It’s a pretty simple design that you can build on a utility trailer. When you walk in you’ve got your seating area to the right and kitchen to the left.
There’s also a sleeping loft above that’s accessible by ladder. Finally the bathroom is all the way in the back underneath the sleeping loft.
Steve Gourley is sharing his 8×12 tiny house design with us as part of our 2015 8×12 tiny house design contest. I’ll let Steve explain his design with you.
Dear Alex and Derek,
    First let me thanks you both for being a positive force in the Tiny House world. I am currently building a 8×12 Tiny House on a friends lake in the Lynchburg, VA area. I plan on using it as a hunting, fishing, and relaxing spot. I am also using it as a test bed to try out solar, rain collecting, etc. (totally off grid). I plan on building another tiny house to live in one day soon. I have built most of it with salvaged materials. I am in the process of putting on the metal roof and siding. I am really looking forward to finishing the inside. I have attached a few pictures as well as my floor plan which more than likely will be modified especially after reading and seeing articles on both your websites. Keep up the good work guys.  Again, thanks for the inspirations and the work you do.
Randy Farnsworth is sharing his 8×12 tiny house design with us as part of our 2015 8×12 tiny house design contest. I’ll let Randy explain his design with you.
Please find attached my submission for the 8×12 tiny house contest. I have designed a tiny home based on the time honored salt box but with a 90 degree twist giving it somewhat of a chalet feel.
There is a 3/4 wet bathroom with a lavatory (a must with my wife as she finds toothbrushing where meals are prepared verboten). An alternating step ladder stair to the loft would make any midnight trip to the facilities easier and safer.
In the loft built in cabinetry that complements the angles of the roof hold clothing and bedding with adjustable shelving and dividers. Headroom in the loft is approximately 6′-2″ to the peak. Headroom in the kitchen and bath is 7′-0″ and the framing space shown allows for 4×4 with 3/4″ decking.
The large roof plane will allow for an ample solar array for off grid siting or the use of skylights as shown would allow for ample daylighting. A large deck expands living space and allows for entertaining.
I’ve been reading about tiny houses when a search would mainly turn up the results “Jay Shafer” and “teardrop trailers”.Â
Inspired by both English Tudor stucco and exposed beams combined with Craftsman touches of clean lines, exposed rafter tips, and lap siding, this is one quality house.
Raised Orange Observatory Sleep Tower by Gary Wagoner
I’m excited about submitting my 8×12 tiny house on wheels for your contest. This is a custom designed TH that my builder, Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses, envisioned (with a lot of specific input from me, and in keeping with the design aesthetics of my front home and yard). He’s one of the few TH builders who’s enthusiastic about creating custom builds of all sizes, and in fact this was the smallest one he’s ever created. This TH was born from the idea of offering it as a backyard vacation rental in the highly sought after downtown area of Austin, TX. It was designed, built, delivered, and furnished in approx. 8 weeks, and after hitting the vacation rental market in Oct 2014 has already hosted over 60 separate sets of travelers – some individuals, some couples, some choosing it for a unique option to a hotel room, and some visiting specifically for the purpose of trying out tiny living before making the decision to build their own or have someone build a TH for them.
I am an amateur designer. I usually design at the 750-1250 sq. ft. range, but I thought I’d take a shot at this.
8’x12′ is no bigger than a garden shed, so designing a “house” that small is a challenge. Even RV’s this size have limited features (I have never seen one this small with a heater, for example). This one is heated by a small wood stove, as it would likely be built in an off-the-grid area.
My design is basically a single room with a corner cut out for a wet bath. The toilet is a composter and it is angled to give you a little knee room when sitting. The other corner in the bath gives you a little extra room when showering. A ladder near the entry leads to a loft big enough for a queen bed. Basically you have to chuck a mattress over the loft railing. There is a “shed dormer” over the bed to give it a little more room where the roof would normally slope down. The roof comes down a little more over the door to give a little extra shelter when entering. I don’t think more than a couple could live there but it would make a great resort cabin.
This is the story of a man who built his own tiny house for less than $500.
His name is Scott and he calls it his transforming tiny home because it has a custom and very simple fold-out bed. And here’s what’s really interesting. This is the biggest house he’s had in almost 3 years because before this he lived in a dome-tent, and before that, out of a backpack. So for him, the 83 sq. ft. cabin is roomy. Scott and his friends designed and built the simple tiny shelter for less than $500. It’s located on a friend’s 20-acre plot of land. Enjoy the full tour below. Can you imagine building a house for only $500 in materials? Talk about life-changing…
