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The Small House That Feels Big: 800-Square-Foot Dream Home?


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This is the small house that feels big… It’s an 800-square-foot custom designed and built home on a foundation and I think you’re going to like it.

I just can’t get enough of small houses that are well designed like the one you’re about to see here. It’s a timber frame build by Nir Pearlson in Oregon. His firm specializes in green designs.

In this case, the client wanted an energy-efficient small home made out of sustainable materials. The clients are an aging couple who are nearing retirement so they wanted a single-story design that they’d love. Here is the result.

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The Little Cottage That Feels Big (And Where to Get the Plans to Build It)

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

It’s amazing how many talented people it takes to put something beautiful like this together. I know I couldn’t have come up with something this nice by myself (without an architect).

So the clients chose Nir Pearlson as an architect and Six Degrees Construction as the builder. And the finished product looks pretty marvelous if you ask me. What do you think?

To me, this size home is perfect. It’s not too big, or too small. It can be sufficient for a family, but not overwhelming if you’re a couple or even single.

Beautiful 800-sq.-ft. Cottage With Solar

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

I love the covered back porch and how the home has several entrances/exits… That along with all of the deck space that you get outside. Also, notice the solar panels on the roof.

Open Front Porch With Deck…

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

So far, so good right? It gets better. Let me take you inside.

The interior is just as beautiful. How do you like the fireplace?

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

I love timber frame houses. There’s something about it especially when the beams are exposed that looks so great to me. It’s too bad that building like this costs so much more nowadays. But I still think it’s worth it. Especially if we build smaller. And smarter.

A simple but super-nice kitchen…

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

It look so relaxing to be in this home…

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

What would you call this? A cottage? A cabin? Or just home?

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

I can’t even think of anything I would really change.

The bathroom is really spacious…

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

It’s almost like a farmhouse sink for your bathroom. I like it!

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

I love the walk-in shower, how about you?

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

Bedroom with beautiful windows, exposed beams, and classy zen look and feel

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

The bedroom opens up to the outdoors…

Notice how the bedroom has its own exit out to the deck. I think this is a great feature that most of us would enjoy every morning.

It also looks like there’s some extra space above what seems to be the closet which could be great for storage but it seems large enough to be able to use as a loft too, doesn’t it?

Lots of storage, windows, and even your own entrance from the bedroom. How cool is that?

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

Nice touch with the statue and lighting.

The Small House That Feels Big

Photo Credits Michael Dean via Nir Pearlson Architect & Six Degrees Construction

River Road Small House Floor Plan

The Small House That Feels Big

What’s your favorite thing about this small house?

What did you like best about this small house? At 800-square-feet, can you see yourself in it? I sure can.

It’s a great home for a relatively small family. Or any couple without children. Or maybe even for a single person who works from home or has hobbies? Seems like just the right amount of space.

I love tiny homes but I also love small houses and I hope that the tiny house movement can also encourage the design and development of more homes like this one, not just the tiny ones.

What are your thoughts on that? Wouldn’t you also agree that we need more homes in the range of 500 to 1200-square-feet? I think we do because they’re more realistic for most people and in many cases would work better long-term even though tiny houses are absolutely awesome.

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Sources: Six Degrees Construction Co., Michael Dean Photography, Nir Pearlson Architect, Inc., Small House Bliss.

The House Plans to Build This Little Cottage for Yourself

Interested in buying the plans so you can build it yourself? They’re available for you at House Plans.

More Small Houses Like This…

Beautiful Tiny Tiny Cottage on a Foundation Built by Mother/Daughter Duo

Quintessential Laneway House The Little House You Wish You Had 001

This is a beautiful tiny cottage built by a mother/daughter duo called the Quintessential Laneway House. It’s a laneway house in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada by SmallWorks. Read more.

The Louisa Cottage on a Farm in New Zealand

Louisa Cottage in New Zealand 001

This is the Louisa Cottage. It’s in Havelock North, Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand … Read more.

Small and Sustainable Farmhouse Cottage in Melbourne

Small And Sustainable Farmhouse Cabin Near Melbourne 001This is a sustainable small farmhouse cottage near Melbourne, Australia that you can rent on Airbnb. Read more.

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Alex

Alex is a contributor and editor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the always free Tiny House Newsletter. He has a passion for exploring and sharing tiny homes (from yurts and RVs to tiny cabins and cottages) and inspiring simple living stories. We invite you to send in your story and tiny home photos too so we can re-share and inspire others towards a simple life too. Thank you!
{ 204 comments… add one }
  • john
    June 24, 2013, 3:37 pm

    If you are going to build on land you will buy, then ‘post and beam’ or ‘timber framing’ is the way to do it. Most of them will be around for more than a hundred years. Far stronger and more durable than conventional building.

    Buy land with hardwood tree’s, like oaks, and use the tree’s you clear to frame your home, portable mills are great for turning your felled tree’s into the lumber needed for this style of building right there on site for less money than you can buy them for.

    Anyone wanting to build a home to leave future generations of children and grandchildren as a legacy couldn’t pick a better way to go. We’ve lost the concept of an ancestral home and lands, it’s sad really. We leave nothing behind us now but debt, ashes, and landfill material…a very poor legacy for your grandchildren’s grandchildren….exactly what we inherited too.

    • Terence Taylor
      June 24, 2013, 4:07 pm

      Here in Australia homes are getting bigger and bigger. We sarcastically call them McMansions. We really do not need all the space we are creating. This is a perfect design for a couple.

      • AL
        April 22, 2014, 3:53 pm

        I totally agree 800 square feet…just a little bigger than a one bedroom apartment which is ok, and you’re right don’t need all wasted space!! Bigger houses then half of rooms not being used unless you have big family, but so…even one child in this little house can be adjusted making a small room within the 800! actually looks big in the inside! I like it 🙂

      • Lindsay
        July 30, 2019, 3:51 pm

        It’s happening here too. I live in Colorado. We also call them Mcmansions. It perplexes me why someone would want/need so much space. More to heat/cool. More furniture for rooms that never even get used. I would be more than happy to with a little house like this.

    • Linda Webber
      June 24, 2013, 10:26 pm

      You are so right. I inherited land from my parents because they were farmers all their lives and it’s a wonderful legacy, the best, to leave your children. However, the homestead was not on my portion of land so now that I’m retired I would love to build this home. How do I get more information as to plans and a more descriptive floorplan?

    • Kathy Parker
      July 23, 2013, 5:36 pm

      I couldn’t agree more… my husband I and bought an 1830’s post and beam… original hand hewed farmhouse…. 1130 sf. Perfect for us and for any children/grandchildren that care to come visit. It’s been here for 183 years and I’m sure it’s not going anywhere, any time soon….

    • debbie
      September 4, 2013, 11:20 pm

      John if you want to Leave something behind Please put it in ironclad format my Aunt Left me her home in chicago .and the other she had inherited in colorado.she told me on the phone and put it in a letyter I didnt think Anyone would stop it as I lived with her worked with her I even went on her date with her as she never married.un knowing my own mother talked a lawyer into putting her on a quit claim deed and told my Aunt she was deeding the house to herself for when my gram died.so watch everyone and put it in words.

      • Paul
        March 22, 2014, 3:10 am

        I read somewhere not so long ago that post and beam construction was now banned in the U.S.

        This was in commenting on architect Alex Wade’s plans from back in the 70’s.

        • Comet
          December 14, 2014, 9:52 pm

          No–far from it. Post and beam is not something every builder can or wants to do but there are plenty of companies including one right down the road from my house in NY that still do this on a regular basis.

          Some you can buy as pre-cut “kits” that will arrive on your site ready to be erected. Of course you can always work out how to do this on your own—with an architect or engineer and some one to sign off on your plans you can build these anywhere. Of course if you have your own timber this is MUCH cheaper.

          If you live anywhere near an Amish community you might be able to hire some of their fine carpenters and builders to do some or all of this.

        • Paul
          December 15, 2014, 4:25 am

          Amish workers eh? Yeah, slight problem. I live in New Zealand… 1200 miles to the west is a little island called Australia.

          But yeah, thought it was strange, the argument I read was that there was too much weight and an inordinately high number were having the roof collapse. But cannot recall where exactly I read that. Certainly not in my browser’s cache anymore, that’s for sure.

  • Rebecca
    June 24, 2013, 4:03 pm

    This house is awesome and I love the deck areas. It makes the house look bigger than it really is plus I love having out door space for lounging or even just doing a bit of container gardening. I could see our little family in this house and it would be very cozy. The only thing I might do is add a half bath somewhere. It is just helpful to have an extra bathroom with 3 people.

    • February 1, 2021, 3:26 am

      Can’t tell if there’s laundry somewhere. And, as you say, a half bath. Other than that, it’s all I would need. Way less housework, less expensive utility bills, and lower property taxes. I really don’t like my hard-earned dollars to go to anyone other than me. I’ve gone from 3500 sq ft to 1200 sq ft. Since my beautiful husband has passed, I’ve been thinking it might be time to push that even further. Love Lyn

  • deborah
    June 24, 2013, 4:20 pm

    Love it, but do designers have something against tubs??? Without a tub I would not be interested. I do love the kitchen in this home and the yellow exterior.

    • Erica
      June 24, 2013, 4:40 pm

      Deborah,

      That shower is pretty large. I imagine the bathroom could be refitted to have a tub/shower combo. Many people only take showers, though.

      • Paul
        May 23, 2014, 3:54 am

        No designers “don’t” have something against tubs. What they do have is respect for what the clients want. This was designed “for” a couple of advancing years. This was “their” wish.

        The “architect” has decided to put the plans on the market so you get plans for a LOT LESS than the cost to the owners of the original plan.

        So, if this house resonates with you then all you would have to do is liaise with your builder/plumber to install a tub there. Or, if it takes yer fancy, a Sauna. Whatever trips yer trigger.

      • Julie
        July 28, 2015, 4:10 pm

        That’s just weird. People don’t like to relax in a hot bathtub at the end of a long day? Women????
        Bizarre.
        I need my bathtub and take a nice hot bath almost every night.

        • Sandi B
          April 19, 2016, 9:15 pm

          Put a hot tub on the deck — close it in a little.

        • Eric
          December 10, 2019, 10:17 pm

          I’d hate to see your electric bill if you actually do that. Or gas bill if that’s how you heat your water. Need a hot bath nearly every night??? Assuming $25 for heating up of water used each day (not an unreasonable amount btw), and say 300 days a year… (taking off vacation days and a few others) that adds up to about $7,500 per year. YIKES!!!

    • Cahow
      June 24, 2013, 7:57 pm

      Alex wrote: “The clients are an aging couple who…wanted a single story design that they’d love.”

