Stick Built - Part 4

Hornby Island Caravans

Michelle Wilson contacted me recently about a new business she started called Hornby Island Caravans located in Canada. She recently delivered her first caravan to a customer and wanted me to share with you her project. Here is a little about Michelle and her business goals.

I aim to create spaces that have a sense of warmth and character. It is very important to me that my caravans are built with natural, healthy materials and that they are designed in such a way that is mindful of the client’s needs. I spend a great deal of time in the planning stage thinking about how the space will be used and, with that in mind, how to use every bit of space in the best possible way.

I certainly want the caravans that I build to be beautiful but I think even more importantly I want that certain magical quality that you find in buildings which are made with creativity, attention to detail and an appreciation for the materials being used. My aim is for the customer to feel a sense of wellness and comfort in my buildings. If they do then I’ve accomplished my goal.

Jadyn McKenna Update

by Kent Griswold

Scott Stewart sent me an update on his Jadyn Mckenna that he is showing at a local show this weekend. I showed you a preview of the building the other day and he is much closer to completion and has a few interior photos to show you.

This building is built rustic with a quick design and built with readily available materials. It is very well built, fully insulated, wired and plumbed with full kitchen and bath. All in a small space and at a very reasonable price. Following are more pictures of the Jadyn McKenna.

These pictures were taken before all the trim, electrical and carpet was installed in the loft. Scott is asking $6,500 for the Jadyn McKenna and he can be reached here:

Slabtown Customs
Scott Stewart
870-213-5310
Mountain View, Arkansas
Email: ozarksbest@yahoo.com

Please mention you learned about this house on the Tiny House Blog.

Jadyn McKenna Economy Tiny House

by Kent Griswold

Scott Stewart is working on another spec house, going for the economy minded and as low of price as he is able but still with lots of features. Scott is introducing to you the Jadyn McKenna tiny house. The Jadyn McKenna is an 8′ wide and 12′ long house built … Read more

Cathy Johnson’s Artist Shed/Mini-Office

by Kent Griswold

Following is a guest post from Derek Diedricksen of Relaxshax blog.

Cathy (Kate) Johnson is one of the people who kindly emailed me some pictures of her own tiny house/shed/cabin/fort/shack creation- which I’ll include in my book through The Lyons Press- due out Fall 2011. We’re still accepting photo submissions, ideas, and general words of tiny house wisdom for this book which will be LOADED with tiny house designs! kidcedar@gmail.com

We recently posted a few shedworking/tiny house photos and sketches from artist/tiny house author Cathy (Kate) Johnson on this very blog, and now having emailed back and forth with her many times, here’s a little more of what has transpired, informationally- as well as a couple more of her really cool sketches and watercolors….

Worker’s Shacks in Cannery Row

by Kent Griswold

Ben Wheeler visited Cannery Row and the Aquarium in Monterey, California and shot a few photos of some worker’s shacks that were on display.

A chorus of cannery whistles, each with its own unique call, summoned the Cannery Row workforce. Men and women in rubber boots and oilcloth aprons showed up to clean, cut, pack, cook and can the sardines that were a major part of Monterey’s economy for more than three decades.

The work was dirty and hard, cold and wet, and the smell was terrible–but it was the smell of prosperity. The stench of sardines, reduced to fertilizer, fish meal, and chicken feed, permeated the Row.

Hermit Deluxe Update

by Kent Griswold

It all started last summer with the near completion of the Bunkhouse. Wanting more of a little house on wheels and using the designs I use with the bunkhuse the Hermit DeLuxe was born. Working last winter on two different designs I finally decided on one and got it up … Read more

Stephen’s Guest House

by Kent Griswold

Update below

Stephen Marshall from the Little House on the Trailer has been really busy this year with orders for spare rooms, guest houses and sound studios among other things. He has also been involved in setting up his tiny structures with solar for off grid use.

Stephen just posted some pictures of a guest house he completed recently and I thought it came out beautifully and I figured you would enjoy seeing it too. Nice work Stephen, thanks for sharing.

I just got off the phone with Stephen and the size of the Guest House is 12 x 24, and the completed price as shown is $60,000. Not including furniture, etc. The little red stove is electrical bought by the owner, most likely at Lowes or Home Depot, he was not sure. Stephen says there is a huge amount of interest in this one, so if you are considering it get in touch with him. His contact information is on his website. Click Here. Be sure and mention you heard about it from the Tiny House Blog.

Kevin’s Mini Homestead

by Kent Griswold

Kevin a friend of mine on facebook has been designing and building a prototype of a micro homestead with a barn and garden area, solar powered, with saw dust toilet and propane heat and a micro kitchen area. Portable and able to knock down and setup in 30 minutes using off the shelf materials skill level …easy.

I have borrowed a couple of pictures from his facebook page to share with you and he just put up a cool little video tour on Youtube that I thought you would enjoy. Kevin shows what can be done with low cost and easy to get materials.

Mobile Art Space

by Kent Griswold

Andy spotted this on the San Francisco craigslist. I had to share it before someone buys it, could it be you? What would you use it for? Mobile art studio, meditation space, gypsy wagon, guest or music space, storage, concessionaire stand……many uses, simple design. Need to sell, have a date … Read more

MiniCasas Gypsy Caravans

by Kent Griswold

João Neves – a Portuguese ceramist and sculptor – is the creator, designer and builder of MiniCasas. MiniCasas Portugal is based in Caldas da Rainha, in the centre of Portugal.

With the help of MiniCasas, you can expand your living space, create your own special getaway or set up a summerhouse, studio or stylish office space.

The Gypsy caravans are built with a keen eye for detail and from natural materials, such as cork and timber, then painted in warm tones, with water-based paint. They may be used as additional mobile living space, a place to host guests, an office or other type of work space, a library … the list is simply endless! If required, a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom-lounge area, running water and electricity can all be provided.

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 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.