Guest Post – How I Built the Cutest DIY Cargo Trailer (aka Micro Cabin) Ever

This project was done as a way to quickly and inexpensively enclose my 6’x10′ utility trailer to protect my cargo during transport to the Blue Ridge Mountains where I would start building my own tiny cabin. So I figured, “why not make it cute and practical at the same time?” I bought the trailer new and then built the enclosure around it for about $400 in materials and about a month of labor on my spare time.

I built it on the fly with no plans since it was only intended to keep the rain off my stuff and allow me to lock it up at night. If I hadn’t used reclaimed materials for much of it, I could have finished it a lot faster. But because I used reclaimed materials it took a lot of creative manipulation to make it all work.

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Micro Cabin Cargo Trailer Built for Move to Live Simply

Images © Barbara Diaz

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Just for fun I thought you might like this 64 sq. ft. micro cabin that is actually used as a sauna.

Yes, a sauna, but in Finland and other places in Europe having a sauna outside is a social thing.

The architects designed it for a client who wanted it during the winter months because it’s great after a sweaty run or after jumping in icy cold lake water. Plus it’s small enough that it can be moved on a sledge.

I’m thinking this would make a great private space for reading/writing/meditation? But if designed right, this micro cabin could even make the perfect tiny living space. Let’s take a look.

Mobile Micro Cabin in the Woods

Images: Tiina Tervo

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Guest Post – Garden Reading-Writing Room (Writing Shed)

My wife, finding it hard to write with me under foot, asked if I would built her a place where she could write without distraction. Given our small yard I knew that whatever I built would, by necessity, also need to be small.

I poured a concrete pad (26” x 52”), milled rough redwood 4×4’s and 1″ x 8″ fence boards, laminated copper onto concrete board and pieced together a room, of sorts, that serves the purpose and adds to the yard. I included an outlet and a light which makes the pearl plexiglass glow at night like a large Japanese lantern. In the day time the doors open up to the garden and the sun shines through a clear plexiglass ceiling strewn with marbles.

Awesome Husband Builds Micro Writing Shed for his Wife

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Check out this 350 sq. ft. low-maintenance and virtually indestructible modern cabin on stilts with steel shutters.

The owner’s hired Olson Kundig Architects to build a weekend cabin that could provide them with a rural retreat during their get-aways to Washington’s Olympic National Park. Since the cabin would be left uninhabited for weeks at a time steel shutters were used to completely enclose and secure the cabin when the owners are away.

As you walk up the stairs to the front door and through a small entry way you will see the bathroom on the left and straight ahead the main living space. The living room is very spacious and open with a dining area and compact kitchen. There is a ladder that leads up to the sleeping loft. The walls, floors and ceilings are lined in timber panels.

A large overhanging roof provides the balcony and windows shade from the natural sunlight. Exterior panels open and close using a custom steel rod with hardware that was originally designed for large barn doors. These steel panels can be opened using a mechanical system of gears, drive shafts and U-joints, which are set into motion by turning a wheel.

It was built using steel and structural insulated panels (SIPs). Most of the cabin was prefabricated off site to help preserve the natural landscaping.

The entire cabin is up on stilts to protect it from occasional floods. The cantilevered roof gives solar shading while protecting the structure from strong storms.

Modern Cabin on Stilts with Steel Shutters

Images: Benjamin Benschneider

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I think you will find this modern polygon cabin interesting. And quite possibly a cool place to live.

Built on a concrete foundation this small cabin serves two purposes for the owners. Used as a sculpture studio and to accommodate guests this small space was designed by Jeffrey S. Poss, Architect and WORKUS Studio.

You will see galvanized steel is used as siding that also extends upward where the architects continued the use of this material in a zigzag shape for the roof. The use of red cedar wood on the inside of the studio gives this space a warm feel.

The spacious creative area used to make sculptures is located on the ground floor with the guest room located in the loft. Perched up 130 steps from the edge of Lake George in upstate New York, I could see the beauty in living in this small space. How about you?

There is a powder room (although not pictured here), so all you would need to add is a functional kitchen and you are ready to live here full time. On the lower level in the main space you will see there is built-in storage on one wall for hiding away belongings and large sliding doors on the other side to invite nature in.

These large glass sliding doors provide beautiful views of the lake below and the ability to catch a nice breeze.

Let’s take a look at this one-of-a-kind small space.

Polygon Cabin with Loft in Nature You Could Call Home?

Images: Jeffrey S. Poss, Architect

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Do you think living simply could be easy with this tiny house? Although it’s only 100 square feet it has just about everything you need.

In this post I’m excited to share the Hummingbird Loft with you. It’s a 100 sq. ft.tiny house with a sleeping & storage loft made of steel-frame and it’s built on a foundation (not on wheels).

When you walk up the porch and through the front door into the main level you’re greeted by the living room and kitchen.

Keep walking towards the back and you’ll find the bathroom. The ladder takes you up to the sleeping loft and storage area. One of the sleeping lofts is above the front porch, the storage loft is over the living area, and the other sleeping loft is in the rear above the kitchen/bathroom area.

Ready to get the full tour including floor plan and all? I hope you’ll enjoy below.

Simple Living in a Hummingbird Tiny House

Images: Eagle Micro Homes

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I thought you’d like to tour Karen’s 265 sq. ft. backyard cottage in Berkeley, CA.

Karen originally intended to use her backyard tiny house for her own personal use but she soon realized renting it out would be a great way to earn extra income.

As you walk onto the front porch and through the french doors to go inside you are greeted by the living area, kitchen and bathroom. And when you go upstairs you have the sleeping loft with storage cabinets.

Karen had New Avenue Homes build this tiny cottage for her right in her backyard. Below you can take a full video tour of the backyard cottage filmed by our friends at Fair Companies.

Tiny Backyard Cottage for Extra Income and Asset-Building

Images © New Avenue Homes

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I thought you’d like to tour Susan’s 423 sq. ft. tiny cottage studio with an upstairs loft.

It’s in the East Bay area of California. When you walk inside there’s a ground floor area with a living room, bathroom, and plenty of open space for a kitchenette if you wanted to add one.

When you go upstairs there’s a spacious loft bedroom area. In total, there’s one bedroom and one bathroom. Susan, the owner, uses the space in many ways. She’s quite flexible with it, in fact, as you’ll learn below.

469 Sq. Ft. Tiny Cottage in California

Images: New Avenue Homes

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