Jay Shafer felt overwhelmed by the 4,000 square foot home he grew up in back in Iowa.
Time, energy and resources were spent maintaining space that added very little to their lives on the whole.
This distaste for wasted space emerged as a creative influence when Shafer was in his 20s.
After college, he started making blueprints of tiny homes just for fun.
Exploring how space is used, brainstorming how to use it more efficiently and learning about the materialism of our culture, he decided to pursue the passion further.
One of the legal difficulties he found right away was zoning laws that restrict how big anyone living establishment must be.
In most states, to be considered a house a building has to measure at least 220 square feet.
Every Thursday I’ll be featuring a random set of tiny house plans here on Tiny House Talk.
Today I’m introducing you to Tumbleweed’s Beavan Box Bungalow design.
Beavan Box Bungalow Tiny House Plans
The Beavan is one of Tumbleweed Houses latest designs in the Box Bungalow category.
As you may already know all of this company’s house plans are designed by Jay Shafer, who has been living happily in really small spaces since 1997.
That’s over ten years of extremely simple living. That’s why he’s #1 when it comes to designing micro sized spaces for humans.
Jay Shafer and Tumbleweed Tiny Houses
Jay is at the forefront of today’s tiny house movement not because he is the first person to live so simply but because he has successfully shared his amazing ideas with the world.
In his Small House Book, he shows you the current generous loopholes which allow you to bypass minimum size housing building code restrictions in most areas.
The Beavan Box Bungalow
Let’s take a close look at this beautiful design which was recently featured on HGTV’s Design Star.
The Tumbleweed Popomo offers 170 square feet of living space on a flatbed-style trailer, making it the widest tiny house design in the Tumbleweed lineup that still requires no special permit to tow. At 8 feet 6 inches interior width, the Popomo provides significantly more living space than standard trailer-width designs while maintaining steel siding for durability.
Popomo Specifications
Designer: Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
Size: 170 square feet
Interior Width: 8 feet 6 inches
Trailer Type: Flatbed style (sits over wheels)
Exterior: Steel siding
Permit Required: No special permit to tow
Estimated Build Cost: Approximately $20,000 with new materials
DIY Friendly: Designed as easiest Tumbleweed to build
This two-part video interview with Jay Shafer, founder of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, explores his design philosophy, personal story, and upcoming tiny house designs. Shafer pioneered the modern tiny house movement with his small house plans and has influenced countless builders seeking alternatives to conventional housing.
Interview Details
Guest: Jay Shafer
Company: Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
Format: Two-part video interview
Topics: Design philosophy, upcoming designs, personal story
Tumbleweed Tiny House workshops teach participants how to build their own tiny houses from start to finish. These hands-on classes cover trailer foundations, framing, insulation, roofing, and systems installation. Attendees learn practical skills alongside other aspiring tiny house builders, gaining the knowledge needed to construct their own homes.
Workshop Curriculum
Foundation: Building on a trailer vs. permanent foundation
Tools: The essential tools needed for construction
Framing: Wall and roof framing techniques
Sheathing: Exterior sheathing installation
Insulation: Proper insulation and moisture management
Venting: Condensation prevention strategies
Roofing: Roof installation methods
Siding: Exterior siding techniques
Systems: Water heaters, appliances, toilets, air conditioning
Codes: Building codes, restrictions, and zoning information
Workshop Locations
Tumbleweed workshops have been held in cities across the United States including:
The Tumbleweed Tarleton model features the largest kitchen of any Tumbleweed tiny house design. The layout places the kitchen in a dedicated 6′ x 4′ space, leaving the main living area more open with a sleeping loft above.
Design Details
Manufacturer: Tumbleweed Houses
Model: Tarleton
Kitchen: 6′ x 4′ dedicated space (largest Tumbleweed kitchen)
Sleeping: Upstairs loft
Features: Front porch, vaulted ceilings in main room, storage loft above entry
Similar Model: Lusby (with kitchen in living area instead)
The Tumbleweed Lusby tiny house packs efficient living into 117 square feet. The design features an upstairs sleeping loft, a kitchen integrated into the main living area, and vaulted ceilings that make the compact space feel open and airy.
Design Details
Manufacturer: Tumbleweed Houses
Model: Lusby
Size: 117 square feet
Layout: Kitchen/living area with dining table, 6′ x 4′ back room, sleeping loft
Martin House Company, also known as Lodge on Wheels, builds custom tiny houses on trailers that are wider than the standard 8-foot designs. At 10 feet wide, these homes offer additional interior space but require permits or escorts for highway transport in most states.
Width Comparison
The difference between 8-foot and 10-foot wide tiny houses is visible in the trailer wheel placement. Lodge on Wheels uses wider trailers while companies like Tumbleweed stay within the 8-foot limit for easier transport.