      Deborah: I’m not sure what “aged” means to a youngin’ like Alex (40’s maybe? LOL) but tubs are a HUGE LIABILITY to seniors and the risk of falling. Yes, I know you can get those “walk-in” tubs, but you still gotta be able to W.A.L.K. to get into them. Note that the house is laid out so a wheelchair has access to everything, including sinks that break the “barrier” of a counter. Even the slight ‘dip’ into the shower room can be outfitted with a ramp so a chair can be wheeled down there.

      Tubs are also not Eco-Friendly, in the sheer volume of water that must be run to fill one adequately. An average bath requires 30-50 gallons of water. The average shower of four minutes with an old shower head uses 20 gallons of water. With a low-flow shower head, only 10 gallons of water is used.

      This doesn’t mean that YOUR tiny house can’t have a bath, Deborah. I’m just adding some thoughts as an architect as to the “why” this couple may have gone the route they did. 🙂

      • La Segunda
        June 25, 2013, 10:23 am

        I’m with you, Linda. It’s got to have a bathtub or I’m not interested, lol!

        Cahow, you’re right about tubs not being eco-friendly. If only more people cared about things like that. However, I was taught by my grandparents to go easy on the water and only fill the tub up ‘so far’. They lived in a desert area and had a cistern for water for many years, so they knew how to conserve water. The small house I live in now has a mini-tub too, so even more water is saved.

        • Cahow
          June 25, 2013, 11:41 am

          La Segunda: You’ll love this! My Grandparent’s lived Off Grid most of their lives, not due to any manifesto but simply because their farm was SO far North (on the Canadian border) that back in the ’50’s-’60’s, it wasn’t cost effective for phone/electric. So, we had a huge cattle trough in the mud room that was our “bathtub” and we took turns using the SAME water! Least dirty (me), then Gran, then Uncle and last poor Granpa. One filling, one draining, straight into the currant/asparagus rows.

          I love tubs but can no longer bend my knees to get into one. 🙁 I’m not so much on the eco-friendly thing of tubs but I know a vast amount of tiny house lovers are, so they’d argue against a tub. Heck, half of them don’t have running water in their place so it shouldn’t be an issue. LOL If you claim that one gallon of water poured over your sweaty body gets you sparkling clean, more power to ya.

        • deborah
          June 26, 2013, 8:52 pm

          I also do not put a lot of water in my tub but do put enough to just cover my hips. I have RA and it is one of the few things that actually helps me from totally freezing up. All our water is reused in the gardens and orchard so none goes to waste. We practice permaculture on our homestead.

      • Pat
        June 26, 2013, 5:38 pm

        I disagree on the bathtub debate. My husband and I are in our late 60’s and looking to build a small house. We WANT a bathtub and plan to have a walk-in tub. We do take showers most of the time, but tubs are so nice for aching muscles and joints. I didn’t see a place for a washer and dryer in this plan, that is a MUST. I’m sure it can be modified enough to accomodate one though.

        • Paul
          May 23, 2014, 4:01 am

          Pat, the washer/dryer is contained in that little room to the right of where the toilet is in the floor plan.

        • Kim W
          September 6, 2016, 4:45 pm

          Cahow….I remember putting all 4 of my children through the same lot of bath water! Usually girls first – they are younger and usually less grubby. Then the boys, who could get incredibly dirty! We had quite a deep bath tub when they were small, but with 4 of them going through, I felt it was OK. We had a big bathroom sink when baby #2 and #3 were tiny, so we bathed them in that! Little ones often can’t cope with showers. We had a wet room built for my elderly (82 year old) mother when she came to live with us, so I could put my swimming cossie on and help her in the shower. We only have a shower now, but I would like a bath to soak in from time to time.
          And to get to the point….. I love this house!

      • Deborah
        March 21, 2014, 12:52 pm

        I recycle my tubs water into my orchard and I use no chemicals of any kind of including “green”products.

      • Paul
        March 22, 2014, 3:14 am

        … and, with a water barrel and a ladel maybe 1/2 gallon per bath/shower? Don’t laugh, people do this all the time… especially in 3rd world countries. But I’ve even read of (cough cough) Hollywood celebrities using this method of bathing.

        • Lawrence
          November 9, 2014, 8:12 pm

          I completed a 1000 sq ft home this past spring. I am 100% of the grid; solar electric, solar hot water, gray/black water systems and use a cistern for 100% of my water. What used to cost over $50 per month for a rentals city water now cost me just $250 per year for filters and UV light. I did have some problems with water and electric utilities as they wanted to insist I connect to their systems. They even tried to bill me, without any connections, for minimum monthly usage. Took a lawsuit to stop the greed. Now local politicians are proposing an law to outlaw setups such as mine. By the way I do not miss anything, I have a full size refrig and a full sized stand alone freezer, computers, TVs, and washer/dryer, etc.

        • Karen Blackburn
          February 28, 2019, 4:44 am

          With Paul here. We have a 5 gallon pressure sprayer (intended for spraying fruit trees etc) and use this as an outdoor shower. A pallet forms the base, trees and hedges are 2 sides with a shed and the upen shed door the other 2. Only problem is it’s in the north east corner of the garden, south west and would be warm all year round. Use it whenever the weather permits. This year the Irish winter has been characterised by winds from the south so we have used it pretty much all year but last winter was cold enough the water pipes all froze so not so much. Use 1/3 hot water and 2/3 cold water, pressurise and spray. Economic and eco friendly.

      • jane
        January 31, 2021, 5:58 pm

        Tubs can be dangerous, but if you have a medical problem that requires you to soak in medicine, the mini tub would be a good choice.

    • Dawn
      April 19, 2016, 1:11 pm

      Put a hot tub on the deck and your problem is solved!

    • Anna
      September 7, 2016, 12:31 pm

      I’m with Deborah, I need my bathtub. I’m sure I could get both in the bathroom, it looks large enough. Perfect house, put it next to an ocean and I’m good to go.

    • Chuck
      March 30, 2018, 6:32 pm

      Why would anyone want to sit in a tub of dirty water?

      • Eric
        November 29, 2020, 4:07 pm

        Why, for recycling of course.

  • Erica
    June 24, 2013, 4:43 pm

    I really like this floor plan, especially the largish kitchen. I’d build mine with as much reclaimed materials as possible. I want a claw foot tub for soaking, and mosaic tile in the bathroom.

  • Otessa Regina Compton
    June 24, 2013, 5:15 pm

    First I would like to say, that the photography is spectacular. The colors of the home blend, as if they belong together. This home is grand in its own rite. My compliments for the architecture and then some. I would like to see more of these kinds of homes. Please Alex stay busy and bring some more.

    • Paul
      May 23, 2014, 4:06 am

      Of course the photography is spectacular. They were taken specifically for the architects portfolio to show prospective clients.

      If anybody doesn’t think the quality of the photos has any bearing on whether a house design is good or not should look at some which have both, poor/average and professional shots.

      If the poor/average shots are seen first well already a negative has been planted in their mind. Research bears this out.

      The moment I saw this I went “Yesssss, this is me” and it still stands out amongst other plans, and it is all because of the quality pics.

  • Harry Symonds
    June 24, 2013, 5:29 pm

    Like the floor plan, lots of light . However I’m not too keen on the “gullwing” porch designs that force the rain back to the home. Potentially, that is going to cause leakage and dry rot problems where the porch meets the roof valance. A more traditional downward sloping porch would be better in places that get a lot of rain/snow.

    • Linda Webber
      June 24, 2013, 10:30 pm

      I also noticed that Harry but since it could be easily changed, as you recommended, I don’t see a problem. Here in the South the rain would create sheer havoc!!

      • La Segunda
        June 25, 2013, 10:30 am

        I had the same thought too, Harry. In Oregon, of all places! Maybe it’s somewhere in Eastern Oregon where the rain wouldn’t be such a problem.

        Another thing I noticed; there are no curtains. That just wouldn’t do!

        Other than that, the place is beautiful. I live the spacious feel, the beautiful finish and decor, and all else. Plus, there is a wood stove in case the power goes out.

        • Cahow
          June 25, 2013, 5:32 pm

          Hi again, La Segunda. I got a chuckle off of this comment of yours: “Another thing I noticed; there are no curtains. That just wouldn’t do!”

          Not a single.solitary.day. in my life have I had ANY window treatments of ANY kind!!!! I’m horrifically claustrophobic so I can’t be in a building that has no windows or I can’t see outdoors. First, growing up on a farm where the nearest neighbor was MILES away, there was no need. Yes, my Gran had lace valances on the kitchen window but they were for a decorating touch, not blocking the view. Then, after marriage, we’ve been blessed that every single bedroom window we had either overlooked dense tree canopies or a blank brick wall (boo!). At our cottage, our nearest neighbor is a wonderful 1/5 of a mile away and our property is rimmed by a thick copse of trees. Still no need for window covers! Besides, if some creeper comes a peepin’ in our country windows, the dogs will eat him. The raccoons will tidy up the remains. 😉

        • Montague
          November 30, 2013, 9:03 am

          LOL… Sounds about right for where I live in MO. I live with my best friend in what was about a 1500sf 1950s rambler, until we remodeled the two car garage into a very large bedroom. We put a little woodstove into that large room to keep the ‘lectric bill down, and have found that we really like gathering firewood together so it had two benefits. But for window treatments I’m all about miniblinds… easily moved up out of the way or almost entirely occlusive.

        • Paul
          May 23, 2014, 4:08 am

          …or, the creeper may have a heart attack just seeing you in the nude… lol

  • Jonell
    June 24, 2013, 5:29 pm

    The house is beautiful but don’t see an area for the washer/dryer, and for me, must have two bathrooms.

    • Cahow
      June 24, 2013, 8:17 pm

      I’m guessing that there is either an Under The Counter w/d or they are stacked and in one of the service closets. That’s where I’d tuck them.

      • Jonell
        June 25, 2013, 12:44 am

        I agree that they could be under the counter but looking at the photos, don’t think so. So that only leaves the storage space by the bathroom for an inside washer/dryer. But as an “aging” person myself, two people means a need for two bathrooms. LOL

    • Tom D
      July 1, 2013, 12:17 pm

      The main Fine Homebuilding article includes another floorplan scetch that indicates the washer/dryer is in the closet just outside the bedroom and bathroom. That’s a nice location. Near the BR but if you wash after you go to bed you can shut the doors for noise control.

  • Warp2013
    June 24, 2013, 5:46 pm

    Alex i see alot of tiny homes here but what i don’t see are tiny log cabins and i do love tiny log cabins , maybe you know someone who show them on the web site if so thank you !

    Your Friend David F

    • Lynda
      August 15, 2013, 3:38 am

      Wood is really not a good insulator, and it moves and shrinks, causing air gaps. The outside needs to have finish applied every 18 months. A lot of people are looking for advanced insulation, and wood alone really isn’t. I love the look, so I’m using the Hardi siding that looks like wood shingles. You can also insulate and use 1/2 log siding, but that is expensive.

