and stay up to date on his progress.