One thing that has really amazed me, is the huge interest in tiny houses and info around the issues with going off grid in one. This blog has only been live now for about two months and has had nearly 60,000 visitors. That's a lot of people! I'm curious about what you all are most curious about? I started this blog to try to answer for others, some of the things I had a hard time finding much info on, and have now been learning about first hand. So I would genuinely like to know what everyone thinks would be most helpful.
Comment below with the question(s) you would most like to have answered, and I will try to write about that in the near future if it's something I have any experience with. Writing these posts does take some significant amount of time, but if people are finding it useful, I would very much like to continue. Comment away folks!
Was there a defining moment or catalyst in your life that you can point to that prompted you to build your tiny home? Personally I've had 47 things in my life that should have been for me but I still have not moved forward with it. Just curious. :)
ReplyDeleteYes. http://fynyth.blogspot.com/2014/11/why-tiny-house.html
DeleteI have immense interest in the off-grid details. Also, have you thought about rainwater catchment? Where is your heater?
ReplyDeleteOne thing that is helpful as time goes on, is to see the adjustments people make in their tiny house living. Or the way they move things around as needs change or whatever. I have a plan that would work for me right now, but I'm forever tweaking it as I see what others have done and thought of that I've overlooked. Your blog is really helpful and I appreciate the time you take with explaining in detail. And your house if quite an accomplishment! Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI would like to know more about the storage and laundry design elements you have included. When you had your shower mishap, I could see some brilliant hanging rods stretched across your loft spaces. LIkewise, you mentioned a "hand washing machine," I think? I'd also like to know more about the stair-storage and any other brilliant ideas for best use of space. (Loved the shelves for glassware in the kitchen!) Where do you store the clothes you hang up, for example? Many thanks! You're done a great job. I love your no-nonsense approach to all of these basic needs.
ReplyDeleteI just wrote a post on my laundry set up. http://fynyth.blogspot.com/2015/01/off-grid-laundry-in-tiny-house.html
DeleteThe stairs drawers I like a lot, but I have seen several other stair storage set ups with drawers, cupboards, and shelves that also look pretty nice too. My hanging clothes I actually keep in my shower since I do not use it. Any other questions about storage?
Hi Ariel!
ReplyDeleteEd was just reading Tiny House Swoon today and saw your house! He has dreamed about building a tiny house on a trailer like yours for years! It is fun to see that someone that we sorta know has actually done it! Your house is lovely!
Gina
Nice. You guys might have a few too many people in your family to fit in my house. But I do love living here, sometime you guys should go for it. And thank you!
DeleteNo, it wouldn't work as a home for us at this stage of life. I think Ed's idea is to have the fun of building a tiny house for his boys and then using it as a guest house or an office. Or just a quiet place to get away from the craziness in the big house!
DeleteGina
Ariel, your blog is fascinating and wondrous, please keep writing, about all your experiences. A few topics that come to mine are:
ReplyDelete- winterizing your home - had your heater gone out when you were not there, you may have frozen you pipes. That could happened in a few hours while you're away at work or something. How do you ensure that does not happen, or have a backup plan for?
- entertaining guests and/or living with someone in it.
- land use issues - in some areas of the country you cannot build a house smaller than a certain size (prohibiting tiny house) while at the same time they do not allow "camping" for more than a certain period of time (weeks) prohibiting "RVs". What are the rules in Wyoming?
- Great room - is it big enough to truly lounge in there? I like to be able to spread out on a couch horizontally.
I'll add more as I think of other topics of interest.
Great Blog Ariel! I've really enjoy reading about your experiences. I'm 6' 2" / 200 lbs and wonder if the shower will be big enough in this configuration. I was thinking I should build the bathroom at the end of the house so that I can make the shower bigger. Also, I figure the long and narrow of the house would bug me long term. Maybe putting double doors on the side with a patio would square out the feel. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI envy your outdoor life and the area you live in looks beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you. I do know that with my layout my one friend who is 6'4'' can walk around without hitting his head on anything. If he used my shower though, the shower head would not be above his head. But you could install the shower head higher on the wall, or probably figure out a way to put it on the ceiling. I have a shower that's only 25'' square. That would probably be pretty tight for someone your size so going with something bigger might be a good idea.
DeleteI do like the look and feel of the double doors/patio designs, it's just winter so much where I live that a patio is not usable much of the time. I'd also get the trailer that Tumbleweed now has that has the deck over the wheels for a little additional width if I was redoing my house.
I'd like to know what model heater you chose that requires the electric kickstart.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the "solar" fridges I've seen cost a fortune. But I'm not sure how many more panels/batteries I'd need for a normal one. Or if propane would just be preferable. What fridge are you using and how much power consumption does it use? And what is it's cubic space, the freezer looks kinda small?
On food in general, you were like me before, a chest freezer, buying in bulk, etc. I'd like to know how food storage is working and if it's much more expensive.
The heater is a Suburban propane heater designed for RVs. It needs electricity to both start and to run the fan to distribute the heat and prevent overheating.
DeleteMy fridge is and Avanti. Here's a link to a lot more details on it. http://www.amazon.com/Avanti-RA7316PST-Apartment-Refrigerator-Platinum/dp/B00D1SZNO6 It is my biggest power user now that I've switched heaters, but that is what I had planned for originally.
Obviously I can't store quite as much in bulk, but I do still have a full sized freezer stored in a neighboring shed, and my pantry holds a lot of food so it hasn't been too bad.