      • WhyohY
        November 29, 2013, 1:12 pm

        Lynda Davids comment was toward Alex not lynda. Also he wanted to see pics and info on small cabins. He didn’t want your opinion as to why y0u think they are bad.
        Wood is a good insulator. Properly treated and aged wood shouldn’t shrink. If it does the builder or lumber mill did something wrong by not storing it properly or allowing it to age the proper time in the proper humidity.
        There are cabins over 100 years old that have not been treated every 18 months and still are holding up very well to weather and bugs. Its nice if you can afford to treat it every 18 months but its definitely not needed.

  • April H
    June 24, 2013, 9:06 pm

    Beautiful home! I agree with Harry Symonds regarding the backward sloping porch overhang being a problem. Also, in the drawing, what is the room on the lower left, and the small rectangle with only one door off of that? The post mentions this being good for a couple without kids, but if that room on the lower left can be used as a bedroom, could not this be a home for a couple with a child or two adults with their own room? Just wondering what that room on the lower left is, and that tiny “room of requirement?” off of that?

    • Cahow
      June 25, 2013, 8:11 am

      April: from my own personal experience, I’m believing that that lower left room with an outward facing door is the Mechanical Room, housing the water heater/furnace/etc. That’s how it is at our cottage. We inherited that arrangement and haven’t felt the need to change it. Our 800 sq.ft. cottage was originally a grocery store in the 1920’s-1960’s; when the couple who owned it got older, they kept adding on room after room after room to the back of the small store. (there was NO master plan) It had baseboard heating originally (now abandoned) and the original owners added the Mechanical Room when they shut down the store and moved into the back unit, full time.

      Actually, it’s wonderful having all the equipment OUT of the house! No noise, very easy maintence, especially when the stuff needs to be replaced!!! The furnace that came with the cottage was from 1952; we found the date on it when we had to replace it a couple of years ago. The furnace people said that “…we wish EVERYONE had their equipment stored out of the house for ease of removal and installation.”

  • Rando S. Thyr
    June 24, 2013, 9:31 pm

    So it looks like this home has both wood burning stove for heat as well as forced air (for the bedrooms?) Can a whole house including separate bedrooms be heated by one wood burning stove, maybe with the use of directional fans? Nice tall cielings gives a sense of space so 800 sq. ft. looks much bigger. Some posts say the kitchen looks cramped for the appliances but what do you expect, it’s 800 sq. ft.

    • Lawrence
      November 9, 2014, 8:29 pm

      Completed my under 1000 sq ft in spring so don’t have a great deal of heating experience. But so far this year it has dropped into the teens and I have yet to need any heat. I have one mini ductless heat/cooling unit that would normally be found on an RV as I am 100% off the grid and NO stove or fireplace. I’ll be surprised if I use that unit more than a hand full of times over this coming Winter. Never did turn on the cool cycle over the Summer even with many days in the 90s. If your home is well constructed and well insulated just normal everyday living will provide most if not all the heat you will need for a home this size.

      • Keith G
        November 14, 2014, 9:03 am

        Lawrence, where is this house built, and what kind of insulation have you used? It’s hard to imagine that with ~sustained~ cold temperatures this winter, you will not have to use your heater. I’m not sure what kind of life you lead that “normal everyday living” will be sufficient to keep a 1,000 sf house comfortable, but I’d sure like to hear more! Keep us posted through the winter please, as your experiences could be very valuable to others as well. Thanks!

        • Lawrence
          November 14, 2014, 10:42 am

          Keith, I live in East TN about 30 miles West of Knoxville. Example: Overnight it got down to 24 degrees, I have not turned on the heat and the house remains at a comfortable 71 degrees. And that has not fluctuated as I have opened doors etc to let dogs in and out.

          My insulation is sprayed foam on true 2×6 framing. True as I had it milled from trees I took down when the home was being planned. Home is 16×24 living, dining. kitchen, (384 sq ft) a 10×24 sleeping loft (240 sq ft) placed over a carport, a 12×12 hall (144 sq ft), utility and bath section just of the kitchen. In the spring I will complete the planned “U” shape by adding a 16×18 “Sun” room addition and an outdoor bathing area. Steel roof, cisterns for all water needs, solar electric and solar hot water. All lumber came from my property and was milled on site. All products used in the construction and furnishing of the home came from US and/or Canada. In fact told suppliers that I would refuse any product that was not sourced as close to site as possible, this resulted in 90% of construction products coming from within 100 miles. And 85% of furnishings also locally sourced.

          I built the home myself with the help of a retired carpenter and local subs for things like concrete work, electric, plumbing, etc. Never thought that at age 69 I would ever do something like this but it has been loads of fun.

        • Keith G
          November 14, 2014, 11:00 am

          This is incredible, and you’re holding out on us? Sounds like feature-article material to me! Pictures at least! Send ’em to Alex, maybe he can post some here! I’d love to see what you’ve done, especially since I’m 58 myself and contemplating something similar. It’s good to know that it’s not foolish to think about doing something like this at my age, or at least that I’m not the only fool doing it! 🙂

        • Kim
          April 19, 2016, 2:27 pm

          Lawrence, I too would love to at least see the plan for your house. It sounds amazing. My husband and I are counting down the years til we can get our home downsized. We have children in high school for 3 more years. Then, we hope to build or buy a home that sounds like yours. It will probably be build though because I haven’t found anything on the market like that. Lawrence, please share!

        • Wendy
          September 9, 2016, 10:24 am

          Lawrence I am very interested in your experience with having to fight for the right to be off grid. I am planning to do the same in NC and am wondering if it will be difficult. I know your post is 2 years old, but I hope you might see this and respond. Perhaps you could email me at whwerb at hot mail dot com.

    • Karen Blackburn
      December 6, 2018, 2:15 am

      Yes. The first place we rented was 2 bed and was heated by a wood burning stove which heated radiators in the other rooms, the same 2 houses on but this was 3 bed and on 2 levels. This one used gravity feed to hear the radiators but the chimney went up through our bedroom wall and heated the room enough that the radiator wasn’t needed and more often than not we had to open a window. Both these houses were in England and we had a couple of really cold winters. The last was a 3 bed 2 storey house in Ireland and this was heated by an open fire, we burned wood and peat, which again heated the rest of the house, except for the kitchen diner, with radiators. Apart from the kitchen diner (which had a long outside wall with big single glazed windows and a door so it was always cold) the house stayed nice and warm and burning peat means you can bank the fire so it burns warm but slow all night and is easy to clean and use embers to relight first thing next morning. A stove, properly done, can also be banked to burn all night but more often than not the wood would burn through and go out before the morning.

  • Diane Miether
    June 24, 2013, 10:05 pm

    Love, love, love this house. Perfect size for me – actually would be larger than the house I have now (620 sq ft) and on one floor. I have a finished upper floor which I made my bedroom when I first moved here, and a finished basement, but as I grow older, those stairs are not as much fun as they were. But stairs or not, I love my little house. Small houses rock!

  • Keith G
    June 24, 2013, 10:30 pm

    I love the house. It’s interesting; here we are in a “tiny house” forum, looking at a house that’s more than 4 times the size of what typically brings us all here. And it’s not enough! One would need a claw foot tub. Another feels the kitchen is too cramped. And another would require two bathrooms.

    But building/buying/living small means readjusting our ways of thinking about these things, no? Two bathrooms would be “nice,” but is that a must? Consider yourself lucky that you have plumbing. And the appliances too close together? That kitchen is bigger, brighter, and has much more countertop space than what I’ve been living with for 20 years.

    There’s nothing about this house that seems inadequate. It’s downright luxurious. And yet… it’s not enough, for our standard ways of thinking. In order to reap the real benefits of living in a more compact mode, one must erase some of the concepts we’ve been brought up with, and reinvent what we mean by luxury and comfort. A house this size, that’s well designed and well built, is just going to be easier to live in and live with, to clean, to decorate, to heat and to cool, than a larger house would be. You can’t have those same characteristics in a house that’s twice as big. And especially for someone eyeing retirement, those characteristics are worth their weight in gold.

    • cheryl
      June 25, 2013, 1:56 am

      If it was a single commenter wanting the clawfoot tub, more room in the kitchen, and two bathrooms, then yeah, maybe they need a larger house! But since it was three separate people requesting those features, I don’t see the problem? Even a tiny house can have a good-sized tub, if that’s what the owner really wants. And a little more room in the kitchen sounds reasonable, even in a small house. Two bathrooms? Well if you’ve got two people, and you both want your own – why not?

      There’s no need to compromise on features you *really* want, just to go tiny! Figure out what you really want, and design your perfect house around those features.

      • Paul
        May 23, 2014, 4:34 am

        But Cheryl, what you want, and what you need are 2 very different beasts. Do you need 2 bathrooms? And, looking at this from the other half of the planet I am assuming when you say bathroom you are talking toilets. If not, and you mean bathroom as in a bath, then I think you are a victim of affluenza. If you both need to wash at the same time either get a shower with shower heads on either side or get a double (usually spa) bath so you can soak together. But… build another one? This is part of the problem with the States these days. I wanna, I gotta. If so, enjoy paying the man all that extra interest on your house loan. I sure as hell wouldn’t. But, that’s me… the grandson of a Scottish woman married to and Irishman… terrified of spending but too thick to do anything about it… LOL

        • Comet
          December 14, 2014, 10:24 pm

          No; we don’t just WANT two toilets; we NEED two toilets. First off aging and or surgically damaged innards DEMAND such. So–for ME and MINE–we would NEED two. Not two bathrooms; just two toilets. And when you have people to stay over you might just want a seperate or at least a not in demand toilet. There is a huge difference I agree on need vs want; but for some this is a need.

          As to bath tub vs shower–again; it depends very much on the physical needs of the owners. As a handicapped person I would love a tub and shower that I could USE; however right now I have an old tub/shower enclosure that scares the crap outta me EVERY time I clamber in off of a KneeWalker. Yeah—this sucks and is prob not going to change—too much to rip this all out and start again. So I use a bath seat in there and pray eveyr time that I don;t fall–the one-legged have diffferent fears than the rest of the population after all!

          The ledge shown on the shower in this house would be a small issue–I would have it built with a NO barrier curb and of course non-skid tiles or flooring. That way there is no tripping hazard and no barrier to getting a knee walker in there to a bath seat–stuck with THAT for the rest of my life—or a wheelchair.

          And I did like the over hanging sink—even if you don;t need a chair being able to get close to the sink is better esp for short people.

