by Lorna Kellogg
I’ve been based out of Martha’s Vineyard since March 2011 with occasional trips to Boulder, CO and Sebastopol, CA where I’ve built tiny homes off and on for 25 years. See Lorna’s house that she sold a few years back in Sebastopol here.
I recently built a tiny house in Boulder to temporarily store everything I was able to salvage after the flood. (I had my Boulder home rented and almost all my possessions stored in the basement). Seeing the huge piles of “stuff” my neighbors and I all had on the streets after the flood waters receded gave me a whole new appreciation for tiny homes and tiny house living. The only things I was sad about losing were a few first edition books signed by friends who are writers. Virtually nothing else gave me a second thought.
Now that I’m home on the Vineyard I’ve been clutter clearing like mad and having second thoughts about buying the 1800 square foot house I’ve been thinking about buying. My son and I have such simple needs for a home environment, a sense of refuge, quiet and clean.
In the meantime I’m building tiny homes here by request and I have the new tiny house in Boulder listed for sale. When I think about the first tiny house wave that came with the Santa Barbara population boom in the mid-1970’s (everyone there was building tiny homes in their gardens to accommodate transplanted friends who couldn’t find housing) it seems like a million years ago. The sophistication of Jay’s homes, building on trailers for complete portability and the increasing popularity of living full time in tiny homes makes me happy. It’s all any of us ever wanted isn’t it, a room of one’s own?
Great story, Lorna! I’ve been hoping to build a tiny house near Tashmoo as well! Being a ten–year seasonal resident, I’ve also come to appreciate the simple beauty of the island and no longer gaze at the in–town mansions. Well I still love their designs, but don’t feel the need to have one.
There’s been double lot for sale heading out toward Tashmoo Beach. A bit out of my price range, but it would be a perfect spot.
Thanks for sharing and best of luck. See you around 🙂
Hi Adam, I just saw this now when my son googled me 🙂 Are you in touch with Marina at Chilmark Housing Dept? She’s leading the tiny house charge on the island!
Best wishes, Lorna
Good luck on your housing decisions — I’m glad your experience in Boulder wasn’t worse. I love the collections of huts on your post and I wish I’d known about your tiny Sebastopol home for sale at the time. Transportation would have been easy — since I live in Sebastopol myself.
Thanks for the story
Perhaps you just need a slightly larger tiny house… maybe around 500 0r 600 sf and then a separate music studio…might make more sense, especially if some want to sleep and others want to jam.. Great article, Thanks
As a neighbor Cape Codder, I’d like to know how open the Vineyard is to tiny houses zoning-wise. You probably had cottage colonies like on the Cape but these days…I haven’t researched the specifics here yet (lack of finances to build) but I’d still like to know how the response is there. We both sorely need affordable (and more
creative )housing!
Thanks for the engaging photos…..but could we please see more ? Would like to see interior shots of these. Also am confused….are these three tiny separate residences in the photo or are all three components to one individual’s living spaces ? Thanks.
Hi Folks… Can I be informed as to the 3 structures that are pictured in the last (2nd) photo. Having 3 structures liken that would be ideal for me. (1) for personal living space. (2) The middle one – for Art Studio space, and (3) for a Guest House. These designs seem so economical and well designed from the outside. Are there any inside views I could see… any plans available for sale ? THANKS…
I would love to see the inside of these as well as well as a better front view of each pod.
I wanted to do something like this for me and my kids. Each of us having our own individual spaces with a kitchen, half bath and main livingroom in one pod and our own 3/4 bathrooms in our own pods with a loft for either an office, bedroom or storage and main living area with their own tvs. All run on solar power for each pod. and then a central sitting area outside for when we want to hang out and eat outside.
I too am on the Vineyard and would like to know the ins and outs of tiny house living. Especially houses on wheels.