I think I have found one of the sweetest little Tiny Houses in the USA while cruising around online the other day. Now, I’d just love to have this tiny little thing built into the side of the cliff, overlooking the “big creek” on my own farm!
A client sent me information and photos of the smallest house in Toronto, Canada this week. She knew I have a thing for tiny houses, and she said this one should be right up my alley. The house, purchased for $139,000 last year (according to a report from Reuters), has recently been revamped and is now back on the market for $179,900.
It boasts (or should I say “whispers”?) 300 square feet of living space with a tiny back patio. If small living is your thing, this might be your next house!
In 2007, I have learned to say “no.”
It took alot to get me to that point. 2007 was obnoxious, but it beat the ability to say “no” into me by the beginning of the last month. I can now say NO — and mean it.
No to things that stress me out unnecessarily. No to unreasonable goals. No to commitments I’d rather not have. No to busy-work. No to things that make my stomach churn. And… for the first time ever: No to New Year’s resolutions. (more…)
I’ve become somewhat of a connoisseur of small spaces, not merely because I’m building one, but more because I thoroughly appreciate them. I love tiny spaces that are huge on benefit, utility and beauty. Design matters when you build small. Materials matter. Finishes matters. All the details matter.
With that in mind, I’d like to share a few tiny space concepts that I’ve recently discovered that have not yet reached WickedBlog’s pages:
As I prepare to move again, I look around and wonder… how much of this stuff is actually adding to my quality of life and how much is detracting from it? I pack, and pack and pack some more. It’s exhausting. And I’m moving into a tiny cabin, so I’m not sure where it’s all going to go.
Are you a paper person living in a digital world? Are you (like me) a technology geek who also likes the feel of high quality paper, the smell of ink on a freshly printed page, and you don’t really mind if a drop of ink goes awry, so long as you can use a fountain pen to do all your long-hand writing?
Just picked up this story from CNet on the PowerPod, and ecologically friendly tiny house aimed at the high-end minimialist client. With a pricetag of $100,000.00, it’s not economical for many folks, but I must say I like some of the features, in particular the roof line and the passive/active solar options.
Be sure to look at all the photos (inside and out) when you read the story.
The simplification bug has hit me again. It’s like a constant thing in my life … sometimes just a dull ache, other times (like now) it’s a sharp, painfully compelling urge. For those of you who have delivered a child (or who have assisted with this process) it’s like the overwhelming urge to push at the end of the labor portion of bringing a new life into the world. It’s hard to explain and impossible to deny.
So, I’ve been looking… ok DROOLING… over at Levenger.com again. I also find myself looking up a slew of postings over on DIYPlanner (I just love that site!).
You see, whenever I decide to simplify, I find a way to convince myself that buying something really cool to help me accomplish that simplification is the ticket. I’m not saying buying a “clutter busting” book or a “how to organize your life” magazine or a great organizational tool isn’t helpful, but the absurdity of buying to eliminate clutter isn’t lost on me. (more…)
I’m loving this recent Inman post from Todd Carpenter of Lenderama on the new interest in using large metal shipping containers as the basis for a new type of housing. (more…)
I’ve moved into a larger space now, but I’m still enamored with small spaces, and will be moving into a tiny house when I return to the farm. So, I’m still watching and collecting the coolest ways to make the most of small spaces for storage and a clutter free existence.
Here are a few of the ideas I’ve collected from the web, from friends and family and from my own experience: (more…)
I found Jeri Danski’s Professional Organizer Blog online yesterday and I must say I love the content, the candor and the colorful photos she uses to keep her blog interesting.
If you crave conspicuous organization and conservative consumption, you should visit her blog. I know I’ll be back!
The latest issue of Wired Magazine (my favorite subscription) featured a new take on small spaces with high-tech features and micro-design. It was too cool not to share with those of you who love a good tiny house as much as I do.
The online version offers a slide show (not offered in my printed version) that brings the tiny space to life. My son is salivating for this little boxy creation to put on the farm, overlooking the “big creek” as his own little bachelor pad. (more…)
I recently purchased a cool new addition to the iPod accessory collection for our household. I had a slew of Best Buy reward points that were about to expire, so I went shopping. For the first time in ages, there was nothing on my “wish list” for Best Buy.
Can you believe it? I couldn’t.
I actually had to poke around to find something that looked good. Just not much in the shopping mood lately, I guess. Not even for gadgets. *Feeling own forehead for fever*
But I thought I might find a cool new case for my 5G iPod, so I cruised over to the iPod mecca and browsed. That’s when I saw it… (more…)
Hot Spot #2 for simplification (a process that has amplified importance in a tiny house) is the kitchen.
The kitchen is a minefield for complication in your life. There are gadgets for every imaginable use. Only you can determine which of these are actually essential. But, beware — this is an area where gadget lovers face their biggest demons and where “coolness” factors can often outweigh usefulness realities.
Some areas are tougher than others when you begin your journey to a simpler existence. These areas of your home will stop your efforts dead, if you are not both diligent and careful.
I offer the following tips for these areas to help you push through the hard spots. The first (and the top offender) in the “collections and stuff I don’t really need” category is the closet.
I found an article today about the tiny houses being built by Lowes for the needs of Katrina survivors. These minuscule dwellings offer all the basics and nothing extravagant. These and other homes like them are, IMHO, the wave of the future.
I’ve watched and dreamed about the designs of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company for several years now, myself. I even developed the floor plan for my own house based, in great part, on the desire to keep the footprint small and the utility high in my home.
If you have decided that you want to begin on the path of voluntary simplicity, but you aren’t sure exactly how to start, let me offer a few tips. Remember that traveling the early portion of this path is not easy. Getting on the path in the first place is usually not “simple” either — but the long-term benefits can not be overstated.
A wise man once said (paraphrased) that, In life, we push our belongings in front of us. If you are tired of pushing, if your arms are weary, if your stamina is dipping… it may be time to lighten your load.
I tripped across this video today that I just had to share. It highlights a lady that elected to go small with her life and her house:
And here’s a bit more information about the new tiny house trend…
Ok, I admit it. I’m a bag addict. I like boxes too. Containers, that’s my thing. Things that hold stuff turn me on. I’m not into typical “girly” things. I don’t particularly care about shoes … although once or twice every five years a pair will really catch my eye. The rest of the time, they are purely functional. If they don’t rub, don’t squeak, don’t cause me issues and aren’t terribly ugly — they are good shoes.
The three most important C’s of my existence could be summed up as: Communication, Companionship and Containers. Yup, that just about covers it. I don’t like owning alot of stuff, but I sure want to have a cool container to hold what stuff I do have.
If you want to read a good, old fashioned book — complete with sepia pages and pencil-marked book numbers from old library systems…but you are often on the road and simply can’t carry any more weight than you currently do…
I have a great solution!
There’s a website that permits you to view full color books (including nice lithograph illustrations) on your Tablet PC or laptop… You just push a button and the pages turn just like the old fashioned kind of books… not the same “scrolling” function you see in most ebook readers.http://www.openlibrary.org/
Their selection is still rather limited, but you could always volunteer to scan in and upload some of the old classics you currently have, or you could do a recording of the reading of any of the books they don’t already have with an audio-option.
Nice, huh? Even nicer if you are trying to live in a small space.
And another great book and story site is: http://www.fairytalescollection.com/
If only I had found this kind of resource way back in 1988, when I did my undergraduate thesis on fairytales!
My Discoveries on StumbleUpon