        • Paul
          December 15, 2014, 4:39 am

          Ok, well obviously you “need” 2 toilets. Given your medical issues, then yes you can justify having 2. But my original comment was directed at cheryl. Not that I disagree with your comments. You actually raise a number of valid points, but remember, the internals of a house, this or any other, can be changed to suit the circumstances and wishes of the individual who is buying it (or having it built for them).

          I can see, from your perspective, where an overhanging sink/wash hand basin (that’s what Kiwi’s call ’em) is useful. Especially for one who is in a wheelchair. Personally, I’m not a fan of them, for me personally. Diffr’nt strokes fer difr’nt folks.

    • IdahoLaura
      June 30, 2013, 12:51 am

      With a husband that has Crohn’s and I have various issues with my Multiple Sclerosis, one of which is my bladder. I don’t need 2 full bathrooms but 2 toilets is a necessity. That was one of the things we looked for when we bought this house. It has a small full bathroom and a closet toilet that is just off the mud room. It is handy to have when I have people over looking at my goats cause the husband’s bathroom usually needs cleaning. 😛

      Since I’m new this forum and website, I could be wrong, but what I’ve read so far doesn’t indicate to me that people are wanting to live in a 200 sq ft house. 600-800, to me, is tiny. I lived in one (765 sq ft) and absolutely hated it. It was cobbled together and hard to clean easily. This house would be easy. I got claustrophobic in that house but this one I could really enjoy living in….but not if it was smaller.

  • Dale
    June 25, 2013, 5:32 am

    Though I absolutely LOVE the idea of everything on one floor (climbing ladders is a big deal for someone with severe osteoarthritis of the knees. Can’t even kneel on them – so loft bed is a no-go for me), I’m not fond of the gull wing design either. Here in the Chicago area the snow loads would, at the very least, create rot and possibly break the roof over time!

    If there are more “ranch style” small homes I would love to see them!

  • Dale
    June 25, 2013, 5:36 am

    By the way, I also love the idea if a Japanese soaking tub alongside the shower. Stairs up or down to get in I could handle since there would only be two or three of them.

  • Cahow
    June 25, 2013, 1:46 pm

    We all know that “Everyone Likes Their Hot Dog Dressed Differently..including Not-Dogs”. So, if this were my dream home, these are the adjustments that I’d do, for our lifestyle. It’s an extraordinary design and there’s NOTHING wrong with it, for the original owners. But, this is how I’d “dress my dog.”

    1) Extrapolate the decking system to wrap around from the front door to the back bedroom door. We love sitting outside at our front door when we’re waiting for family/friends to drop by and currently, there’s no room for any chairs. I’d also make the decking system more “organic” in design by incorporating some lovely parabolic curves. Regarding the back bedroom door, I’d use that mini-deck every single morning (weather permitting) to enjoy my pot of coffee/scone. Having a door there, leading to ?????, isn’t inviting. Additionally, having a unified decking system makes for easy maintenance of home/windows/decking.

    2) I’d ditch the wood burning stove. We had one in a log cabin we owned when first married and barely used it except when company came over or it was the holidays. I realize this is highly personal but we just aren’t “that into it”, regarding those ballyhooed “roaring romantic fires.” Stone me if you wish. 😉 Instead, I’d use the vast square footage that the wood stove sucks up and use that for a dedicated dining room table that we own. It was my Gran’s and is 7 years shy of being a certifiable antique; we are regular users of a dining room table for our daily meals.

    I have extreme sciatica from a 1985 car accident so it’s almost impossible for me to sit on bar stools at counters; within 10 minutes my left leg becomes SO numb, I can’t stand and lose my balance. So, I’m understandably not a fan of bar stools. My kids enjoy them, so that bit would stay, to humour them. 😉 But, when it’s mealtime, they MUST sit at the table for family time.

    3) Radiant flooring! The way to go, for us! If it wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to install it at our aged cottage, we would. But, it’s too old and fragile for that upgrade. If I were building from scratch, I’d have a dedicated storm shelter installed under the house and radiant flooring. Of the 4 friends we have that have that feature, they’d never own a home without it.

    4) Gutters and heated roof for snow. Gotta have it for “Up North”…y’all know where I’m talking about…that place where NONE of you want to live!? (LOL)

    5) Micro Powder Room…somewhere. Too many of the spaces on the floorplan aren’t I.D.’d so it’s difficult to know what’s what. But, an itsy bitsy powder room for multiple use when it’s more than just the two of us.

    Everything else, especially the nook for display, are true gems and keepers!

    And Alex, thanks for giving a “shout out” to my trade when you wrote, “I know I couldn’t have come up with something this nice by myself (without an architect).” I always love when someone hires me and says, “Huh. I NEVER would have thought of that!” That’s right, tootsie…THAT’S why you hire a professional! 😉

  • Su
    June 25, 2013, 3:42 pm

    Love this house, but I don’t see any info regarding purchasing this house. How do I find that?

    Thanks,
    Su

    • Keith G
      June 25, 2013, 6:08 pm

      Su, If you’d read the article, you’d understand that it’s not for sale.

    • Paul
      December 14, 2014, 4:16 pm

      Sue, you can order the plans so you can have your own version of this house… I posted a link further up the page. If you wanted to have architectural modifications then I would suggest purchasing it in the format that allows changes with a CAD programme. And yes, it is the most expensive option… but, cheaper than getting an architect to copy from a pdf and do the extensions/modifications from that. Sometimes spending money actually saves money. In the long run.

  • Tracy
    June 26, 2013, 2:27 am

    WOW!!! I LOVE this house! I would be interested in knowing how much it cost to build. I currently own about 4 acres in rural Arkansas and this house would be PERFECT! 🙂

    • Omnomnom
      August 7, 2013, 1:53 am

      The original article state $270 per square foot. So, around $216000.

      • Eric
        April 21, 2016, 12:29 am

        That $216000 most likely would have included the architect’s fee for consultations and designing the house.

  • -billS
    June 26, 2013, 2:20 pm

    Love the layout. Finally a semi-tiny home my wife said she could live in. A few things I note. For an “aging couple” I could see the access to the home an issue. Sure the house is staged for a photo op, but the simple addition of hand rails would make sense to me. Another issue is climate. If the area is prone to snow and ice in the winter, the raised deck would be the first to freeze. Very slippery. And with winds, the openness could result in a search for lost deck furniture. The addition of a shed for such items when out of season would be nice. And in the same style as the house. But of course, there is the issue of parking. The older I get, I love to have my car covered. And an aged couple may not want to scrape windows every time they leave on an errand. I realize this is on a tiny house site and most would find my recommendations excessive, but if the goal is to reduce I think we can still do that with a garage. I’m not sure what’s up with the sand side yard. I think it would be an invite for every cat in the neighborhood to visit. I would like to see some sort or rain barrel or cistern as the sloped roof is a great way to collect rainwater. Could be used for wastewater to operate the toilets and water the garden. I could definately see myself if a place like this. With little effort this could be 100% ADA complient. I imagine a group of these with no vehicle access in the immediate area, ramps in place of stairs and an awesome bunch of blue-hairs riding rascal scooters from one home to the other. Lots of little square foot gardens spread around. A true retirement commune. Love it!

    • Sally
      August 3, 2013, 9:11 pm

      Scooter races!!!! All right!

    • Paul
      May 23, 2014, 4:58 am

      Actually, this house is on a 2.1 acre site… which it shares with an original house, a shed, gazebo and a barn.

      Feel free to download the pdf file that shows this house in some ways better than what is on this page.

      Depends on “your” definition of ageing. But there is a parking pad on the side of the house… and it would be very easy, and cheap to construct a covered car port there. Heck do it right and you could easily sneak in covering on the sides later and not have to pay the extra permit costs. Not that I’m advocating anything illegal. Just sneakiness ok?

      Forget the square foot gardens, Mittlieder gardens, only way to go… and I’ll fight anyone with a soggy newspaper who says different : P

  • June 26, 2013, 4:32 pm

    It’s beautiful, though a bit too big for me. I wonder about the raised ceilings-depending on the location, I think it would be more difficult to heat in the winter. And I’m surprised they didn’t include at least one ramp so that they would have easier access as they age. I love the colors and the wood, though, and agree that the plan would be just the right size for some.

    • Cahow
      June 27, 2013, 3:27 pm

      Mary wrote: “And I’m surprised they didn’t include at least one ramp so that they would have easier access as they age.”

      Mary, speaking as a builder, we can put a handicap ramp onto a home in one afternoon. Same goes for safety bars in bathrooms; a couple of hours, max. Bearing that in mind, I think they just might be waiting UNTIL they need it; it could be a good decade or longer before either or both require bars or ramps.

  • Eva
    June 26, 2013, 9:46 pm

    If 800-1200 square feet is a tiny house, I guess I’ve already got mine. It’s interesting to see what the average American thinks they need in terms of square feet these days. My co-workers would never think of living in less than 2500-3000. That’s too much to dust and clean for me! I’d be very happy to see more buying options for smaller houses for sure.

    • Cahow
      June 27, 2013, 3:35 pm

      Hi, Eva. I’ve learned that the Tiny House Community is just like that famous ice cream chain: 31 Flavours…something for everyone!!!! 🙂

      Some like it micro. Some like it mini. Some like it moderate. And some like it “big”, which is a relative term, to be sure. As you mentioned, your co-workers think 800 sq.ft. is too small; same goes for my friends. They are all still in their 2,000-3,000 sq.ft. homes and God Bless them for that! Many also have even larger vacation homes in other states and I say “Bless Them for that, too!” These folks are certainly doing their part to keep the local economy alive and well and happy, in usually very poor economic areas.

      We went from a 2,800 sq.ft. home to an 800 sq.ft. home and it’s the perfect size for us Empty Nesters. It’s a 3 bedroom cottage from the ’20s and sleeps 8, actually: our master bedroom, a wee 8’x 8′ room with bunkbeds, a fold out sofa that sleeps two and the office which sleeps two more. When the whole kith and kin come to visit, there’s a bunch of wonderful cheap tourist motels up and down our highway that the kids and their kids can stay at…they have heated pools! Yeah!

      If everyone who comments at Alex’s site can keep this in mind: “One size tiny house does NOT fit all”, then we can all stay happy campers. 🙂

      • Paul
        May 23, 2014, 5:05 am

        Hear hear. Let’s all be happy campers.

        Remember folks, that if everything was the same it’d be a boring old world, and everybody is different, which is why they should all be treated the same. That is, with respect.

  • Onnyx
    June 27, 2013, 1:45 pm

    I’m new to the site and over the last couple weeks the tiny homes on landscaping trailers have me wondering…and saying, NO Way! I just don’t think I could do it. However, the small house design is exquisite INSIDE. I’m a Northerner so snow, ice, sleet and rain is all too often an issue, thus I agree with other writers that the gull wing is not “just right” for our weather dilemma. Please keep the small house theme rolling, I’m ready to leave 3000 sq feet, since my wife has passed away and my sons are off to build their own lives. I also have a 24×40 barn that could make a sexy conversion to a small apartment and seeing what others have done would be helpful. I’m an old timer also and bday #53 is just around the corner, so one floor design is appealing. The website is a joy and I always look forward to seeing emails from Tiny House. Keep up the great work…thanks…~a

    • IdahoLaura
      June 30, 2013, 1:13 am

      Onnyx, you’re just a youngster! Next month I turn 62. Most days I don’t feel my age…my registered dairy goats keep me busy and young. However, my 73.5 y/o husband’s dementia can really make me feel all of my age and then some.

      I have friends that had a LARGE barn and they put a small apartment in it for hired hands that helped out during calving and harvesting their wheat. When I lived near them, I was in my 40’s and able to climb the stairs to get to it. If I were to do one, I’d put it on ground level now.

  • LouAnn Gurske
    June 28, 2013, 11:42 am

    As an interior designer, a home should be built around a person’s lifestyle, needs and personal preferences. That is what makes it “home”. This home is beautiful. However, I would have a concern for snow load build-up in some areas of the roof if this house was build in snow country. There are a lot of poorly designed under 1200 square foot house plans out there and also a lot of really good ones but it takes a lot of digging to find them. I am currently in the final stages of research and hoping to publish a book of well designed small homes that I have collected over the past four years. In the next month or so, I will be contacting the various builders and architects for permission to include their homes. The time is right for a small homes to shine and be noticed. They are more affordable and needed.

    • Sally
      August 3, 2013, 9:07 pm

      Good luck to you with your book. I enjoy the few that are already out there, like Susan Susanka, and the old classics. I also had a issue with the snow-load, and the proper siting of those wind-funnel doors in a rainy environment. I lived very comfortably in a 800 square foot house for years, with pets and kids, and wish I had not foolishly parted with that paid-for place. Best wishes on your writing project, and hurry!!!

  • Cahow
    June 28, 2013, 1:51 pm

    Erik wrote: “I don’t know Alex. That title- “A small house that feels BIG”. (?)
    Suggests that a Big house is desirable.
    You’re kind of kicking the Blog in the shins there, don’t you think.”

    I understand what Alex is doing, Erik: he’s offering future tiny home owners CHOICES and I applaud his actions. ANY subject that has the *stink* of ZEALOT is one that I avoid like the plague!!! I no more want to hear from a Zero-Car Zealot about how I should run my 17 man construction crew from the back of bicycles than I want to be vilified for needing/wanting: flush toilets; more than 100 sq.ft.; on the grid; etc.

    If this site ONLY featured self-sustained, 100 sq.ft. “potting sheds” located on dirt roads in the hills of XYZ, I, for one, would NEVER have stayed, as I’m sure many other future lover’s of tiny homes would exit stage right, too. Someone taking over 10 medications with two replaced knees might also be turned off on considering a tiny home if it ONLY means hauling pails of water up from the well and chopping your own wood. I heartedly support Alex’s “shot-gun” approach to Thinking Small: whether that be a 100 sq.ft. “off the grid” home to the above 800 sq.ft. home and everything inbetween. Those homes that I resonate with, I comment upon. Those homes that I think “What a hot mess!”, I don’t waste time commenting upon. Even the off the grid website I’m a member of has a wide range of members from dug-outs (it’s true!) to people who are semi-grid and they are all welcome, as are their comments.

    Again, it’s about Choice. Going from 3,000 sq.ft. to 800 sq.ft. is quite radical for some folks and they are to be encouraged in downsizing, not mocked for going less than extreme. Same goes for the Millennials who are moving out of Mum & Dad’s house into a home on wheels to reduce debt: you wanna move into a trailer vs a dorm? Good for you!

    If anything, by Alex being so broadminded in his approach, he directly influences a much larger and lasting ‘age/physical ability’ paradigm than if his scope was limited to the “Under 40 /Occupy Wallstreet/ Hemp Wearers” (which is many folk’s opionions of those interested in tiny houses, NOT mine!)

    What must be factored INTO a person’s sq.ft. needs, Erik, is 1) Size of immediate family; 2) Size of extended family; 3) Home Office?; 4) Hobbies; 5) Group activities (church/special interest) that would come to the home; 6) Disabilities and so on and so forth. For instance, both my husband and I own companies and need separate offices. Our immediate family expands to TWELVE plus us, so that’s 14 people that come for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I could care less if someone can jam 27 P.B.R. drinking friends into 100 sq.ft. (like the old phone booth jamming of yore)…I want my friend/family to have a cozy, comfortable relaxing place to visit when they come over. We are also the “Memory Keepers” of both families, meaning that my husband and I are in charge of the family heirlooms that matter so much to some. They are already listed in our wills and the kids all know “who gets what”; you need sq.ft. if you have antiques to pass along! Not so much if milk crates + alley finds are a person’s decor. (and Yes!, I’ve had that life, too, when in my teens.)

    Based on the sheer volume of positive comments about this home, I feel Alex “hit it out of the ball park” on this posting. 🙂 Those that don’t agree can just wait for his next blog email and that choice may be more to their liking. 🙂

    • La Segunda
      July 1, 2013, 8:30 am

      Erik’s comments pretty much reflect my feelings.

    • Alex
      July 1, 2013, 9:49 pm

      Thanks Cahow. And thanks Erick for expressing yourself but it came off as hateful and you reminded me of a bully I used to know so I just had to delete it.

      This is an open place where we should all feel comfortable sharing our opinions and thoughts in a friendly, non pushy, manner. Nobody likes having religion, ways of living, etc shoved down their throats.

      And I won’t have it here. Please be friendly or do not bother to comment because I will just delete it. So you’re better off if you would write in a journal or go yell into a pillow. Or write a blog post or make your own YouTube video about how you feel?

    • Sandi B
      April 19, 2016, 10:33 pm

      Hi Cahow — always enjoy reading your comments, short, long or in between. I fully agree with what you said — I do not think I saw Erik’s comment, but I say each to their own and it is different for everyone — some of these places on here while cute are just way to small for me. I need some elbow room and a big kitchen and decent bath. So I am in full agreement with what you had to say. Enjoy the show, comment on the positive and leave major negativity out of it! It is all good in some manner, shape, or form.

  • laylas
    June 28, 2013, 7:59 pm

    I’ve never seen 800 sf look so big and beautiful. Love the shower and whole layout.

  • Debbie Kocian
    July 10, 2013, 4:17 pm

    Hi,

    I love this house for a retirement house. I need to downsize in the next few years and would like to find out how much this house would cost to build. The only thing I would change is to not have a wood stove (and is there a utility room?)

    Thank you,
    Debbie

    • Paul
      March 22, 2014, 4:09 am

      There is indeed a utility (or in the plans mechanical) room. It’s that funny little room on the left of the floor plan with the door opening out.

  • Tommy M
    July 24, 2013, 2:44 pm

    I like the idea of America building smaller. Most of us suffer obesity, and many times it could have been avoided if we just went outside more. I enjoy the outdoors, and decks are a good way to spark that.

    • Paul
      May 23, 2014, 5:13 am

      OMG, I just had this vision of grabbing a can of beer, opening it, moseying out to the deck and lounging in a deck chair. Mmmm, don’t think “that” is a good way to overcome obesity… and yes, I have a sick twisted sense of humour.

  • Katie
    July 29, 2013, 10:22 am

    Are there any plans for a tiny house or small house for families with children? I have three children and love the idea of a house like this one especially with all the outdoor living space. I’d much rather take up my land space with a garden and some animals and some bee hives than the place where we sit and eat and sleep. Thanks! This house is amazing.

  • Sally
    August 3, 2013, 9:01 pm

    Cahow, my friend, I’m surprised you didn’t catch this :-). The one BIG mistake that makes this unsuitable for us “mature” creatures is the total lack of railings anywhere. Bad knees, bad hips, or trying to tote a squirming grandbaby up even a few steps without a railing is a very bad idea. While the multi-levels are enchanting to look at, they are potential hip and ankle-breakers . I worked in Ortho at a hospital for years, and once someone starts falling, its the beginning of the end of independence. Stairs are pure H— and unsafe for most people after a certain age. While lovely inside, the lack of a railing could even be against code in some areas.
    I would also have to make sure those wind funneling doors did not face west, or they would have to stay closed the entire rainy season here in Florida. Not sure how they would handle a snowload, either, with that focus of weight right at the entry. The setting is very pretty, but I think the exterior design needs some work before it’s truly safe and usable for people of any age.
    P.S. Been away for awhile but good to see the regulars and their wisdom.

    • Cahow
      August 3, 2013, 9:36 pm

      Hi, Saucy Sally! You’ve been missed! Comments have been sparce on most of Alex’s postings as of late; I think everyone’s on holiday and having a keen time! Or, Scooter Racing…whee-e-e-e-e-e-e! 😉

      I didn’t miss the railings feature! I talked about it much further up the comments. I mentioned how as the couple aged, they could get their contractor to come in and in one single day, install grip bars in all the bathrooms/decking. Also, you mentioned “multi-levels” but the only elevation change I can see in the photos are a marble “lip” at the entrance to the shower. With the nicely tended garden in the first picture, I believe this couple has a good 10+ years before ramps and bars come into play.

      This is my guess based on my rapidly aging client base, where some of my customer’s have been with me for close to a quarter of a century. We met when they were barely 50 and now most are well over 70 y.o.
      1) Of those clients who’ve had hip/knee replacements, we’ve already installed ALL the railings and bars necessary, including booster seats on the loo. All rugs that could slide or slip have been removed with sturdy rubber mats (talking kitchen/bath areas). So far, NONE of these folks are using anything but a cane; no walkers and no wheel chairs. When the time comes for that extreme, they’ll need to sell their homes as they are historic and coding won’t allow elevators.
      2) The clients that still need no additional assistance are talking about it. They realize that the sand is slipping out of the hour glass at an ever increasing amount. They’ve already got me giving them quotes on retrofitting the necessary steps listed above and “which” option would be best for them: sell NOW, while they can still get around very well and move into a “flat-landers” home or stick it out and see how they fair.

      This is the problem: my client base all lives in Lincoln Park. It’s an area of Chicago known for it’s being walkable for every need possible: cobblers; restaurants; groceries; dry cleaners; lake front; zoo, etc. Over half of my client’s have NO CAR; they ditched it years ago because of walking/taxis/buses/elevated train. They also have 100% of their friends living in this area; family is scattered around the globe in most cases. So, as one poor dear expressed, in order to live in Lincoln Park as a handicapped senior, she’d need to move to a high rise to get a flat floor, and she LOATHES high rises and all their silly nonsense! Her friends are aging right along with her so they are NOT going to be taking a bus or cab ride out to the suburbs (which they all believe “There Be Dragons!” that live out there.)

      So, the urban senior is really screwed. Leave all your support system behind for one level living or move into a high rise after you’ve had a single family home and garden, and hate it’s existance. I guess I’ll find out what everyone’s going to do as they continue to be both friends and customers.

      • Sally
        August 4, 2013, 3:49 pm

        Oh yeah, I blew it. I now see where you and several other people commented on the railings and other access issues. I plead heat exhaustion.

        In the second picture down, from the “dirt yard” side, those little step-downs on the decks were what I questioned. My 80 y.o. Mom could manage it with a cane for balance. My 82 y.o. Dad would forget about the drop-off if he were focused on a grandchild in trouble in the yard. Neither could manage carrying anything with no railing. They are still in their own two-story home, living downstairs, on flat property.
        I love multi-levels (remember how a “sunken living room” was so classy circa 1968?) but now that I’m at the ankle-twister age, Flat has become attractive. Living in a flood zone and grandfathered-in, our house is WAY up. It’s twelve steps up to the front porch, and eight to the back because of the slope. We’re still fit, but are forced to look at options. I’ve already fallen once and broke my foot (yeah, duh, even with railings) and getting a refrigerator up those steps was pure H–.
        An elevator’s too pricy, and a scooter race ramp would have to be a good 100-ft long to get from a parking place in the flat pasture to the back door, but it would beat leaving here. I love my big trees and chickens and the starry sky at night. I understand now why the Eskimos go find a floating ice floe when it’s time. Who wants to end their days in a blasted hospital room?

        It’s great that you can help people stay in their homes. Your info about the people forced to leave a familiar habitat because of their aging issues hit hard. A good friend recently had to leave her beloved lake house because of her unmanageable husband’s failing conditions. Three months ago, they moved to an adult community where she has amenities, instant help and hospitals, but as she says, it isn’t “home.” She’s only 65, and this has been very depressing for her. My heart aches for your Lincoln Park clientele. I hope they can stay put, with your help.

  • Mellissa
    August 5, 2013, 8:11 am

    This would be good except two things: Where is the laundry? Where do I put all my books?

    • di
      September 15, 2013, 11:43 am

      Try Compact Appliance online for a 24″ under-counter fridge, stove, dishwasher or combination washer/dryer.

      With a handheld computer, you may be able to discard books and media.

      • Mellissa
        September 16, 2013, 9:12 am

        I’ve also found a really neat washer were you turn a crank to wash laundry. I already don’t use a dryer so no probs there. The books though I don’t think I could sacrifice. I love the feel of a book and my hands and the treasure hunt of looking up a word in the dictionary or encyclopedia. You miss all the delightful finds you weren’t looking for when you use a computerized system.

        • Paul
          March 22, 2014, 4:25 am

          I hear you on the books… but, for me, being inherently lazy, my kindle has been a book in that I can instantly look up words that I don’t know the meaning of.

          Be careful with those crank handle washers like the Wonderwash (TM). Now, truly, they do work, but… and it’s a big BUT, the crank handle and socket it fits on to is plastic and tends to pull away. Had one myself and “if only” they made to socket mechanism of metal and the fitting on the handle it would have been freaking awesome. Alas, for the sake of saving a dollar or two it is in fact a mediocre product. Which is a crying shame coz it had/has enormous potential.

        • Paul
          March 22, 2014, 4:27 am

          Oops… my bad. my kindle has been a book should have been: my kindle has been a boon

          Proofread Paul. Proofread, Proofread!

    • Paul
      March 22, 2014, 4:18 am

      Hey Mellissa, the laundry is right next to the bathroom/shower on the left going in. It has a sliding door to minimise noise to the body of the house.

      Where do you put all your books? Well, how many do you have…? and, do you need all of them or are they just decoration filling up bookshelves? And I’m not trying to offend you there, heck, I’m a packrat of sorts too… : )

  • August 5, 2013, 4:36 pm

    Really nice design! Getting a bit older I would go for a 1 story house, a problem with most tiny houses. I would never go for a sleeping loft, 1 slip and bam, time to go to the ER. Nice open kitchen too with lots of space, a big problem in most tiny houses. I guess “foodies” don’t live in those! Love the light, but I’d want some privacy and lighting control.

    • Judy Moore
      March 21, 2014, 5:59 pm

      Remember ladies that the loft sleeping area could be used for storage of so many different things. Sleeping on a Murphy Bed or pull out couch is all about a good mattress. I totally love these tiny houses, mine will be put on skids and a few cement blocks to keep it high off the ground. Snow here winters is over 200 inches and summer is snakes and skunks. Judy in Northern/West Michigan

      • Paul
        March 22, 2014, 4:30 am

        Even more reason why I love living in New Zealand… just ask movie director James Cameron. He agrees. : )

  • Elisa
    August 19, 2013, 6:06 pm

    Love the openess of it as well as all the exits, deck and porch. There are maybe a couple of things I would change but overall perfect. This is more the size I would want.

  • Michelle Brugiere
    August 26, 2013, 5:03 pm

    great little house!!!!

  • sok mong
    August 29, 2013, 10:37 am

    i am very happy when i am a part of Tiny house i will learn to make small house like them and i want to shard this lesson to other to know and have a nice house i hope that in the future i will have a small beautiful house with my wife . thank you for let me to joy it .

  • Dorothy Janusch
    September 8, 2013, 8:43 pm

    Do tiny houses have plans for 1 000 to 1200 square feet homes?

    • Cahow
      September 9, 2013, 5:54 pm

      Hi, Dorothy. Before everyone had easy access to the internet, you’d have to spend a bloody fortune on home design magazines at the check out. Now, I simply typed “1000 to 1200 sq ft homes” into my *bing* search engine (hitting images) and more floor plans than you can shake a stick at, come up. Pour a glass of your favourite beverage, sit back, drool over the various plans you see and then click on any photos you admire to take you right to the sight. Also, on *bing*, the header will also have suggestions for “1200 sq ft log homes”, “1200 sq ft cottages”, etc. 😀

  • Jerry
    September 16, 2013, 11:25 am

    I’ve been following tiny house blogs and sites for a while, with an eye on building something for myself in the future. But after a lot of long and hard thought I really don’t think I could do “tiny” but “small” is perfect for my needs. Many of the plans with loft bedrooms are lovely but impractical in my opinion, especially for older people. Plus if you have any hobbies that DON’T entirely revolve around a computer, such as painting or other arts/crafts, that requires at least a little extra space for storage at the very least, perhaps even a small dedicated work room.

    If your real life and interests don’t fit into the space you are less likely to live there long-term, which defeats the purpose/idea(l) of downsizing to begin with so you have to be realistic about what you NEED to be satisfied, while discarding what are merely “wants.” (That’s how you end up with a behemoth McMansion!) I think this house is a perfect compromise.

    • Cahow
      September 16, 2013, 6:25 pm

      Jerry: LOVE what you wrote, above. Just wish it wasn’t buried at the bottom of 72 other comments so more people could read what you wrote. I agree 100% with your statements.

  • Robert Haydock
    October 25, 2013, 11:29 pm

    Please sign me up for your newsletter. Thanks

  • Thor
    November 14, 2013, 7:31 am

    Alex, you find the most awesome stuff. Keep that reserved for me please.

    • Alex Pino
      November 14, 2013, 9:09 am

      Thanks Thor! 🙂

  • Kelly Greene
    December 29, 2013, 1:30 pm

    So how does one purchase the plans for the 800 square foot home?

  • stef
    March 9, 2014, 10:33 am

    Great interior ideas

  • judy owens
    March 17, 2014, 4:50 pm

    what is the cost of this floor plan?we love it!

  • Annie
    March 20, 2014, 8:50 pm

    Absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. Hard to believe it’s only 800 sf. Just love it.

  • Rich
    March 20, 2014, 10:27 pm

    First, I am not a builder competing with anyone for a sale. Two aspects of this design which will contribute toward higher first costs are the number of corners that will need to be framed…. I count 14. Do they contribute to more interesting character? Yes. Are they necessary? Not likely.
    The roof also requires many flashing details; I’m not even sure how one would complete the detail at the intersections of the lower and higher shed roofs or repair and maintain them. A simple low gable would provide drama without the hassles.
    There are 3 exterior doors and 8 or 9 interior doors. Also expensive.
    Not impressed.

    • Paul
      March 22, 2014, 4:50 am

      Firstly, omitting the mechanical room door, there are 2 exterior (outward opening) doors, one being the front door and the other being the door from kitchen area to the deck. There is one inward opening door to the deck in the master bedroom, which is what the client wanted.

      The interior of the house has 4 swinging doors, including 1 double door set for the guest bedroom. There is also one sliding door for the washing machine/dryer cupboard.

      There are also doors for wardrobes and guest coat cloakroom.

      Nothing out of the ordinary.

      You comment about the number of corners and question are they necessary? I say yes, simply because it “defines” the house as different rather than just another boring box.

      As for the roof line, well I am sure that the architect knew what he was doing, it is after all built in his locale. It is not a biggie with the flashings and the construction of the “shed” roofs is not complicated at all. Maintenance is not an issue as I have seen numerous houses with this style roof in New Zealand. Never heard of one failing yet… and that is not to say none have, I just haven’t heard of one failing.

      And remember, all things considered, you get what you pay for. And, no one ever regrets buying quality. Might not like the price but you don’t dislike the quality.

  • Sedonagirl
    March 21, 2014, 11:08 am

    Love love it!
    So well done and gorgeous. Love the light and the feeling of space and coziness at the same time.
    I hate to even say… one little thing…but why wasn’t that fridge counter depth? Or at least the space made deeper to accommodate instead of it sticking out like that 🙁
    It’s picky, I know. Slap my hand.

  • Tenderloin
    March 22, 2014, 12:13 pm

    This is a fantastic example of the notion that you can have a spacious, livable, and beautiful home in less than 1,000 square feet. YES, I definitely think the tiny house movement should embrace small-home designs, since they are very much in keeping with the principal ideals of the movement, besides being more practical and acceptable for “regular” folks.

    Please continue to share more “small-home” news!

  • susan
    March 22, 2014, 11:57 pm

    Great design that can accommodate a wide range of people and various needs, and looks like it can be easily “tweaked” to do that. Love the bathtub haters vs. lovers discussions. I personally hate bathtubs-hate the idea of sitting in “dirty” water. And the thought of cleaning them…. I also would need 2 bathrooms if living with someone but it is usually the toilet that is the real issue of needing 2 bathrooms for most. A urinal (and regular toilet/bidet) may make 1 bathroom more do-able. Or a back to back area with 2 toilets and shared shower. The one big change I would do is have the porches/outside area screened as that would increase the “livability” area- could sleep out there in summer. Bugs/bees/wasps/flies/mosquitoes, etc. can absolutely ruin relaxation, calm or civilized life. I don’t care if they are part of “nature”. That part has to stay out of my space. Would rather share a toilet (I think).

  • Mindy
    March 27, 2014, 6:23 pm

    Wondering what wall color was used throughout the house? We’re in the process of building this home and I like it so much, I’d like to even keep the wall color!

  • Ken
    May 1, 2014, 5:17 pm

    For those concerned about the porch cover draining back to the house… it looks like it drains into a gutter shared with the house itself. I don’t think that dry rot or the other concerns would be an issue.

  • Alva Hanns
    May 4, 2014, 3:04 am

    I can see myself living in a tiny house. In fact, I am in the process of purchasing land so that I can have one built. The biggest reason I am doing it is to rid myself of energy companies that suck up too much of my financial resources. I did the same thing with my car. I purchased a smart car and have literally cut my fueling expenses in half. This just makes good business sense to me.

    • Alex
      May 4, 2014, 11:34 am

      Thanks for sharing Alva!

  • Dominick Bundy
    June 9, 2014, 1:58 am

    WOW! Nice place and layout. I live in 800 sq ft. house. And this place sure looks a lot bigger than my little house..

  • david
    June 10, 2014, 1:05 pm

    I think it looks contrived, inside and out.

  • Elle
    July 2, 2014, 4:24 pm

    This home is the perfect size, has lovely upgrades and wood, BUT. . .
    How much did the house, not land and extras, but the HOUSE alone cost to build. That is the biggest factor here for everyone. It appears to have cost a 1/4 mil. Need a figure, someone, anyone.

  • Tina
    July 8, 2014, 3:47 pm

    I LOVE this open floor plan! I see no reason why you couldn’t have children and live in it-we have lived in an 850SF house for 30 years. We raised three children in it with one bathroom, a dog, numerous cats and we all survived! (Yes, it was a bit tricky when everyone wanted that bathroom!). Now it’s just the two of us and we think it’s too big! So we are remodeling an 1930 chicken coup that is around 300SF, plan on adding a composting toilet, a small sink, a tabletop stove, already have a small fridge and think it will be perfect for us! Maybe we will let the youngest and his family move into the ‘bigger’ house at some point-I’ve gotten rather use to the quiet

  • Michael
    July 17, 2014, 11:51 pm

    Love the design but this house is a wolf in sheeps clothing. The building costs alone would sway most people away from a project like this. $250,000k (before appliances? solar panels? water heating panels?) makes this one expensive 800sq-ft dream home.

  • Karen R
    December 14, 2014, 1:04 pm

    Gorgeous . . .there is space for a second (at least half) bath . . .

  • Comet
    December 14, 2014, 11:12 pm

    For those who skipped the above million useful comments—

    Yes; we know–there are no railings which IS a problem but could easily be added
    Yes we know–there are NO shower bars etc which is a big no-no and SHOULD be there
    Yes–there is NO tub–you can add one
    Yes–WE know—the roof is prob not that good for a heavy snow load area. That is what architects are FOR silly!

    Any other questions?

  • david
    January 9, 2015, 2:48 am

    In 2008, I purchased an 860 sq. ft. home at a 9000 ft. elevation in Manitou Springs, CO. It has a lot of wood, (huge beams running from back to front) a mid-century look (though built in 1982) with triangular windows, flat roof and a built-in Sub Zero fridge. Prior to that, I lived in a 7000 sq. ft house for 5 years. It was an adjustment for sure, but one that was easy for me. Once I tossed excess possessions, I fit right into the lifestyle change. Unfortunately, In 2012, I had to leave the house behind, and return to Louisiana to do the family elder-care thing, which is still on-going. As I have thought about returning to what is paradise for me, I find myself not wanting to make the 20 minute drive from the gate of the neighborhood to the house once or twice a day. The road was described in Ripley’s Believe it or Not column years ago as ‘the crookedest road in North America, and it probably still is. I have a couple of people interested in the house, and I may sell it and try one a bit smaller. Finding your blog, Alex, has made me even more sure that is what I will do. I picture something like this on a creek or river, still in Colorado, and not painted yellow! Thanks for all of the great finds you show to everyone.

    • Alex
      January 9, 2015, 10:49 am

      Thanks David! Let me know if I can help with anything!

  • Toby
    March 18, 2015, 3:40 pm

    How much does this house cost to build? I love the design and the space.Me and my Wife are going to be moving off the grid here in a couple years and this house would be perfect .

  • Jerilyn Atkinson
    March 18, 2015, 5:59 pm

    I was considering a Tiny house when I got a great seal on a 728 sq ft house with detached garage and large covered patio for $18500.
    It has 2 bedroom and the back porch has been closed in for the furnace and and hot water heater and washer dryer.one bathroom. I love my house and the four cats have more room to roam.I still dream of a tiny house.

    • Cahow
      March 18, 2015, 6:13 pm

      Congratulations, Jerilyn!!!! I’m very happy for you and you are right: that amount of land + house for $18,500 is fantastic!

      And despite some Nay-sayer’s, your home is SMALL and that’s “good enough”. We went from 2,800 to 800 sq.ft. with NO need to apologize nor justify our needs to anyone. Both my husband and I run our own companies so we need two home offices (and I’m NOT talking about a measly laptop on our lap, either!) but full blown office with drafting boards, file cabinets, fax machines + printers, etc. Plus, we have a large family at hand and many friends who want to visit and stay the night. A 100 sq.ft. tiny house would NOT work out for us; 800 sq.ft. is perfection for OUR lifestyle.

      Again, best of luck to you and I’m doing the Happy Dance in honour of your new home! <3

    • Sally
      March 18, 2015, 7:52 pm

      Jerilyn, Enjoy your new place and all that money you’ll save! You won’t be bumping your knees or having to twist and turn from the kitchen to the bathroom and all that fun stuff in an 8-ft. -wide tiny house.

      I am not sure when Some Forces started insisting on defining a “true Tiny House.” Do they mean only the cute ones pass muster? Is it limited to a certain width or square footage? Are certain fixtures not allowed? Are points given if you can cram a dishwasher in it?

      I really hate to see a great idea/movement deteriorate into a set of rules instead of individual choice. We have room on here to enjoy Lloyd Kahn’s original concept of home and building, along with Deek’s great recycled shelters, and Jay’s rolling homes. Which one we choose to live in is indeed an individual choice, and we can also freely bicker on here about what we would change on the ideas presented here.

      I’m glad to see younger people picking up where the old hippies left off, and hopefully not get tied to a crippling mortgage young in life.
      And it is now also okay for us old hippies to admit we want more room for our bad knees and weaving looms and sewing machines than 120 sq. ft. will allow.
      Good for you and your cats on a great deal. I wish you many years enjoying your home.

      • Cahow
        April 9, 2015, 6:54 pm

        Hi, Sally! I don’t know how I missed this fantastic post of yours! All of your thoughts are SO bang on.

        And YOU have a loom, too? What kind? I own a Harrisville 36/8 Floor Loom for 30 years now. I’ve lost count of the amount of scatter rugs and scarves I’ve woven throughout the decades. LOL

        Oh, and I decidedly qualify for a badge from ‘The Old Hippie Club’. Do we have a Secret Handshake? And of course, we must ALL spin a tall tale of being one of the rarefied individuals who actually attended Woodstock. ~snort~

  • Shar
    March 18, 2015, 7:13 pm

    have been living in less than 400 sq ft for 18 years and wouldn’t change for anything.

  • janis
    March 18, 2015, 8:39 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE this house; ever since I saw it at houseplans.com. I could easily live in it.

  • Tina
    March 18, 2015, 9:47 pm

    Love love this house design. Whats the room with the frosted doors? Is it another bedroom? Dont see a place for a washer/dryer. Id like to see the room measurements.

  • Gerald
    March 19, 2015, 1:13 am

    The only change I would add is another door into the bathroom in order to give the master bedroom its own access. Otherwise it’s a terrific design.

  • vickie
    March 19, 2015, 3:17 pm

    That’s beautiful and just the right size for a couple or single person, who also wants room for company.
    I love open floor plans and lots of wood. I, also, love a lot of light. Our home is larger than that one, but we have a lot of windows, which I love. The bathroom is functional but elegant. I like the new style of showers – lots of room, walk-in with no doors and drain on the floor. There is nothing more irritating than trying to clean shower doors and with tracks.
    This has to be one of my favorite designs!

  • Steven Odom
    April 10, 2015, 12:45 am

    Love the house. Too bad it would 180k to build in the Austin, TX area.

  • Ava
    June 13, 2015, 7:00 am

    Love the little river road house. Can’t wait to see more like it!

  • EK
    July 21, 2015, 6:22 pm

    Holy crap! $216,000.00 for this?!?

    800 sf X $270.00 per sf

  • Nicole
    September 11, 2015, 8:38 pm

    We lived in a 800 square foot house with our four kids. This house seems downright luxurious if intended for only two people!

  • Mike
    October 24, 2015, 7:14 pm

    where can I go to see this house. I need to see it before I would build it.

  • Mike
    October 24, 2015, 7:17 pm

    where can I see this home already built

  • Debra Law
    April 19, 2016, 12:10 pm

    I loved it so much that even when the city refused to allow it (too small sq ft. and too unique), I had my architect draw a similar floor plan for the required minimum sq ft (950) and a regular house outside and kept the general inside layout with changes for my build budget. I was able to have it built for $90,000 with a bunch of sweat equity and pre shopping for fixtures.

    • Alex
      April 19, 2016, 12:38 pm

      Hi Debra, that sounds great, I’d love to see it! If you want to send photos/drawings, I’d love getting to see them and maybe re-sharing them here along with your story on how you got it done. Shoot me an email at [email protected] if you want to! Thanks!

    • Emily Kemmann
      July 27, 2019, 1:03 pm

      Hi Debra. I realize this is an old thread, but I was so excited to see that you built something similar for under $100,000! I fell in love with this design, and have been wondering if that would be possible, and what changes I would need to anticipate discussing with an architect and builder in order to stay under $100,000. Would you be willing/able to share pictures and your floorplans? Or any details about changes that you made in building materials and design to achieve this? If so let me know and I’ll give you my info to contact me. Thank you!

  • Trish Dee
    April 19, 2016, 8:39 pm

    I have seen several of this architect’s designs and love them. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford one.

  • Charles gray
    May 29, 2016, 4:46 am

    As designer of homes in have hundreds of 600 to 900 livable but simple ready to market. This is a fantastically thought out,if somewhat lavish home I certainly can appreciate. Much thought and love Shows in its design. Very well done.

  • Leona
    August 10, 2016, 10:43 pm

    We are beginning to transition to retirement, so 800 sf looks very nice to me. We currently own a 4,000 sf home in which we have our businesses, and a summer place which is a 400 sf park model. After a week there, it feels great to go back to elbow room, but I think that 800 is something I could live in full time. Thank you for sharing this beautiful property.

  • September 6, 2016, 3:07 pm

    I’m with you Alex, glad to see more small and simplified homes. My wife and I have designed and are building one ourselves right now on our rural property in East Texas. We decided that for our own comfort, small worked better than tiny, so our 2-story 2BR/1 bath is about 750 sf. Then there’s the generous screened porch which will add nearly 400 sf of living/lounging space – at least during the nice days when it’s under 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 🙂 Good on the homeowners for deciding what they needed and building to that mark. Well done!

  • ZACHARY E MOHRMANN
    September 7, 2016, 2:09 am

    Wow….! Lots of comments, here I love it…! This house is probably priced between $200,000.00 and $300,000.00, and I would say it is worth every penny of it… Look at the ceiling alone now this is where a lot of the money has gone, there the flooring and all the wood work throughout the house, hell it’s a post and beam structure…! So yes it does command such a price…! But look what you are getting for your money… Look at the marble bathroom, and I’m sure that the appliances are top of the line as well…! A great house, live well and retire happy and make everyday you live in this house even more special then the day you settled in….! Best of luck…!

  • Jennine
    September 8, 2016, 6:14 am

    I love looking at the clever use of space and yes I do like this house. My only comment is that houses of 75 m2 (800 square feet) are pretty routinely called 3 bedroom family homes here, and no-one mentions the word small. 110 m2 (1184 square feet) is described as a spacious 4 bedroom home. The average here is
    I lived in 62 m2 (two bedroom) for a number of years before trading down to 25m2 (small 1 bedroom sleep-out, nz speak for a partition in the garage). The only problem is moving on back up to the 3 bedroom (it comes with the job), I have no furniture, so it really does feel spacious !
    “1960s, the average New Zealand house size was 128 square metres. More recently, that figure has jumped to over 205 square metres” Of course many of us still live in the “below average sized homes built before 1960 !

  • Donna Rae
    September 8, 2016, 1:43 pm

    Very nice especially for those of us who need more than a really tiny house but still want to downsize. There were a couple of material choices that I would change but that’s up to personal preference. I do have a safety issue and that is the wood burning stove smack in the middle of the room. Probably okay for people who don’t have children but even for them, having it in the middle limits how many ways you can arrange the room. If that patio cover was angled to match the roof line, you could put even more solar panels on it…and it would look better, too, but again, that’s personal preference. Overall it’s well done.

  • Donna Rae
    September 8, 2016, 1:49 pm

    I forgot to mention that it is nice that it is all on one story. The lofts in the tiniest of homes are not accessible to everyone. Ah, to be young again!

  • Elizabeth B Moore
    September 8, 2016, 8:19 pm

    I doubt anybody will be reading this since it’s waaay back in the caboose but I’m a writer and I’m going to have my say!
    I really like this floorplan and I will be saving it. But we have to remember that it IS a plan and when/if you build it you will make the changes that suit you. I knew the minute I looked at it that it was too much wood for me — maybe just the ceiling and floor for me. I didn’t care for the curvy thingy in the bathroom so I would just have the big shower. I might make the second bedroom (my office) a little smaller and the utility room a bit bigger for storage. Both of my grown children and families live nearby so I really don’t need a guest room — a sofa/bed will take care of the odd drop-ins. My friends also live close by. See what I mean? A plan like this just means to me a terrific place to start designing and building a house just for me. The cost to build here in the south would be half of the quoted price from both some changes I’d make and from our snow-less topography.

    Alex, thanks so much for occasionally offering the bigger tiny homes. The 800-1000 sq.ft. home plan I’m looking for seems to be popular with so many. So you youngsters please just be proud of us oldsters who too are trying to downsize (I’m currently in 1850 sq.ft. which is way down from where I started!) And Alex, keep ’em coming.

  • Brendan Dillon
    September 8, 2016, 8:31 pm

    Impressive how big a good fisheye lens can make a tiny space look.

  • Dianne
    September 16, 2016, 5:20 pm

    Love love love this tiny house.

  • Kathy Handyside
    November 2, 2016, 10:57 pm

    I’m seeing my tiny house dream crashing and burning right now, here in Michigan. I wanted a tiny house in order to lower my cost of living for retirement. Doesn’t seem too much to ask, does it? But so far, all the townships I’ve checked the zoning ordinances for, almost all will not allow a house to be less than 800 square feet. That’s bigger than the house I’m living in right now! I want something smaller but we are not very free when it comes to trying to break free of being held hostage to debt, mortgages, and all the crap that make it impossible to live in this country now. I don’t want to have to move out of state just to be able to live, and people shouldn’t have to. So forget tiny houses – they simply are not a viable option – at least, not in stupid Michigan! I am so disheartened. I suppose I will join the ranks of the homeless because it’s getting too expensive to stay in my current house (because of its age). You’re not even free to do what you want with your own land. It’s unconscionable, people being forced into more home than they want or can afford.

    • Natalie
      November 3, 2016, 9:41 am

      I’m sorry Kathy — it’s very, very difficult! We need tiny homes to be more accepted all over the US! — Tiny House Talk Team

  • Linda
    November 20, 2016, 10:24 pm

    I love the “house” but it’s too big to be called a “tiny house”! It is built really nicely, lots of room and great for a couple who are retiring! But, I would LOVE to have a 200ft. plan for myself! In this 8oo ft. plan, there is way too much wasted space! If there is no loft you realy don’t need all that space or the expense! Thank god, we are all so different because it shows how versatile we all are! It really is a beautiful home and I hope they love every nook and cranny! It is got class and it will be great to have people over and have all that space to not be too squeezed in!
    Thanks for the chance to see it and I’ll be looking for more “small homes” but “tiny homes” is where my heart is!
    Thanks again!
    Linda

    • Natalie
      November 23, 2016, 8:21 am

      Yes Linda, it’s about twice the size of “tiny,” but that’s why I filed it away as a “small” house (which we have a whole section on, for folks who want to downsize but aren’t quite ready for 200 sq. ft. 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team

  • Kathie
    November 22, 2016, 2:25 pm

    What is the room at the back of the house, to the left of the bathroom, with the frosted glass doors? The bedroom to the right of the bathroom. There is no photo or mention of that other room.
    Thank you.

    • Natalie
      November 23, 2016, 8:22 am

      From the looks of the floor plan it’s just a second bedroom 🙂 — Tiny House Talk Team

  • Rob
    January 15, 2017, 4:24 pm

    Really well done…gotta love the stone and glass block shower…tho a tub would be nice also….

    • Natalie
      January 17, 2017, 11:45 am

      I do like a tub option!

  • Joyce
    March 29, 2017, 10:44 pm

    I’ve loved this house from the first time I saw it. I seriously like that there isn’t a bathtub in it; I’ve always hated tubs and the danger factor of them being so hard to get into and out of, and they make for miserable shower stalls. This house is perfect, especially for someone like me, whose children are no longer living (so no visits, I mean; I’d love to have my children alive!), who has no grandchildren, and who cannot climb ladders or stairs easily. I wouldn’t want to own it, but do know where I’d like it, and who would be my ideal landlord, and I’d very happily pay that man and his wife a fair rent. Sweet little place, this.

    • Natalie C. McKee
      March 30, 2017, 8:41 am

      So sorry about your children, Joyce. I’m glad you liked this home.

  • COLLEEN ORTIZ
    April 8, 2017, 8:15 pm

    This is a beautiful house! There is such a need in communities for unique neighborhoods full of homes just like this one and many different reasons to purchase something this size. Builders just keep making them bigger and bigger. People are concerned about the size of their footprint or have other reasons for a small home; just starting out, widowed, elderly, empty-nesters, or those who want to spend less on a home and more on life. The reasons go on and on.

    • Natalie C. McKee
      April 10, 2017, 5:07 am

      I completely agree Colleen!

  • sirena green
    November 30, 2017, 6:01 pm

    this is my favorite small home that i have seen!

  • Mary
    December 1, 2017, 10:57 am

    I would like this house with some changes to the shower
    since I wouldn’t be able to reach that high (bad knees/use
    walker/crutches). In my area a house or mobile has to be at
    least 644 sq. ft. to be able to get the homestead exemption so
    this one is definitely OK. Beautiful!

  • Rebecca
    June 12, 2018, 4:58 pm

    What does the pricing look like say on the 800sq ft?

  • David Michael
    December 5, 2018, 12:42 pm

    Just talked with architect. The house today, exclusive of land price, would be about $300 per sq ft or about $240,000. Plans cost about $800.
    Acting as general contractor could reduce costs about 20% is my best guess.

  • Lauranna Pridham
    July 29, 2019, 4:52 pm

    CAHOW are you still out there? I miss your comments and wonder if these comments here are new ? or recycled?
    just wanting you to know you have made an impact and others are missing you 2.

  • e.a.f.
    March 11, 2020, 3:28 pm

    Putting a door in your bedroom, to the outside is a great idea, as you age or have mobility issues. if you have to get to the “front door” to escape a fire or earthquake, etc. you’ll never make it if you use a cane, walker, walk slowly. Sibling has had doors in their bedroom in the past 3 houses.

    Both this house and the next, 720 sq. ft. home, are great and adequate for many us as we age or simply don’t want a large home because its more to clean. As many people retire they are on fixed incomes. Having a smaller house, cuts costs on property taxes, heating, electricity, clean, etc. Both the homes make it easy to “age in place”. Walk in showers are another feature which is good to have when you want to age in place. If standing becomes an issue, you can simply add a chair or stool made of teak. Walk in showers are also good when you develop Parkinsons. Walk in showers also provide room for your walker.

  • Peter Tower
    March 13, 2020, 9:31 am

    I have loved this design for years and endlessly pored over the plan’s sightlines, which is what makes it, seem spacious. I saw no mention of the second bedroom which is the same size as the master, albeit without bathroom access. Lovely design! The couple have sold it a few years ago.

  • Maggie
    March 14, 2020, 11:07 am

    Perfect!

  • GildaRose MacTyre
    May 9, 2021, 3:56 pm

    I adore this house.

    I had not paid much attention to the tiny house trend until recently and was shocked at how wonderful the are and so many designs. Amazing. It is the perfect size for me and my dogs.

    This design is my favorite so far. I immediately saw my self living in this space!

    Time to start making solid plans!

    • Natalie C. McKee
      May 10, 2021, 2:24 pm

      Best of luck with all your planning!

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